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"WHY?"
One Of My Favorite Songs
If you have a favorite, leave me email and I will see if I can make it available.
If you do not want to read the entire OPINION PAGE, select the date below:
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TODAY WOULD BE A GOOD DAY TO THANK THE 75 USERS WHO HAVE DONATED
Thank You Guys And Gals
Now, how about the other 5,130 people who use this system every day?
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"WHY?"
That is what several uses have asked me concerning the "donation" tags.
So, I am going to take the time to tell you "why", but not all of you are going to like it!
stevespages.com has been on-line for a little over eight years. It costs me about $160 per month to keep it on-line.
For those of you with a computer, but extremely limited math capabilities, that amounts to around $1,920 per year, or a total of $15,360.
That does not include the cost of hardware or software.
Because of the cost of operating stevespages.com I have had to curtail, and in some cases, totally eliminate, other interests.
What have I gotten in return in the past eight years?
You see the summary above!
Now, some of you will drop a $100 bill (or more) sitting in your favorite bar in one night, but you are too damn cheap to send me a donation. BUT, you will bitch and complain if I don't have new jokes, new articles, new songs, new loading data, new photographs posted every damn day!
Some of you will piss-away several hundred dollars for make-believe fireworks for the 4th. Yet, you are too damn cheap to send me a $10 or $20 donation.
Some of you will pay $50 for a reloading manual, with limited reloading information, but will not send me the same $50 for information that outclasses ALL the fucking reloading manuals in print ... COMBINED!
Some of you have asked when I am going to post new pictures. I will post them when YOU send me the money for the film, the processing and the gasoline required to obtain new pictures.
It's a crying shame that I have 5,205 people using this system each and every day, but only 75 have made donations, and those donations amount to a whopping $981.41, or $122.67 per year!
And if I subtract the 4 users who donated $100 each, it even looks more pitiful ... $72.67 per year received, $1,920 per year to keep the website operational!
And for those of you who got their rocks off by "donating" less than $1 ... and there were 9 of you ... keep it, you need it more than I do!
So, quit your bitching about my request tabs for a donation. If you don't wanna donate, if you don't appreciate what is happening here, than I have just a couple of words for you...
As for you who have seen fit to send along some assistance, it is appreciated. I wish the hell there were a few thousand more like you...
Now...
Have a Happy Father's Day...
AND...
HUGHESNET IS STILL FUCKED-UP!
Data throughput, when there is data throughput, is about the same as what was available on a 9600 Baud dial-up!
And, yes I have called them ... several times. And the simple bitch on the other end, somewhere in India, states she doesn't know of any problem!
Yet when I do a trace/ping/route check I have three Hughes nodes with ping times of over 3 seconds each, and they are dropping 67% of the packets!
Grrrrrr...
ANOTHER ALL-NIGHTER! STARTED AT 8PM
No, it wasn't with a blonde 18-year-old female nymph. It was with 6 different "technicians" at Hughes.
Six straight hours, and they still can't get my system back online. I actually got to talk to one who spoke English!
Their final decision?
"There isn't anything we can do for you."
Great customer service ... AT 2AM!
ARE YOU READY FOR THIS? STARTED AT 7:30AM
Yes, it has to do with Hughes..
I disconnected the 4000 modem and put a 6000 online.
It verified my signal strength and transponder.
Then it asked for my account number ... and here is where the fun starts.
Seems you need a new account number if you change modems. My old account came back as "invalid".
So ... I called "tech support", and they told me that I had to contact "sales"...
So ... I called "sales", and they told me that I had to contact "billing"...
So ... I called "billing", and they told me that I had to contact "used equipment activation"...
So ... I called "used equipment activation", and they told me that I had to contact "tech support"...
And it started all over again!
I have spent another 3 hours on the phone with a whole bunch of cretins who know shit about their job!
All they have to do is deactivate my 4000 account, transfer my data to a 6000 account, and give me a new site number.
I have talked to 8 different people so far in the past 3 hours, and some of the replies I have gotten are:
"It will take 30 days before we can activate a new account...";
"We have to have an installer come out and do a site survey, and that can take up to 5 days...";
"The only thing we can do is sell you a new 7000 modem and it will take over 2 weeks for shipping...";
"We can have an installer stop by your house and check out your 4000 modem. There will be a charge of $125 plus any parts he has to replace...";
I DON'T NEED NO STEENKING INSTALLER!
ALL I NEED IS FOR ONE OF YOU PEOPLE TO SIMPLY KILL MY 4000 ACCOUNT AND SET UP A 6000 ACCOUNT!
What the hell is so difficult about doing that?
Now, the good part about all this is that everyone I spoke with spoke English! They didn't know what the fuck they were doing, but at least they spoke English!
10:30AM
I am now on the line with one of the tech support people in India.
I can't understand a friggin' thing he is saying, but after I explained to him what was going on he informed me that the process is simple an should take less than 30 minutes!
He is now talking to the people in sales, billing and used equipment activation to find out what the hell is going on!
And I am sitting here listening to the world's worst guitar music, which hasn't changed in over 5 years!
My Indian friend is back ... he has transferred me back to sales ... and once again I am being subjected to that damn clunky guitar music...
(By the way ... I have been on the phone for 3 hours now, it is now 1:30PM.)
I have talked to three more people from India and the billing department, and she told me I have to go back to tech support...
HOLY SHIT, SHERLOCK! I FOUND THE PROBLEM!
The idiots at Hughes kept telling me I was on the G-11 satellite at a frequency of 990, with vertical transmit polarization and horizontal receive polarization!
Just for the hell of it I started playing with the transponder numbers while the latest Indian bitch was "conferring with associates"!
Guess what I found ... go ahead ... take a fucking guess!
ALL THE IDIOTS AT HUGHES HAD ME POINTING TO THE WRONG FUCKING TRANSPONDER!
I AM still on the G-11 satellite, BUT my frequency is 1370, and I have both polarizations set at horizontal!
The fucking thing works now ... AND NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING ALL THE "EXPERTS" AT HUGHES DID! The problem is because all the "experts" at Hughes had re-assigned my transponder without telling me or anyone else!
I am so friggin' pissed!
3 hours wasted this morning and 6 hours wasted last night!
Wadda buncha bullshit!
AND WHAT EXACTLY DO I LOOK LIKE
AFTER FIGHTING WITH THOSE DILDO BRAINS?
THE NEVER ENDING STORY...
So, I have access to FTP and HTTP. Wonderful!
BUT...
When I went to check my email, guess what? It doesn't work!
So I got back on the phone with Hughes to find out what they did wrong now. And they informed me that generally, when you do an account change, you cannot access your email for 2 to 4 days!
Seems they tie your email into your site ID number, and since the ID number was changed with the modem change, they lag "a little bit".
And ... I also found out that Hughes mail is handled by Tucows in Canada!
WOW!
Wasn't I Full Of Piss And Vinegar Yesterday?
Well, you fight with those assholes and see how good your humor is!
DRESS CODES ... THEN AND NOW
When I entered the business world in the 1970’s, there was not much discussion about dress codes in American offices. Men were expected to wear white shirts and ties, with a business suit. Women wore dresses, or skirts and blouses. These were the expected norms, and accepted by most office workers.
The youth movements of the time began to infiltrate this stratified world with our female coworkers demanding that pant suits be accepted attire for them. The advent of the mini skirt brought another ripple into the business world, as companies began to define how short a skirt could be and still be acceptable. It was then a short trip to the once a month casual day, and then the spread of the ‘Casual Friday’ concept. By the time I left the world of office attire, ‘Business Casual’ was accepted by most corporate entities, including the most conservative banks and investment houses.
As a supervisor and manager, the most contentious discussions I had with employees concerned dress code provisions and penalties. To be honest, I never treated this part of management responsibility as a life or death matter. My sometimes cavalier attitude caused me more grief from senior management than most employees could have ever imagined. When discussing approved skirt lengths for instance, one senior manager said that four inches above the knee was the shortest a skirt should be. I first asked how that could be measured without risking a sexual harassment complaint. My second comment was to ask if the four inch rule would apply to a female employee who was 5 ft 10 inches tall with a 40 inch inseam, as well as a 4 foot 10 inch employee with a 26 inch inseam. You don't have to be a math major to understand that an arbitrary standard length would have a significantly different result on these two examples. I was accused of not taking the matter seriously, to which I admit guilt.
The last discussions I sat in on were to determine the acceptability of jeans with strategically placed cuts and rips. I suggested issuing non form fitting jumpsuits to all employees, in standard gray pinstripe. A small company logo over the breast pocket, and a rank insignia on the left sleeve identifying their job classification would complete the look. I was invited to leave if I had nothing constructive to add. That ended my participation in dress code meetings.
What brought this to mind was a comparison of penalties for dress code violations. In most cases, employees found to be out of compliance were sent home to change. This could result in an unapproved absence, and some unpaid time off. Repeated offenders risked unpaid suspensions, ranging from one to five days, depending on the frequency of wearing inappropriate attire. Termination was not part of the discipline code, unless other work related issues were also involved.
I have recently noted news stories about students being sent home for clothing deemed inappropriate or offensive, and in some cases, suspension from school has been enforced. By and large, in all of Western society, the most severe punishment in either business or school for dress code violations is to be sent home. Embarrassing, but not life threatening.
By comparison, dress code violations in Muslim countries, and even in Western countries with large Muslim communities, can indeed be a matter of life and death. In particular, women who violate Islamic dress codes do so at great risk. I would call your attention to some of the more recent incidents involving violations of Islamic dress codes.
At least fourteen young girls were burned to death in Saudi Arabia when attempting to flee their burning boarding school. Since the fire occurred in the middle of the night, after they had gone to bed, they were not wearing the required long robes and head scarves. The religious police forced them back into the fire, where they perished.
In Afghanistan, women who dared to wear nail polish had their fingernails ripped out by religious police. Female doctors, teachers and other professionals who did not wear the burqa while at work were arrested and shot. The Taliban eventually solved that issue by forbidding these women from working at all.
In Indonesia, a supposedly moderate Muslim nation, three Christian schoolgirls were beheaded for attending a school that allowed them to wear a uniform where the skirt showed part of their lower legs. The girls were not Muslim, but the beheaders were, so I guess the Islamic rules applied.
In Iraq, two members of a men’s soccer team, and their coach, were dragged into the street and shot. The crime was wearing shorts after a soccer practice. At least we know that the penalties for dress code violations for men can be as sever as those imposed on women.
In Taliban ruled Afghanistan, men were beaten, imprisoned and flogged for shaving.
Muslim areas in Nigeria erupted in rioting, leaving over 200 people dead, when a world wide beauty contest was scheduled in that nation. Apparently, the possibility of seeing a woman in a bathing suit was enough of an incitement that killing and looting was considered a proper response by local Muslims.
As noted above, in the case of the three Christian school girls, one must adhere to Islamic dress codes even if not a Muslim. This is not only true in Muslim nations, but can now be observed in Western countries as well.
France, Norway, Sweden and Australia have experienced a frightening rise in gang rapes committed by young Muslim men, against native European women. Apparently, by not wearing appropriate clothing and head scarves, even non-Muslim women in Western countries are fair game to gangs of Muslim men, since they dress like “whores” by showing bare legs, arms and heads.
“Honor” killings in England, Germany, and other European nations have increased, as Muslim fathers and brothers are killing female family members for not wearing traditional, accepted clothing.
In Germany, female teachers have been attacked by Muslim students for not wearing head coverings in class, even though the teachers are not Muslim.
It would appear that the differences between accepted standards of punishment for something as simple as a violation of a dress code carry a much more severe penalty by the followers of Islam than most other religions and societies. Could it be, just as a matter of discussion, that there really is a clash of cultures, rather than the simple misunderstandings that the media keeps repeating? Could it also be that while Muslims continue to berate Westerners for their lack of understanding and respect for Islam, that the followers of Islam have no intention of reciprocating by understanding and respecting the culture of the West?
While we have not seen the gang rapes and honor killings experienced in Western Europe and Australia, the increasing radicalism of some Muslim communities in the United States, fostered by the fundamentalist clerics in certain mosques, is causing me great apprehension that we too could experience this trend. And I have not heard any specific condemnation of these trends from the mainstream Islamic organizations in America. Why the silence by them, and the media that supports them? As my Grandfather once said, “Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst”. I hope that the death penalty for dress code violations is not something we should prepare for.
IN ORDER TO CELEBRATE MY PARTIAL VICTORY OVER HUGHESNET
I'm gonna go to the Big City...
See ya when I get back.
BACK FROM THE BIG CITY
But before I left I took a look in my backyard. It was a mini-zoo!
There were a bunch of skinny white tail doe standing around. Evidently they have dropped their young and felt the need to get a decent meal. In addition, there were prairie dogs, rabbits, grouse, pheasant, dove and a bunch of other birdies.
Gasoline in the Big City is still $3.00 per gallon and diesel is still $3.06. Nothing ever changes...
I went to Albertson's. I really don't have to say anymore about that, do I?
The weather is kind of nice - in the low 90's, clear sky, slight breeze.
And I still cannot get to my email!
FLASHBACK TO THE TRIP TO THE BIG CITY
There Was Something That Happened That Slipped My Mind
As a matter of fact, there were two somethings!
I went to Subway for lunch. I asked for, and got, a 12" white Spicy Italian. Price on the menu? $4.99. When I got to the gal at the register she informed me that it was $5.39. I told her it was a Spicy Italian and the menu states $4.99. And she said, "Oh, I'm sorry." Now, if they overcharged everyone who went into that shop 40 cents, that would be one hell of a profit!
Along the same lines, when I checked-out at Albertson's the scanner told me my junk food came to $53.35. I wrote a check for $55.00. The check-out person didn't give me any change! I asked for it, and he told me that I didn't have any change coming. I told him to look at my register slip and my check. Then came the, "Oh gee, I'm sorry," remark! It took him quite some time to figure out how much change I was supposed to get, since the computer didn't do it for him!
Makes me kind of wonder if they didn't receive their training at HughesNet...
NEW ORLEANS
Well, the National Guard has been called-out in New Orleans. Seems that these peace-loving, mistreated, misunderstood, and racially abused citizens have decided to start killing each other once again! If I were in the Lousy-anna National Guard I would be handing out free ammunition...
MR. P. IS IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
Inanimate fuel dispensers everywhere, eat your hearts out! Mr. P. is on the prowl, and he’s leaving throngs of unsuspecting gas pumps swooning in his wake.
Too bad Mr. P.’s a peacock.
Ever since poor Mr. P. lost his more appropriate mates to a hungry fox last year, he’s taken a shine to the petrol pumps down the road in England.
It seems that each time a driver fills up, the pumps make a noise similar to that of a peahen in the mood for love — and that makes Mr. P. one happy dude.
So he spends his days putting on a show for the objects of his affections, displaying his feathers, strutting and … uh … talking dirty to them.
"As soon as he hears it, he starts displaying his tail feathers and getting very excited," said his owner, Shirley Horsman. "He's a bit frustrated because there are no peahens around for him to breed with."
FIGHTING SIOUX TAKE A STAND TO FIGHT PC-ISM
The University of North Dakota basketball team is being told by the NCAA that they aren't allowed to use their name, the Fighting Sioux, anymore. (UND.edu) The University president is not taking this sitting down, much to his credit.
In an absurd paean to the Gods of Political Correctness, the NCAA has lost its collective mind and announced a policy of disallowing any school playing in their leagues and tournaments to have a team name the NCAA deems "racist" or creates a "Hostile environment" for students or sports fans. They have given the U of ND an ultimatum; get rid of the name or get thrown out of the NCAA.
Worse, this determination made by the NCAA is made without any investigation or criteria other than a vague feeling that someone, somewhere might take offense to a team name. It is entirely free of any logic, sense, or procedure other than pure dictation from the head of the NCAA.
But in a public -- and quite lengthy -- reply, President Charles E. Kupchella, Ph.D. of the U of ND is threatening legal action on behalf of the University to keep their decades old team name. It is a very full treatment of this foolishness of the NCAA's actions and I urge you to go read it. I won't be able to do it justice here, but there are a few sections that deserve to be highlighted.
The most salient section of the President's letter deals with the specific reasons why the U of ND is on solid moral grounds to continue using the nickname.
"Although we thought it strange – perverse actually – to assume guilt until innocence was proven, or at least objectively indicated, we offered the facts that (1) our nearest Sioux Tribe gave us written permission (which still stands despite repeated attempts by the NCAA staff itself and other nickname opponents to ask the Tribal Council to rescind its resolution) to use the name; (2) we have over four hundred American Indian students going to school here, many of whom are just fine with the nickname and none of whom would be here if the environment were really hostile and abusive; (3) it was reported to you, directly by the Chair of the Tribal Council Judicial Committee that, at the only other Sioux Reservation based in North Dakota, a district-by-district referendum resulted in nearly unanimous support for UND's use of the Sioux nickname; and, (4) the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education spent a week here investigating earlier 'hostile environment' charges made by our local nickname opposition group – and made no such finding – as clear indications that our handling of the nickname is in no way hostile and abusive."
And each of these points have been entirely ignored by the NCAA, apparently.
Not only were the above points ignored by the NCAA, but the NCAA has even decided, in its supreme ability to know better than everyone else in the world, that the residents of the state of North Dakota -- those very people who pay their taxes to support the U of ND -- shouldn't be listened to about their feelings of the team's name.
"You should be aware, because we cited it in our appeal, that in a poll of American Indians in North Dakota, more than half said their support for UND would not change if the University chose another nickname but one in four said that they would support the University less – yes, less – if we were to change our nickname? This, too, cannot possibly be reconciled with 'hostile and abusive.'"
The President has crafted the most devastating case against the arbitrary stupidity of the NCAA and it is an important blow against mordant PCism. Even if you aren't a college basketball fan, or a sports fan at all, this letter is a must read.
But, I cannot close without observing the U of ND President's rapier wit. To further illustrate the foolishness of the NCAA's position, President Kupchella pointed out an interesting bit of hypocrisy evident in the NCAA's operations.
"By the way, it was widely and cynically noted here that 'Pontiac' is a corporate sponsor of the NCAA. But perhaps this is unfair; both the NCAA and General Motors may well have gotten the permission of the descendants of Chief Pontiac or the Ottawa Tribe."
Ha! Take that NCAA!
Fighting Sioux, fight on.
STILL NO EMAIL!
I'm really getting tired of HughesNet...
MILITARY CONFIRMS BODIES ARE OF MISSING GIS
The bodies of two U.S. soldiers who were reported missing have been recovered, and an Iraqi official said Tuesday the men were "killed in a barbaric way."
At a press conference in Baghdad, U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell confirmed that the remains, found late Monday by U.S. troops, were believed to be those of Pfc. Kristian Menchaca, 23, of Houston, and Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker, 25, of Madras, Ore.
Caldwell said the cause of death was "undeterminable" and that DNA tests would be conducted to verify the identities.
The two disappeared after an attack Friday at a traffic checkpoint outside the city of Youssifiyah, just south of Baghdad. Spc. David J. Babineau, 25, of Springfield, Mass., was killed in the attack. The three men were assigned to the 502nd Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, Ky.
The director of the Iraqi defense ministry's operation room, Maj. Gen. Abdul-Aziz Mohammed, said the bodies showed signs of having been tortured. "They were killed in a barbaric way," he said.
Now is it time to nuke those bastards?
NORTH KOREA SAYS IT IS NOT BOUND BY MORATORIUM ON MISSILE TESTS
North Korea declared Tuesday it is not bound by its own moratorium on long-range missile tests prompting Japan and South Korea to pledge to cooperate to stop Pyongyang's apparent plans for a launch.
Now is it time to nuke those bastards?
STILL NO EMAIL!
I'm really getting VERY tired of HughesNet...
I HAVE EMAIL AGAIN!!!
After almost two more hours on the phone with Hughes, I once again can access my email!
There is a downside to this, however...
If you sent me any email since June 16, 2006, it has been deleted.
The cause of the problem?
The idiot at Hughes who cancelled my 4000 account DID NOT transfer my email data to the 6000 account before killing the 4000.
So everything was lost...
And the same idiot who did that failed to list the 6000 account with the billing department showing that the 6000 was commissioned, and that is why I couldn't access my account information!
"THEY WERE KILLED IN A BARBARIC WAY."
"They Were Tortured."
"Their eyes were gouged-out and their bodies were beheaded, dismembered and mutilated."
MEANWHILE...
NORTH KOREA THREATENS TO ‘WIPE OUT’ US
North Korea yesterday threatened to “mercilessly wipe out” US forces. The threat came as North Korea was preparing to test-fire a long-range missile despite strong protests from the United States and its allies. Choe Thae Bok, a ranking Workers’ Party official, said Washington was “hell-bent on provocations of war of aggression” in the report to mark the 42nd anniversary of Kim’s start at the party. “The Korean army and people will mercilessly wipe out the aggressors and give vent to the deep-rooted grudge of the nation,” Choe was quoted as telling the meeting.
And then some people ask me why I have the balls to say, "Now is it time to nuke those bastards?"
We have small tactical nuclear devices. We can use them effectively. We can turn ALL the oil in Iraq and Iran and Afghanistan into useless sludge for the next 150 years.
We have medium nuclear devices. We can use them effectively. We can deploy them in the areas of suspected strong concentrations of "militants" and turn their remains into objects that glow in the dark.
These same devices can be used very effectively against North Korea, should they decide to actually launch their 9,300 mile missile. But ... do we really want to do that? That missile could reach California, Oregon and Washington.
I say let them launch it, and take out those states. Then send them a "Thank You" note, and then finish what MacArthur wanted to do in the 1950's!
AS FOR WHAT THE US POLITICIANS ARE DOING
They are making "threats" of cutting-off American monies, cutting-off American trade, and all kinds of other bullshit!
It's time to either shit or get off the pot!
We should immediately start treating the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran, and the potential conflict in Korea the same as we treated the Germans during WWII.
We lost in Korea ... we lost in Nam ... and we are losing these because we have decided to let a bunch of spineless politicians attempt to make "negotiations".
Here is my "negotiation":
CUT THE SHIT OR WE WILL REDUCE YOU BACK TO BEFORE THE STONE AGE ...
AND YOU HAVE 12 HOURS TO TOTALLY COMPLY!!!
UN PUSHES FOR GLOBAL GUN CONTROL
A push for global gun control gets under way next week in New York City, when the United Nations opens a conference intended to curb the international arms trade.
Amnesty International, Oxfam International and the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) are pushing for a treaty to "protect civilians from armed violence."
Those three groups -- which have formed a coalition called the Control Arms Campaign -- say their goal is to reduce arms proliferation and misuse -- "and to convince governments to introduce global principles to regulate the transfers of weapons." They are urging the United Nations to impose a "binding arms trade treaty."
According to Amnesty International, nearly 2 billion people live in deep poverty, a problem made worse by the "uncontrolled proliferation of guns and other weapons that also fuels human rights abuses and escalates conflicts." Amnesty International claims that weapons kill more 1,000 men, women, and children every day.
"It doesn't have to be like this," Amnesty International says on its website. The Control Arms Campaign believes a global Arms Trade Treaty is the solution.
But in the United States, defenders of the Second Amendment are insulted by what they see as a carefully timed assault on the U.S. Constitution.
They note that the U.N. Conference on Global Gun Control will run from June 26 - July 7 -- a time span that includes the Fourth of July, Independence Day.
The U.N. conference poses a direct threat to America's constitutionally protected individual right to keep and bear arms, said Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF).
Gottlieb, who plans to attend the U.N. conference, is urging the U.S. government to reconsider its financial support for the United Nations, given its effort to undermine the Second Amendment.
"Had it not been for our tradition of private firearms ownership, our citizens might still be subjects of the queen," Gottlieb said in a press release.
"Had it not been for America, all of Europe might be speaking German. Were America not the 'great arsenal of democracy' that President Franklin D. Roosevelt described in 1940, the world would be a far different place, and the sanctimonious bureaucrats at the U.N. might instead be working in labor camps."
Gottlieb finds it troubling that as the United States celebrates its 230th birthday, global anti-gunners "want to create a binding international agreement that could supersede our laws and Constitution.
"We have done much for the U.N., and in return, the organization has hosted despots, tyrants and dictators whose record of human rights abuses, aggression and genocide speaks for itself. And now comes an attack on our Constitution, on our national holiday.
"America has always answered the call to help our international friends and neighbors," Gottlieb observed, "but when our very way of life is attacked, maybe it is time to find more worthy endeavors for our material and financial support."
At the United Nations' first small arms conference in 2001, the United States rejected the idea of global gun control.
John Bolton - the current U.S. ambassador to the United Nations - in 2001 was serving as U.S. Undersecretary of State for Arms Control. He told the U.N. conference in 2001, "The United States believes that the responsible use of firearms is a legitimate aspect of national life."
According to the United Nations, the upcoming small arms conference is intended to assess progress made since 2001 and actions needed to further stem illegal small arms trade. "Crush the illicit trade in small arms," the U.N. website says.
In a "Frequently Asked Questions" section, the U.N. says although the 2001 small arms conference did not define "small arms," the United Nations General Assembly issued a document in 2005 defining "small arms and light weapons" as "any man-portable lethal weapon that expels or launches...a shot, bullet or projectile by the action of an explosive.
Broadly speaking, the website says, "small arms" are weapons designed for individual use. They include revolvers and self-loading pistols, rifles and carbines, sub-machine guns, assault rifles and light machine guns.
"Light weapons," according to the website, include heavy machine guns, hand-held under-barrel and mounted grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft guns, portable anti-tank guns, recoilless rifles, portable launchers of anti-tank missile and rocket systems, portable launchers of anti-aircraft missile systems, and mortars of a caliber of less than 100 millimeters.
GET THE U.S. OUT OF THE U.N. THEN GET THE U.N. OUT OF THE U.S.!
HEADLINES
It Used To Be That Headlines Indicated The Most Important Events
Now, they simply reflect the political leaning of the "news"
Two American GIs were kidnapped, tortured, beheaded, dismembered to the point where only DNA results could identify the many parts. This was a "headline" for less than a day. However; "Seven Marines, One Sailor Charged With Murder in Iraqi Civilian Death at Hamdaniya" has been in the headlines for over a week.
The headlines ran stating, for over two years, that no WMDs were found in Iraq. However, the most recent indication is that over 500 WMDs have been found and neutralized since 2003, is listed only once, and not even a headline!
All kinds of headlines are listed every day about the plight of the "poor immigrant" who dies crossing the desert, or dies in the back of an 18-wheeler, or who is caught and returned to Mexico. But not one headline about the illegal Mexican who was arrested 14 times in Tennessee for everything from DWI to grand larceny and assault and was released every time. Well, his latest arrest came after he killed two AMERICAN CITIZENS while attempting to outrun police, while drunk, in a stolen SUV!
Headlines have been listed for a couple of days about how the "Terror Funds" for New York and D.C. have been reduced by 40%. But, the fact that over 60% of the funds already supplied to those two cities were distributed to political buddies of the two mayors were never mentioned!
Soccer match scores and basketball scores are more important than anything. Except if some half-assed idiot teenager takes a gun to school. And then it is the gun's fault!
I am seriously beginning to think that I am going to quit taking interest in anything that happens in the world, unless it happens in Saint Marie, Valley County, Montana.
And then I am only going to show interest if I actually see the event take place...
For that reason, here is the latest. Joanne was busy yesterday scraping off the white paint around my window sills, door sills and the railings on my front stoop. she also was replacing rotted wood with fresh 2x4's and coating them with linseed oil.
Prairie dogs and rabbits were seen in my back yard.
Winds in this area yesterday were down to 35 MPH, and the temperature ranged from 48 to 79 degrees ... and those degrees are good old American "F" degrees, not those silly friggin' "C" degrees.
Bob, my buddy in Texas, managed to renew his CCW over the weekend, but because of the course he had to take, he didn't get to plant any flowers in his yard. Rebecca, his lady friend, was a little disappointed, but she told me that he made up for it "in other ways" later in the evening.
Fuck the rest of the world!
BACK TO THE FUTURE?
(OR HOW SOME LARD-ASSED POLITICIANS IN WASHINGTON
ARE DECIDING WHAT FIREARMS OUR MILITARY SHOULD BE USING
BASED ON PORK-BARREL POLITICS!)
About 20 years ago, the U.S. military made a decision that hasn't worked out so well. In the interests of replacing an aging inventory of pistols and lining up with our allies, we adopted a new service pistol, chambered for the NATO-standard 9 mm Parabellum (9x19 mm) cartridge.
Our warriors have not been idle in the past two decades, and they have used those 9 mm pistols - with issue ball ammo - around the globe. The results have been unsatisfactory: 9 mm ball ammo is a great penetrator, but a lousy stopper.
In the same general time our law-enforcement personnel have been using a wide assortment of 9 mms with somewhat better results. That's because they are firing modern, jacketed hollow-point ammunition that expands on impact. While the efficient 9 mm loads work much better, that didn't keep S&W and Winchester from designing a completely new cartridge - the .40 S&W - that is now the unquestioned standard in law enforcement handguns (but a farce, since most police are switching back to the .45ACP cartridge).
At the same time, other influences have come to bear on the pistol issue. For one thing, we are training smarter, and that's true in civilian, police and military circles. We have come to understand the flawed logic of selecting a high-capacity 9 mm pistol, simply because it holds lots of shots. Even the .40 S&W compromise, which gives us fewer shots and bigger bullets than a 9 mm, has not always worked as well as it should. The best solution to the problem would seem to be the one adopted in 1911 - a .45 ACP handgun.
Any student of firearm history is aware of the fact that we have been through this before and for exactly the same reasons. We once changed from a single-action .45 Colt revolver of adequate power to a .38 Long Colt revolver of inadequate power, just because the latter was a lighter, more modern double-action design.
When that .38 Long Colt faced a determined enemy in the Philippines, it didn't perform well, and we ended up rushing the older .45 Colt guns out of arsenal storage and into the hands of the troops. Then, a program of development was initiated that resulted in the best service pistol and service pistol cartridge in the history of arms. The Ml911 Colt in .45 ACP served us well in two world wars, Korea, Vietnam and other conflicts throughout the troubled 20th century. It now appears that our troops may once again have a .45 in their holsters in the near future.
In August of 2005, the U.S. Special Operations Command issued a Pre-solicitation Notice, in which it announced the intent to purchase up to 649,000 caliber .45 ACP pistols for use by SOCOM and eventually by all armed services. The gun was to be a non-developmental item, which meant an off-the-shelf pistol that already existed and required no development. Performance specifications were included, and I will get into them in a moment. In that initial document, the total number of pistols to be procured was divided between 600,000 with a manual safety and 49,000 without one.
The first 49,000 are destined for Special Operations troopers and (surprisingly) do not require a manual safety. This implies that the gun would have some form of double-action-only (DAO) or double-action/single-action trigger system that would be carried with the chamber loaded and at least the first shot fired with a long, double-action trigger pull. The Special Operations pistol also has to come with a sound suppressor and the means of quickly attaching it to the pistol.
The gun must have a finish that is non-reflective, resistant to flaking or peeling and is low-maintenance. Even the receiver color is specified - flat, dark earth. Magazine capacity is no less than eight rounds, but the gun should also be delivered with a high-capacity magazine of not less than 10 rounds. There must be an attachment point for a lanyard, and there must be a section of 1913 Picatinny rail forward of the trigger guard on the dustcover. Night sights are required, and they should be of the non-snagging variety.
Since the original pre-solicitation notice was issued, there have been a number of modifications to the original document. Most of them are obscurely technical, but the initial objective is now focused on the selection of a proper pistol for SpecOps use, leaving the selection of a Joint Combat Pistol OCP) for later.
There are a few differences in the two guns. For one thing, the JCP does not require a suppressor capability, but it does require a manual safety. It would seem logical to assume that a pistol that made the grade for the SpecOps gun might have a leg up on the JCP trials, if it can be fitted with the requisite manual safety.
All guns will be evaluated for selection by some pretty demanding standards. The performance standards list both threshold requirements that must be met and objectives that are highly desirable. As a minimum, the gun should have a Mean Rounds Between Stoppages of at least 2,000 with the designated MilSpec ammo and a Mean Rounds Between Failures of 6,000. These are the thresholds; the objectives are 6,000 and 10,000, respectively. In accuracy, the threshold is a 10-shot group at 60 meters with a mean radius of not more than 3.16" or 1.8" over baseline ammunition performance, whichever is less. In terms of service life, the JCP must fire at least 20,000 rounds as a threshold, with anything greater as an objective.
There is a rough-handling (drop) test, where the pistol is dropped from a height of 6 ft. without firing a chambered cartridge or incurring any damage that would render the pistol inoperable.
Further, the gun should withstand exposure to a salt fog for four days as a threshold with 10 days as an objective. The immersion threshold is two hours in 66 ft. of either fresh or salt water; eight hours is the objective.
Other tests include an Operational Suitability and Effectiveness test, that the protocol concedes to be both objective and subjective. Basically, this would appear to be a detailed shooting evaluation in the hands of an operator with an eye to determining and somewhat quantifying the overall handling and shooting qualities of a candidate pistol as a combat handgun.
There are three special characteristics listed as objectives that would not result in disqualification if omitted. One of them is an ergonomic enhancement in the form of modular grip adjustments. This is a system of interchangeable backstraps that permit the shooter to adjust his pistol's butt section to fit his hand. Another objective is a force-on-force training module that essentially converts the pistol to a low-velocity paintball gun for use in realistic training scenarios. The last of the three is probably the most controversial - a Weapon Shot Counter. This would be a device imbedded somewhere in the gun that counts the number of times the pistol is fired. The information thus accumulated then would be downloaded to a computer.
The forgoing is a capsule description of the major features of the JCP for future use by all of our armed forces. Two quotes from the Performance Specifications are important. One of them comes from paragraph 3.4.1 and reads: "The JCP shall function in double-action/single-action (DA/SA) or double-action-only (DAO) including Striker-fired-Action (SFA) (T)." Also, consider paragraph 3.4.6.3 that states: "The JCP shall be capable of being produced either with or without an external manual safety (T)." In both quotes, the T in parentheses means threshold and it is therefore mandatory. In effect, these conditions rule out any version of the M 1911AI pistol.
That's surprising, since the Ml911-style pistol is enjoying a nearly two-decade-long resurgence of interest in civilian, police and military circles. As a matter of fact, among the military shooters who stand the best chance of actually using a pistol, the gun of choice is an updated Ml91lAI .45. The guys in the Army's Delta Force, a unit that actively avoids publicity, have been using customized Ml911 s since the unit was formed. Marine Expeditionary Units (Special Operations Capable), or MEU (SaC) units, have used Ml91ls and the Corps' Detachment One to SOCOM actively developed and used the pistol you can now buy as the Kimber Warrior. This is the pistol of choice for the best we have, the young men at the very tip of the spear. I don't understand why it is not equally usable for everyone who puts on the uniform of his country. Particularly because of the track record, compiled by the grand old gun. There was an item in the Compressional Record recently that expressed interest in investigating the possibility of refurbishing existing stocks of M 1911 s and sending them back to war.
By the requirements now established, the military will evaluate a series of modern pistols with the most up-to-date characteristics imaginable.
We have millions of 1911A1-type pistols in storage, and we have thousands of experienced armorers who are totally familiar with the 1911A1-type pistols.
But because there are US Senators who have a special interest in having a "new" sidearm for our military, we, the tax-payers, are going to suffer the billions of dollars of "research" and "purchasing"!
It is also notable that these same lard-assed politicians, most of whom have never fired a firearm, also were responsible for changing the military longarm back in the 1960's to a pet caliber and weapon that has taken over 40 years to perfect, and cost us 29,000 American lives in Nam. Now they are in the middle of "developing" a new caliber and firearm to saddle our GIs with ... and it will probably take another 40 years, and tens-of-thousands of deaths before it is perfected!
The politicians are responsible for eliminating the .45ACP in the sidearm, and they were also responsible for eliminating the .30-06 Springfield and replacing it with the 7.62 NATO, and then replacing that with the 5.56 NATO. Yet, those in the field, those who are responsible for the "one-shot, one-kill" profession are using two calibers ... the .30-06 Springfield and the .300 Winchester Magnum!
We don't need new firearms or new calibers ... WE NEED NEW POLITICIANS!
I CALLED FEMA YESTERDAY
I Told Them I Wanted Federal Relief Money
They hung-up on me...
I figured I was justified in asking for the money.
I had winds of 32 MPH (6 MPH faster than Florida during Alfredo, or Arturo, or Alphonso, or whatever the hell it was called), and had just as much rain. Plus I had a short loss of electrical power.
Maybe I should have spoken in a mixed language and told them my name was Gonzalez-Alverez-Guadalupe-Hernandez.
As for other activity in Saint Marie, Joanne was on her ladder doing the second floor windows. Damn, does that linseed oil ever stink!
Someone in Saint Marie bought a motorcycle. However, they forgot to buy the muffler that goes with it.
Why is it that when I start and stop my Bronco, all I do is turn the key either on or off, and then let the Bronco idle it's way out of my garage and driveway. But when someone starts or stops their motorcycle, they have to continually rev the engine to full military power, 6 or 7 times, and then leave their driveway cranking around 10,000 RPM in first gear all the way down the street? And why do they have to do the revving thing before they shut it down?
Oh, the fool who owns the lawnmowers up here cut the grass yesterday. Add that noise to that of the motorcycle, and the smell of the oil and I took three times the recommended dose of aspirin! God! What a headache!!
I didn't visit a single "news" website yesterday, nor did I watch a single second of "news" on television. So I have no idea what is happening outside my little world. Sure is a good feeling!
Oops ... I just told a lie!
Carmon, my buddy in New Mexico, sent me an article from the Albuquerque newspaper. Seems the city fathers have started rationing water. No lawn watering allowed, no car washing allowed, no filling of swimming pools allowed, and if you flushed your toilet more than 5 times during the day you would be fined $1,000. Of course the golf courses were exempt from all water rationing...
Well, that's all the news from Saint Marie. What happened in your town yesterday?
BORING DAY
Nothing Happened In Saint Marie Yesterday
And believe it or not, my email is still working!
I did do a couple of loads of laundry. Played some on-line poker. And I was really tempted to turn on the news.
But, I resisted the temptation! I am so proud of myself.
I might, keyword is "might", finally do some housecleaning today. Whoopie!
Oh, I forgot to mention, if you wanna come play poker with me, Celebrity Poker Showdown.
OKAY
How Does That Saying Go?
"No more mister nice-guy!"
I find it amazing!
When I was bitchin' 'n' complainin' about what I felt was wrong with the world, I got all kinds of email telling me to quit my whining.
So I stopped.
And readership of the Opinion Page dropped-off by 80%!
Evidently people don't care about Saint Marie ... they want to read my rants and ravings!
So, starting tomorrow, I am going back to my soapbox, going to raise my voice, and going to start posting my position on truth, justice, freedom and the American way of life!
SO THEY KILLED THEM
But First
They "brutalized" them
So they killed them. But first they took the time to engage in some traditional Arabic/Islamic fun by horribly torturing and mutilating Private Kristian Menchaca and PFC Thomas Tucker prior to their deaths. The two young men were so badly mutilated that the U.S. Army will have to resort to DNA testing to positively identify them.
I find it interesting that this news is reported by the bulk of the former mainstream media in a dry, almost clinical fashion, while the mere hint of American soldiers engaging in torture or indiscriminate killing is reported with a level of moral outrage bordering on the obscene. The day after the gruesome discovery, one couldn't find very much about it in most media outlets, except those considered being “right wing”, which includes Fox News and the New York Post. Reuters web side made no mention of the discovery at all, but prominently featured a story written by Dean Yates that accuses Israel of ignoring evidence which disagreed with Israel’s decision to clear the Israeli Defense Force of wrongdoing in the accidental deaths of seven Palestinian civilians in the Gaza strip. The alleged deaths occurred on June 9th, almost two weeks ago.
In a column “Reuters Recommends”, Alistair Lyons makes a big to-do about Arab governments being strangely silent about the suicides of three Arab detainees at Guantanamo, showing just the correct amount of outrage at the U.S. for continuing to detain the hostile Taliban combatants captured in Afghanistan. It’s almost as if Reuters were favoring a ‘catch and release’ policy on terrorists.
CNN, not to be outdone by Reuters, reported the story of the bodies’ discovery and published the statements made by the two soldiers’ killers on an Islamic web site. Of course, in CNN’s true ‘objective’ fashion, the quotes were offered without commentary.
"We announce the good news to our Islamic nation that we executed God's will and slaughtered the two crusader animals we had in captivity," said the claim, reportedly from the Mujahedeen Shura Council, a group linked to al Qaeda.
"And God has given our Emir, Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, the good fortune of carrying out the legitimate court's command in person."
The New York Times ran the story about the discovery of the two soldiers’ bodies with the following headline: “U.S. says 2 bodies retrieved in Iraq were brutalized”. That’s an interesting way to put it. The Times refused to report the outrage as established fact and had to qualify the headline with the disclaimer that “U.S. says”. In addition America’s Old Gray Liar...er...Lady wouldn't want to go so far as to report that the soldiers were horribly mutilated and tortured, so they resorted to the relatively benign word “brutalized”.
In the hierarchy of man’s abuse of man, I would rank “brutalized” with what happened at Abu Graib. For what happened to the two American soldiers I would want to use a much stronger term than “brutalized”. They weren't slapped around or shouted at. They were butchered in the cruelest manner imaginable and the term “brutalized” doesn't even come close to what was done to them.
But, hey, the Times, Reuters and CNN must maintain their neutral stance, except of course when it comes to anything that Americans might have been guilty of, such as defending themselves against an implacable enemy who would like nothing better than to destroy about a third of the world’s population, all in the name of god.
It’s frightening to think that the organizations charged with keeping us abreast of world events are so consumed with self-loathing that they can't find it in their hearts to make a moral judgment of anything that happens, except events that expose our own moral shortcomings.
WILL WE LEARN FROM HISTORY?
A lot is at stake in our "war on terror", but let me present a few things in a different light.
We abandoned the Montanyards in Vietnam. Hopefully we learned from that mistake. We also abandoned the Kurds after the first Gulf War. We abandoned the Afghans after the Soviet-Afghani war and look what that bred. We propped up the Shaw of Iran, a corrupt person to be sure, but then we dumped him and the Ayatollah Khomeini took over, and hence we have the hostile Iran that we do today. We have a history of leaving people behind. Will we abandon the nation of Iraq after we have promised to help them and rebuild their country? Will we abandon them before they can maintain their security on their own? No, I think America will do the right thing.
By most accounts, we lost 58,156 dead in the ten-thousand day long Vietnam War. When I hear people say that they died in vain, I just cringe.
However, I will say this. We left before the job was done and millions of Vietnamese citizens were murdered over the next decade as Pol Pot slaughtered whole villages and the educated. We left too soon. Let’s learn from that mistake.
We also fought the war incorrectly, with an all too politically correct president, Lyndon Baines Johnson, actually selecting individual bombing targets himself. The rules of engagement and restrictions on who, where and when we could fight, hamstrung our military, who fought valiantly.
Let’s learn from that lesson too. Keep the cuffs of military operations.
If a sniper is hiding in a mosque, take it out.
I think that the real reason we ‘lost’ that war is because thanks to the same basic liberal media we see in operation today, we lost support of the war in the court of public opinion. I see the same thing happening now.
John Murtha, Cindy Sheehan, Nancy Pelosi, Dick Durbin and others, all puppets of the Left, and mostly all spewing destructive anti-war tripe.
Worse, knowing how the media basically caused us to if not actually lose the Vietnam War, we certainly didn't achieve all our objectives and we left the people in the hands of monsters. Will we learn from that lesson?
Will we stay in Iraq and Afghanistan (or Iran if necessary), until the fight is done?
We were not mislead. We were told it would possibly be a long war, and indeed it might be. Knowing that these politicians realize what over-the-top dissent did to us in Vietnam, what can they possibly be thinking except that their remarks could potentially cause us to loose in Iraq? You be the judge.
We were not "lied to" either. If I hear another Democrat repeat "Bush lied!", I'm going to yell "Traitor!" Enough already, please. Every politician and every intelligence agency came to the same conclusion.
Bush did not lie. And remember, John Kerry came to the same conclusion before he didn't, then did, and then didn't. Where is he at now? Ted Kennedy said ‘war!’ too. Most Dems did, so why the waffling? Why the unstable rhetoric? Why would the same Congress that sent our brave troops to Iraq want to pull the rug out from under them? Thank God for the vote, 256-153. Even many Democrats abandoned their liberal leadership as they decided to take a stand and support our troops. God bless them!
You know, I was watching the increasingly irrelevant FOX Cable News channel and I kept hearing about how our representatives in the House voted on this resolution to let our troops know how we are behind their mission, and that we resolve to win. As usual and in my opinion, the ever treasonous Democrat Nancy Pelosi took the opportunity to slam Bush, as she always does. But forty-two other Democrats courageously voted for this resolution. Good for them!
FOX called it "a big vote". Well, shouldn't we have done that a long time ago?
Kill Zarqawi, get a boost in the polls, and let’s pander to the American people. Maybe they won't notice. I think they will notice and I think that they are learning from history. I hope I'm wrong about the pandering and I hope that these legislators were sincere, for our troop’s sake. In the mid 1980’s, I went to a parade that had thousands of Vietnam veterans in it (since I am one) and I must have looked foolish to some as I stepped out to shake the hand of every marcher I could. I do not want us to repeat the mistake of having any beyond-the-pale dissent embolden our enemies to the point that they can potentially overcome the blow we just dealt them in Iraq with the death of Zarqawi and the recovery of al-Qaeda intelligence.
Let’s learn from history, fight the war the right way, muzzle our mouths and let our troops finish the job. And they will.
OKAY, SO HERE'S THE STORY
I went surfing the "news" websites, and flipped through the "news" TV channels. And what the fuck did I see and read?
That friggin' Cindy Sheehan, wearing her boonie hat, sobbing and crying, and telling the world what a bastard G.W. is. (Naturally behind her were a bunch of dried-up, old biddies, totally agreeing with her!)
Then I was bombarded by democrats telling the world that they know how to end the war in Iraq, and that G.W. has no idea. (Duh ... these same democrats supported G.W. when he wanted to go into Iraq. Now it is election time!)
So as I meandered through a couple of more channels and sites, I saw a bunch of friggin' messicans yelling and screaming about their "constitutional rights" in the U.S.A. Too damn bad, none of them were citizens ... THEY HAVE NO FUCKING RIGHTS, EXCEPT THE RIGHT TO GO BACK TO MEXICO OR BE SHOT!
Then I came across the nigger in New York who is refusing to leave his hotel room which the government has been paying for since last September. He received $9,000 in cash, a $2,500 debit card, and he pissed it all away on booze and gambling. Now he is insisting that FEMA has to give him more money because he is broke. FEMA offered him a plane ticket back to New Orleans, but he refused it!
Naturally there has to be a "disaster area" somewhere in the U.S.A. And today's prize goes to Maryland, which all the local politicians have declared "disaster areas" and are begging for the federal government to send them billions of dollars. The mayor of one town stated that there was 12-feet of water flooding her town, however, the weather service indicates that around 4.5-inches of rain fell! Is Jesus multiplying the raindrops in Maryland? 4.5" of rain does not make 12' flooding! Another mayor stated that 10 to 15 residents had to move out of their houses. Whoopie-fuckin'-do!
The North Koreans, even after all their bullshit, still haven't launched that missile! Chickenshit bastards...
Seven ragheads were caught in Miami, with intentions of taking-down the Sears Tower in Chicago. When their pictures were posted, and it was realized that they were niggers and not ragheads, all of a sudden they were found to be only "talking about it" and not planning it, according to liberals and blacks! Hey people, a friggin' camel jockey by any other color is still a camel jockey, and "talking about" is the same as planning! Burn the fuckers!
Now, I feel so much better that I have become involved, once again, in world affairs...
TOP SECRET
Secret
Classified
Anyone who has been in the military of government service knows the meanings of those words.
They are also aware of the repercussions should they be found violating them.
Recently several newspapers have violated American security interests by publishing tow different approaches the government has used to track-down and stop terrorists.
In all good faith, I cannot see prosecuting those papers. However, I do find that their self-interest being placed above the best interest of the American people is deplorable!
Yes, we do have a right to freedom of the press, but the press has the responsibility of evaluating the results of what they publish!
These newspapers will x-out most 4-letter words in a quote, in order to prevent the American people from "harm".
These newspapers will block or blotch-out parts of pictures they feel are detrimental to the American public.
Yet, they have no reservations whatsoever about publishing classified information and techniques in our war on terror.
Who would I nail? Simple...
I would find who leaked information to the press, arrest them, take them to court for violating the Espionage Act and the Official Secrets Act.
If found guilty (which they should be) they should suffer the same fate as the Rosenbergs!
MURTHA SAYS U.S. POSES TOP THREAT TO WORLD PEACE
American presence in Iraq is more dangerous to world peace than nuclear threats from North Korea or Iran, Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., said to an audience of more than 200 in North Miami Saturday afternoon.
Murtha was the guest speaker at a town hall meeting organized by Rep. Kendrick B. Meek, D-Miami, at Florida International University's Biscayne Bay Campus. Meek's mother, former Rep. Carrie Meek, D-Miami, was also on the panel.
War veterans, local mayors, university students and faculty were in the Mary Ann Wolfe Theatre to listen to the three panelists discuss the war in Iraq for an hour.
A former Marine and a prominent critic of the Bush administration's policies in Iraq, Murtha reiterated his views that the war cannot be won militarily and needs political solutions. He said the more than 100,000 troops in Iraq should be pulled out immediately, and deployed to peripheral countries like Kuwait.
"We do not want permanent bases in Iraq," Murtha told the audience. "We want as many Americans out of there as possible."
Murtha also has publicly said that the shooting of 24 Iraqis in November at Haditha, a city in the Anbar province of western Iraq that has been plagued by insurgents, was wrongfully covered up.
The killings, which sparked an investigation into the deadly encounter and another into whether they were the subject of a cover-up, could undermine U.S. efforts in Iraq more than the prison abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib in 2004, Murtha said.
"(The United States) became the target when Abu Ghraib came along," Murtha said.
GENERAL BENEDICT ARNOLD WAS ALSO A “WAR HERO”
It is long past time to speak the undiluted truth in response to Congressman John Murtha (D-PA), Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and any of their cohorts on Capitol Hill who continually strive to demoralize Americans in the War on Terror by demanding unconditional retreat. They are not "patriotic" nor are they voices of the "loyal opposition," for they can be neither patriotic nor loyal when "carrying the water" for the mortal enemies of America.
They are traitors ... plain and simple...
THE TALE OF TWO COUNTRIES
Two American GIs are abducted, tortured, dismembered and beheaded. The general reaction in America is one of concern over the three ragheads who hung themselves at GITMO.
One Israeli soldier is kidnapped and the general reaction in Israel is to mass an army on the outskirts of Palestine, and demand the soldier be released immediately or a massive attack will take place!
I think I am living in the wrong country!!
CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS CRAP?
OLDER BROTHER INCREASE CHANCES MEN WILL BE GAY
Having an older brother increases the likelihood of a man being gay, a finding researchers say adds weight to the idea that there is a biological basis for sexual orientation.
"It's likely to be a prenatal effect," said Anthony F. Bogaert of Brock University in St. Catharines, Canada. "This and other studies suggest that there is probably a biological basis for" homosexuality.
S. Marc Breedlove of Michigan State University said the finding "absolutely" confirms a physical basis.
AND NOW THE NEWS FROM SAINT MARIE
It was an uneventful day in Saint Marie. There were no wildfires, there were no floodings, there were no bank robberies, there were no car bombers, there were no women drowning their 5 children and there were no soccer riots.
But the weather was miserable! Temperature was in the 90's with humidity running around 66% and no breeze to speak of! I hate this kind of weather!
I was going to go to the Big City yesterday, but since I didn't roll out of bed until after 9:30AM MDT I decided to put it off another day.
Instead I did more laundry. Like 7 more loads, and there are still several waiting for me!
So you are asking yourself why I have so many loads of laundry to do. Simple answer is, I only do laundry once a month! That's right ... once a month!!
I have 15 pair of jeans, 35 pair of socks, 35 pair of undershorts, 30 t-shirts, 15 "regular" shirts, and 7 sets of sheets and 30 bath towels.
So when I get out of the shower and go to the bedroom to get dressed and find that I don't have a clean "something", it is time for me to do laundry!
I went to the hospital and had some lab work done. I get to visit my Little Lady Doc next Monday...
Gasoline is still $3.00 gallon and diesel is still $3.06 per gallon.
You ain't gonna believe this! Albertson's had Pepsi on sale! That's right! They were charging what the rest of the world charges ... $2.00 a 12-pack, but there was a limit of 5. Of course, they didn't have anything else!
Right now the weather service is trying to tell me it is 82 degrees, however, my temperature equipment tells me it is 92 degrees and rising. Needless to say, I get to fire-up the air conditioners!
I was going to stop and have new shocks (all 6) put on the Bronco today. When I stopped in TireRama to get a price I was quoted $375.00 including installation for Monroe Reflex. When I went in today to have the work done the price had jumped to $400.00 for the Sensa-Trak. And they didn't have either in stock! Needless to say, I was a little pissed.
I also stopped to see what it would cost me to have the insides of my place painted. 10 years of 3 packs per day have turned my white walls and ceilings an ugly, yuckie, brown. There was no one there! the sign on the door said they would be back later, they were at swimming lessons...
So much for the trek to the Big City. See y'all tomorrow.
WHO HAS THE DISFUNCTION?
Who Has The Hard-on?
Rush Limbaugh or the Palm Beach Sheriff?
Poor old Rush. As he climbed off his private jet at the Palm Beach airport, customs and the Palm Beach sheriff searched his luggage, and found that Rush possessed illegal drugs! Yup, Rush had a bottle of Viagra, but instead of his name on the label, it had the name of Rush's doctor.
After around 4 hours of interrogation and searching, Rush was released, however, the sheriff has decided to forward the case to the federales ... the charge? Illegal possession of a prescription drug.
YOU JUST GOTTA LOVE THOSE JEWS!
Damn it's wonderful to watch a government take firm action! I watched as Israel started their incursion into the Gaza strip. Tanks, bulldozers, armored personnel carriers, and thousands of troops! The Palestinians were warned that this would happen if they did not release their captured soldier. The Palestinians told the Israelis to "fuck-off". Soon an air attack took place taking out two main bridges, a main road and the central power station. Then the troops started to roll. G.W. and his friends should take a lesson...
MEANWHILE IN IRAN
The Ass-a-tolla has told the Iranian people not to talk to the Americans. The Americans have nothing they want or need.
Meanwhile, G.W. and his gang of geniuses are attempting to "negotiate" with the Iranians. If they stop nuclear development, the US will give them food and airplanes, and money, and money, and more money.
Offering a country who doesn't give a shit if it's people live or die, food is about as asinine as it gets! Also offering to re-build their airline services is all bullshit ... hell, the government has been running AMTRAK from it's inception and subsidizing the American airlines for decades. Both are losing propositions!
MEANWHILE IN D.C.
The Congress of the United States of America has once again decided it is okay to burn the American flag! It is "freedom of speech".
But holy shit, don't dare to burn a cross! That is a federal crime with punishment of 10 years in prison!
And it is okay to blow-up a Planned Parenthood building, killing people, but don't set off a firecracker!
There are horses asses, and then there are horses asses. And I apologize to all the horses out there!
SORRY IF TODAY'S POST IS SHORT
But I want to be glued to the TV and watch the Jews kick the Arabs' asses.
If I can find it on any of the "news" channels. They seem more concerned with Katrina, Rita, and a tree falling in the White House lawn.
WOULD EVERYONE PLEASE CHECK YOUR CALENDARS
I think all of mine may be wrong.
The reason I am saying this is because in my search for real news coverage on the current Gaza situation I have seen the following ads on television:
Chevrolet has announced it's 72-hour 4th Of July sale. The sale started yesterday (the 27th according to my calendar) and it ends on July 5th.
Then there was the Japanese car company that was advertising their end of model year sale. The requirements were that you had to take delivery, from a dealer's stock, before June 15th, 2006.
To further confuse me, I received the latest summer sales flyer in the mail from one of my firearms distributors. They want me to become a Savage Stocking Dealer. If I purchase 5 Savage rifles they will send me a free Savage .22 Rimfire rifle. The only requirement is that I purchase all 5 rifles before December 31, 2005, and that I mail a copy of the invoice and a copy of my FFL to Savage before that date.
When I stopped at the post office yesterday my mail box was loaded with "timed material". You know ... junk mail. One was from Albertson's, with the notation that the sale ends June 21st, 2006. Another from Pamida announced "THIS WEEKEND ONLY" ... duh ... the dates were from June 23rd to June 25th.
But the best one was from a company I never heard of. It announced they were slashing all prices 60% and more on July 4th. However, at the bottom of the page, where the store hours of operation were listed, it stated they were closed July 4th.
This ad has nothing to do with the date. It is Ford's latest gimmick. Buy a new Ford product from the dealer's stock and they will pay for your fuel until 2007. Now, that does sound good. Here's the catch. They really aren't paying for your fuel. They will mail you a Debit Master Card, good for gasoline products only, with a $1,000 limit. Now, the way I figure it, $1,000 is NOT going to buy me 6 months of gasoline. Figuring the current cost of gasoline up here is $3.00 per gallon ($3.06 for diesel), and the average driver puts on 15,000 miles per year, and gas mileage for what I want is around 12 MPG, you can do the math. Oh, Okay I will do it...
7,500 miles at 10 MPG is 750 gallons of gas. 750 gallons of gas at $3 per gallon is $2,250. Quite a difference between $1,000 and $2,250!
Then you read the fine print: "Amount is based on average fuel economy ratings driving 1,000 miles per month with fuel at $2.91 per gallon for six months."
And then you read the extra fine print: "Not available on Mustang GT, Ford GT, F-650/750 and higher models or to residents of Texas or Oklahoma."
What new Ford did I want? The Shelby Mustang, naturally. However, it doesn't qualify for the "free fuel until 2007" program!
TODAY'S POST
Is going To Be Like My Sex Life
Short and early
The past 36 to 48 hours have been fairly tough on me physically. So this is going on-line early, and it is gonna be very short.
If I start feeling better later on, I'll take a couple of nasty pills and start bitching again.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN ACCENT?
In the past few months I have seen the Australian accent become the standard in television commercials.
Be it auto insurance, health insurance, fast food restaurants (all of them), automobiles, chewing gum, hard liquor, beer and wine, computers, you name it, the voice has been from Oz.
Granted, I used to find it extremely exciting on Olivia Newton-John, but that was a long, long time ago.
MILITARY JUSTICE?
A Coast Guard Academy student was found not guilty of rape charges.
However, the same court that found him not guilty of rape, found him guilty of sexual assault?
Duh?
So he is going to get 6 months at hard labor, dishonorable discharge, and kicked out of the school.
From what I have read about the case, this cadet was accused, by 4 female cadets, of rape. The court found that the rape charges were total bullshit in all four accusations, plus the court found him innocent of any charges in three of the four.
The "sexual assault" charges he was found guilty of applied to only one of the four female cadets, and it was not a one-time screw. It seems it was consensual sex on many occasions, but the gal got scared when her superiors found out about it, and conspired with her friends to file the rape, and other charges.
PENTAGON DOCUMENT CLASSIFIES HOMOSEXUALITY AS MENTAL DISORDER
The Pentagon is revising a document that calls homosexuality a mental disorder, officials said Wednesday.
"Mental disorder" my ass! It is a life-style choice. It always has been and it always will be!
JEW VS. ARAB IN GAZA
Almost nonexistent on the news channels. Instead they are concentrating on the rain in the northeast. With tons of videos of trailer houses, which were located on landfills below sea level and with no drainage sources, being flooded "up to the roof".
I had a friend who lived in one of those friggin' things. It was a double-wide around 50-feet long. And I swear, if you farted in the bathroom, the living room shook!
U.S. REJECTS LIMITS ON PERSONAL GUNS
The United States will oppose any international effort to limit access of U.S. civilians to legal firearms but supports stronger controls on arms imports and exports, a senior State Department official said yesterday.
"The United States believes it is important for all of us to speak with one voice concerning the grave matter of the international illicit trade in small arms and light weapons," said Robert Joseph, the undersecretary of state for arms control and international security.
Mr. Joseph is heading the U.S. delegation to the small-arms review conference at the United Nations, which continues through next week.
"The U.S. Constitution guarantees the rights of our citizens to keep and bear arms, and there will be no infringement of those rights," Mr. Joseph said. "The United States will not agree to any provisions restricting civilian possession, use or legal trade of firearms inconsistent with our laws and practices."
The international conference has triggered anger among many American gun owners, who have responded to a National Rifle Association campaign suggesting that the United Nations is trying to take their weapons away.
Tens of thousands of letters have poured in to the United Nations from NRA members, prompting reassurances from Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Prasad Kariyawasam, the president of the review conference.
Mr. Joseph stressed that Washington seeks a "positive" engagement with other governments and supports the implementation of a recent agreement to mark weapons and create a registry to trace their whereabouts. The agreement would also:
In an effort to focus on "substance, not process," Mr. Joseph said, Washington would not endorse a third review conference, preferring to discuss "actions that are focused, practical and intended to strengthen" illicit arms-control regimes.
Europeans and others are pressing for a formal agreement on transfer controls, to make sure that weapons are not diverted to conflicts or repressive regimes. The United States has refused to discuss a new treaty relating to arms, but Mr. Joseph said yesterday that Washington will consider voluntary principles.
He also warned other delegations to back away from issues that the Bush administration deems too complex or inappropriate for such international conferences, such as the marking of ammunition.
• Establish more effective controls on the importing and exporting of weapons.
• Strengthen controls over international brokers.
• Provide for more effective stockpile management of weapons under state control.
• Provide for the destruction of government-declared surplus and illicit weapons.
YOU JUST
Gotta Love
Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent, a heavy metal guitar legend and devoted hunter, was being interviewed by a French journalist. Eventually, the conversation turned to his love of outdoor pursuits. The journalist asked, "What do you think the last thought is in the head of a deer before you shoot it? Is it, `Are you my friend?` or maybe `Are you the one who killed my brother?'"
Nugent replied, "They aren't capable of that kind of thinking. All they care about is, 'What am I going to eat next? Who am I going to screw next?' and, 'Can I run fast enough to get away?' They are very much like the French in that way."
BOY DIES ON DISNEY COASTER
Well, that's how the headline reads, but, it doesn't tell the entire story.
Seems the kid was limp when the ride finished, but was still alive. His father did CPR, but the kid died.
Inspectors stated the ride was in excellent condition, and a roller coaster manufacturer stated the ride is tame compared to other coaster located around the country.
Then the press goes on to say that 14 people have died at all the Disney Parks since 1989.
Gee, 14 people since 1989? What does that boil-down to? 1.2 people per year? And several were from old age. That's not bad considering the number of people who have entered the Disney parks.
You have a better chance of being KILLED in Washington, D.C. during a 15 minute visit!
SUPREME COURT BLOCKS GUANTANAMO BAY WAR-CRIMES TRIALS
The Supreme Court delivered a blow to the Bush administration's anti-terror policies Thursday when it ruled that the president was out of line when he ordered military war-crimes trials for some Guantanamo Bay detainees.
Justice John Paul Stevens wrote the opinion, which said the proposed trials were illegal for 10 foreign terror suspects under U.S. law and Geneva conventions without congressional approval.
Since when does the Geneva Convention cover terrorists? It's intent is to cover captured military POWs! And if you listen to the Supreme Court, the Nuremburg Trials are also illegal!
What a bunch of retards...
HALL OF SHAME
Christiane Amanpour:
I never did like that bitch!
THE RIGHT TO BEAR FIRECRACKERS...
As Americans prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July, safety nannies will be urging a national ban on the sale and use of consumer fireworks.
Citing injuries to children as the primary concern, a report in the July issue of Pediatrics will reiterate the American Academy of Pediatrics long-standing call for a consumer fireworks ban. It’s no coincidence that the study is being released the day before our July 4 holiday.
But before we allow the nannies to trample over our recreational – not to mention our civil – liberties on the holiday intended to celebrate liberty itself, let’s consider a few relevant points.
First, there’s no question that unsafe use of fireworks – like unsafe use of virtually anything – can cause injury and/or death.
In the case of fireworks, since the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission began keeping records in 1976, the number of fireworks-related injuries has ranged between 7,300 injuries to 12,600 injuries per year; about 45 percent of the injuries occur in children under 14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
But during this time, the consumption of fireworks has risen nearly 10-fold – from 29 million pounds in 1976 to 281.5 million pounds in 2005. The annual rate of fireworks injuries has actually declined from 38.3 injuries per 100,000 pounds of fireworks sold in 1976 to 3.8 injuries per 100,000 pounds of fireworks sold in 2005, according to the CPSC.
This improved safety rate cannot be attributed to an increase in sales to professional pyrotechnicians. The consumption of backyard fireworks -- which are legal in 45 states -- hit a record high of 255 million pounds in 2005, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association. Sales to professional pyrotechnicians account for less than 10 percent of the total sales of fireworks.
The bottom line is that more backyard fireworks are being used more safely than ever before.
Undoubtedly, the self-righteous nannies among us will gasp that even a single injury is one too many. Ideally that would be true. But in the real world, such intolerance is neither practiced nor practical.
More than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger are treated every year in emergency rooms for playground-related injuries, according to the CDC. During the 1990s, 147 children died from playground injuries. Climbers on public playgrounds and home swings appear to be the most “dangerous” equipment.
Although some schools have altered or removed some pieces of playground equipment – slides, monkey bars, and merry-go-rounds, for example – due to liability concerns in our litigation-prone society, there is no call to ban playgrounds in order to avoid injuries to children.
Similarly, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among U.S. children (an average of 5 deaths per day according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). While we may try to make cars safer in order to reduce the likelihood and severity of injury, we don't ban children from riding in cars.
The nannies may try to counter that while cars and playgrounds have social utility that outweighs the risks they entail, the risks of backyard fireworks far outweigh their social utility. But backyard fireworks, when used safely, have great social utility in that they are simply fun.
It’s important to note that the lead author of the Pediatrics report -- Center for Injury Research and Policy director Gary Smith -- seems to be more anti-fun that pro-safety. He’s not recommending steps for increased fireworks safety, but simply calling for an outright ban.
Moreover, Smith has published numerous reports in just the past year about the dangers inherent to a host of recreational activities including: trampolines (should not be used at home); cheerleading (uniform rules and regulations needed to increase safety); sledding (a program is needed to increase helmet use); water-skiing and wake-boarding (helmets and other protective gear should be worn); and ice skating (children should wear helmets).
Smith has also gone after more mundane things such as riding lawnmowers (children under 16 shouldn't operate them); eyeglasses (safer designs needed) and shopping carts (should be redesigned to decrease tip-over hazards). He seems only to have overlooked the danger of mindlessly scaring people about everything.
I'm more than happy to let behavior nannies like Smith and the American Academy of Pediatrics stay inside with their helmets on and worship at the altar of safety-at-all-costs. But they should leave the rest of us alone to enjoy the blessings of freedom – safely, of course.
I can't see how there are ANY firecracker injuries! When I was a kid we could buy "Cherry Bombs", "Ash Cans", "M-80s", "Roman Candles", and all other kinds of goodies.
On the front edge of our block there were 14 of us kids, all around the same age. We all bought and used these items, and none of us ever got hurt!
Now, all you can buy are dinky little sparklers, smoke bombs, and little "fountains". What a bore!!!
Even the little "Lady Fingers" and "Black Cats" which can be held in your hand when they go "pop" are outlawed.
These "experts" and "do-gooders" are managing to take ALL the fun out of life, and also managing to ruin ALL holidays!
I am not anti-safety. I am all for seatbelts and shoulder harnesses. I am for helmets for motorcycle people. I am for car seats for small kids. I am for a grounding wire on all electrical appliances.
But most of all, I am for teaching the young how to properly use anything and everything. That is where the safety is really located. Not in outlawing an item, but in educating about the item!
BOY WHO DIED AFTER DISNEY COASTER RIDE HAD HEART DEFECT
Even though the parents of a 12-year-old boy who died after riding a Walt Disney World roller coaster said he was healthy, a medical examiner determined Friday that the boy in fact had a congenital heart defect.
The autopsy of Michael Russell was done one day after he passed out while riding Disney-MGM's Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. The cause of death was natural, ruled Dr. Jan C. Garavaglia, Orange County's chief medical examiner.
"No evidence of injury was found but congenital heart abnormalities were detected, which will be further evaluated."
Gee, I wonder if there is going to be a law suit against Disney? Wadda ya all think?
"As Iraq spirals downward into an abyss of violence, it seems ironic that the man perhaps most able to bring peace to Iraq is fighting for his life before a kangaroo court. In court, Saddam Hussein has been defiant and fearless, courage that’s earned him the respect and admiration of all factions. People talk openly of the nostalgia they have for the days under his rule when Sunnis, Shias and Kurds lived in peace and harmony...Saddam won more than 99 percent the last time he faced Iraqi voters. It’s highly doubtful he could he get such support if he weren't loved and respected."
I AIN'T GOT NOTHING TO SAY TODAY
Except
Another month is shot in the ass!
I'm going to be watching the Discovery lift-off ... if it goes.
What a bunch of pansies!
I sit in front of the TV for hours, and they cancel the lift-off because there is a cloud 20 miles away?
Whever happened to the "good old days" when the pilots just yelled, "LIGHT THIS CANDLE!"?
And they wonder why the hell nobody is interested in the space program...
LIBERAL JUDGES
Fire Another Bullet
Into U.S. anti-terrorist efforts
Apparently celebrating its first major victory over the US citizenry (SCOTUS’ Kelo decision to do away with the 5th Amendment to the US Constitution and allow private developers to steal American citizens’ property was only a year ago), on Thursday the US Supreme Court ruled that the President of the United States cannot order terrorist enemy combatants to be tried before a military tribunal. The court wrongly cited the rules according to the Geneva Convention. This unfathomable reasoning, using the Geneva Convention as the basis for its decision, does not apply to this situation.
The Geneva Convention applies to its signatories and those who wear the uniform of a recognized country. Neither of these scenarios is applicable to the current crop of terrorists at Guantanamo. But, the liberal contingent of the US Supreme Court used it anyway. This is simply and clearly yet another instance of courts—and now even the US high court—making up decisions as they go along, in order to justify their own ideologies. Although these decisions fly in the face of the US Constitution, these liberal courts have determined that they are far above the laws of the land.
Several pertinent questions come to mind. If foreign terrorists are now to be afforded all of the rights of US citizens, and will have their cases tried in US domestic courts, will US troops now be required to Mirandize them? Will our soldiers have to “read them their rights” on the battlefield, when taking them “into custody”?
"If foreign terrorists are now to be afforded all of the rights of US citizens, and will have their cases tried in US domestic courts, will US troops now be required to Mirandize them?"
Will we now have attorneys appearing in the combat zones of Iraq and Afghanistan to advise their radical Islamic clients not to say anything to their captors? Do you really believe any of these Ramsey Clarke wanna bee terrorist ambulance chasers would go to Iraq in the first place?
Still don't think we're in a desperate situation? Well—let’s take a look. We have leakers giving national security secrets to the mainstream media. Note: For those who are still unaware, it’s called treason. Then, we have our own homegrown leftist mainstream media collaborating with the leakers and publishing said national security secrets. All of these are part and parcel to the crime. But, nothing is done about either of these treasonous acts and no one is suffering any consequences of their treason. And—to plunge the knife in further (and than shoot the victims over and over again)—now we have the leftist faction of our US Supreme Court stripping the President of even more of his powers. Now, it’s stripping his ability to wage war against an enemy that attacked us!
To those leftists reading this, you will also be very negatively impacted as are the rest of us, by this latest inane decision by our high court. You just don't see it. Unfortunately, most of you never do and won't until you are finally and irretrievably personally attacked by the enemies of our country, our people and—yes—you.
These are dire times for the country and this latest decision has made it even more ominous. It appears that the factions who no longer want the United States of America to survive are winning. But, it’s not coming from the ballot box. It’s coming from the far-left contingencies who rule by both intimidation and now unmistakably—judicial fiat.
Throughout history, our presidents have had the powers that the current liberal judiciary has now ruled “obsolete”. And with the arrogance and egos only present in those who believe “we can't be touched”, they have placed the country—and us—in mortal danger
SHUTTLE
Well, I'm going to watch it again, unless they scrub this lift-off because a butterfly farted 150 miles to the east...
SHUTTLE TIMES TWO
Well, they scrubbed the shuttle launch again. This time because of a few raindrops!
Now, I just gotta think about this for a minute...
We launch military aircraft into hurricanes, ice storms, tornadoes, and all kinds of weather loaded with explosives and hundreds of troops.
We launch civilian aircraft into hurricanes, ice storms, tornadoes, and all kinds of weather loaded with hundreds of passengers.
We launch medical aircraft into hurricanes, ice storms, tornadoes, and all kinds of weather loaded with critically ill patients and medical personnel.
This is ridiculous!!!
There was very little interest in the shuttle launch yesterday, other than myself and a few tourist who just happened to see the sign on the highway announcing the launch yesterday.
There was even less interest today. Those who were there yesterday went on about their holiday weekend plans, and there was nobody stopping for the launch today.
Do they really expect anyone to give a shit on July 4th? Everyone will be heading back home, sitting in their backyards having a B-B-Q, or just crashed on the couch after a long weekend!
IF ... they ever get this thing in the air, I suggest they pick-up the people on the space station, bring them back to earth. Then I strongly suggest that congress cut all monies for "space exploration" (we haven't "explored" anything in over 30 years!).
Put all military people back on their regular active duty jobs, and all civilians back to whatever it is they did before.
They wanna go to Mars ... geesh ... they can't even get out of Titusville!!
GOTTA GO TO THE BIG CITY TODAY
I Have To See My "Baby Doc"
Will do some writing when I get back.
Okay, so I went to the Big City.
Nothing going on there. Gasoline is still $3.00 per gallon and diesel is still $3.06 per gallon.
About the most exciting thing I saw were some antelope along highway 24. The first ones I have seen this year.
When I got home I found that someone has put poison around all my prairie dog holes.
About the only thing I enjoy up here is watching them play. Now some stupid son of a bitch is poisoning them!
They aren't hurting a damn thing. It would be different if there were grass and a lawn, then I could almost understand it. But the lawns at Saint Marie are one level below a clean-fill dump!
Can I get the simple bastards to fix my storm windows or door? No! Can I get the to plug all the air leaks around the windows and doors? No! Can I get them to replace the weather stripping? No!
But, God-damn, they sure jumped on the gigantic prairie dog threat real fast!
REMEMBER MY TOOTH PROBLEM?
Well, I received the bill from the dentist today.
$70 for x-ray;
ONE-HUNDRED-AND-NINETY-SIX-FUCKING-DOLLARS FOR A FILLING!!!
$196 for filling.
THEY DOOD IT! THEY REALLY DOOD IT!!
STS-121 Lifts-Off
Finally...
Shuttle Lift-Off Video
This Is A Link To The NASA Site
Their Server May Be Busy
THE GREAT 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS SHOOT-OFF
It was between Mass-a-two-shits and New Yuk.
More accurately, between Boston and New York City.
I watched both on TV, twice, and here is my opinion.
New York hyped their display as the "world's biggest". They bragged about launching fireworks from 33 different barges, and firing up to 1,000 rockets per minute.
Well, maybe they fired 1,000 per minute, unfortunately, you can't follow 1,000 rockets per minute. It is like trying to watch all the acts in a 3-ring circus at the same time.
Although the display was impressive, I wasn't impressed!
The fireworks had no relationship whatsoever to the music being played.
The video presentation was as scattered as the fireworks, and even less coordinated! It appears that the primary objective was to show the Macy's neon sign as much as possible, then the crowd of people waving to the TV camera, then the New York Pops Orchestra, then the Statue of Liberty, and finally the fireworks. They must have had around 25 different camera locations, and the producer/director did everything he/she could to make sure that you got a view from each camera every 3 seconds!
Aside from the fireworks, the New York music presentation sucked. The vocalists were all has-beens or wanna-bees! And it would have been nice if the musicians and the singers agreed on what key they were going to use!
The New York Pops are a second-rate orchestra, and they were even worse during this presentation.
Now, on to the Boston presentation.
Boston didn't hype their presentation. they just announced that it would be better than ever.
They launched their fireworks from a very large single barge, maybe two tied-up together.
They didn't launch 1,000 per minute, and they didn't launch from the entire length of the Charles River.
The co-ordination, timing, and presentation of the fireworks was completely synchronous in shape, color, size and location to the music.
There were only 2 or 3 different camera locations, that I could tell, and they showed each display perfectly. No flopping back and forth between cameras. No endless shots of the crowd waving at the camera, and no pictures of the orchestra instead of the fireworks.
AND NO COMMERCIALS!
My choice of the winner?
Boston, without a doubt!
Bigger is not always better, but better is always best...
NORTH KOREA LONG-RANGE INTERCONTINENTAL MISSILE FAILS
Well, the North Koreans finally got the balls to launch their "Intercontinental Ballistic Nuclear Missile", but...
...it failed!
North Korea test-launched at least five missiles Wednesday, including a long-range Taepodong-2 believed capable of reaching the United States, in a display of bravado that defied stern warnings from Washington and Tokyo, officials said.
U.S. officials said the long-range missile failed after 35 seconds, and the rest were short-range missiles that did not pose an immediate threat to North Korea's neighbors. The short-range missiles landed in the Sea of Japan.
Still, the White House described the tests as "a provocation" and Tokyo said it was considering sanctions. South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported as many as 10 missiles may have been launched, but officials could not confirm that.
The audacious military exercise by the isolated communist nation came as the United States celebrated its Independance Day holiday and launched the space shuttle Discovery from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
"We are urgently consulting with members of the Security Council," said John Bolton, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Thomas Schieffer, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, called the launches "a provocative act."
Two U.S. State Department officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the long-range missile was the Taepodong-2, North Korea's most advanced missile with a range of up to 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles). Experts believe it could reach the United States with a light payload.
Japan also immediately protested the tests.
"We will take stern measures," said chief government spokesman Shinzo Abe, adding that sanctions were a possibility. He said the launch violated a longstanding moratorium, and that Tokyo was not given prior notification by Pyongyang.
The launch came after weeks of speculation that the North was preparing to test the Taepodong-2 from a site on its northeast coast.
The missiles all landed hundreds of kilometers (miles) away from Japan, Abe said. He said the first missile was launched at about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, or about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday EDT. Abe said the third launch was of a long-range missile, but he could not confirm if it was a Taepodong-2 or the older Taepodong-1.
If the timing is correct, the North Korean missiles were launched within minutes of Tuesday's liftoff of Discovery, which blasted into orbit from Cape Canaveral in the first U.S. space shuttle launch in a year.
North Korea had observed a moratorium on long-range missile launches since 1999. It shocked the world in 1998 by firing a Taepodong missile over Japan and into the Pacific Ocean.
The U.S. and North Korea have been in a standoff over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program since 2002. The North claims to have produced nuclear weapons, but that claim has not been publicly verified by outside analysts.
Wednesday's tests come amid heightened rhetoric between the two.
On Monday, the North's main news agency quoted an unidentified newspaper analyst as saying Pyongyang was prepared to answer a U.S. military attack with "a relentless annihilating strike and a nuclear war."
The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush responded by saying that while it had no intention of attacking, it was determined to protect the United States if North Korea launched a long-range missile.
On Monday, Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns warned North Korea against firing the missile and urged the communist country to return to six-nation talks on its nuclear program.
The six-party talks, suspended by North Korea, involved negotiations by the United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia with Pyongyang over the country's nuclear program.
With the rising tensions, the United States and its allies South Korea and Japan have taken quick steps to strengthen their missile defenses. Washington and Tokyo are working on a joint missile-defense shield, and South Korea is considering the purchase of American SM-2 defensive missiles for its destroyers.
Beijing, North Korea's main ally, had no immediate reaction to the developments.
China's state-run media were quick to report North Korea's apparently failed launch of a long-range Taepodong missile but all quoted foreign media reports or foreign leaders as the source of the information.
China is North Korea's neighbor and most important ally, providing critical fuel, food and other economic assistance to the diplomatically isolated Pyongyang government. In recent days, China had sought to discourage North Korea from a missile launch and had tried to restart the six-country negotiations.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard, meanwhile, condemned the tests as "extremely provocative."
SAINT MARIE ASSHOLES
It appears that the real estate agents are selling places up here to anyone who can sign their name, or know someone who can sign their name.
I have already mentioned the asshole who was running his lawnmower at 10PM, and the asshole who bought a motorcycle and not the muffler.
Well, last night, from around 10:30PM until after midnight, some asshole was "celebrating" the 4th of July.
How was he/she "celebrating"? With firecrackers and gunshots!!
I have nothing against either, but midnight is more than a little stupid, and gunshots in a residential area strictly belongs in ragheadland!
Meanwhile...
I am now wondering if the asshole who decided to poison the prairie dogs actually knew what he/she was doing.
Not only are the prairie dogs dying, but so are rabbits and birds. And considering that we had a small fox population up here, and they enjoyed prairie dog dinners, I wonder what is happening to it. I have no idea what this poison is doing to the deer population.
I'M RUNNING OUT OF THINGS TO BITCH ABOUT!
I Don't Care That Ken Lay Died
And I am really tired of the Korea bullshit
Wait a minute ... here's something!
THREE ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING, Three people have been arrested and charged with stealing confidential information about drink recipes from The Coca-Cola Co. (KO) and trying to sell it to rival PepsiCo Inc. (PEP) federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
The suspects include an executive administrative assistant at Atlanta-based Coke, Joya Williams, who is accused of rifling through corporate files and stuffing documents and a new Coca-Cola product into a personal bag.
Williams, 41, of Norcross, Ga., and 30-year-old Ibrahim Dimson of New York and 43-year-old Edmund Duhaney of Decatur, Ga., are charged with wire fraud and unlawfully stealing and selling Coke trade secrets, federal prosecutors said.
They are expected to appear before a federal magistrate judge on Thursday in Atlanta.
Pepsi spokesman Dave DeCecco said his company did what any responsible company would do in cooperating with Coke and the investigation.
"Competition can sometimes be fierce, but also must be fair and legal," DeCecco said. "We're pleased the authorities and the FBI have identified the people responsible for this."
Coke's chief executive, Neville Isdell, said in a memo to employees Wednesday that the company is cooperating with federal authorities.
"Sadly, today's arrests include an individual within our company," Isdell wrote. "While this breach of trust is difficult for all of us to accept, it underscores the responsibility we each have to be vigilant in protecting our trade secrets. Information is the lifeblood of the company."
He said Coke will review its information protection policies, procedures and practices to make sure it safeguards intellectual property.
According to prosecutors, on May 19, Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo provided Coke with a copy of a letter mailed to PepsiCo in an official Coca-Cola business envelope. The letter, postmarked from the Bronx in New York, was from an individual identifying himself as "Dirk," who claimed to be employed at a high level with Coca-Cola and offered "very detailed and confidential information." "Dirk" was later identified as Dimson, the FBI says.
Coca-Cola immediately contacted the FBI and an undercover FBI investigation began.
Prosecutors say Williams was the source of the information Dimson offered to provided Pepsi. They say that "Dirk" provided an FBI undercover agent 14 pages of Coca-Cola documents marked classified and confidential. The company confirmed that the documents were valid and highly confidential and were considered trade secrets. Williams works for a senior Coke manager, though the company would not say Wednesday which one. The company also would not say if she has been fired.
Prosecutors say "Dirk" requested $10,000 for the documents.
Later "Dirk" produced other documents that Coca-Cola confirmed were valid trade secrets of Coca-Cola and highly confidential. He also agreed to be paid $75,000 for the purchase of a highly confidential product sample from a new Coca Cola project, prosecutors said.
Then on June 27, an undercover FBI agent offered to buy other trade secret items for $1.5 million from "Dirk." The same day a bank account was opened under the names of Duhaney and Dimson, and the address used on the account was that of Duhaney's Decatur residence, prosecutors said.
Video surveillance showed Williams at her desk at Coke headquarters going through multiple files looking for documents and stuffing them into bags. She also was observed holding a liquid container with a white label, which resembled the description of new Coca-Cola product sample before placing it into her personal bag, prosecutors say, adding that Coca-Cola later verified the sample was genuine and is in fact a product being developed by the company.
Dimson, Williams and Duhaney were arrested in Atlanta on Wednesday, the day the $1.5 million deal was to take place, prosecutors say.
DEMOCRATS SUPPORT FLAG BURNING, REJECT 'GOD'
While American soldiers are dying on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, 34 United States senators — mostly Democrats — said it was OK to burn the U.S. flag to protest the war on terror.
Among those who believe the desecration of the flag should not be prohibited under the U.S. Constitution are such Democratic luminaries as Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Forbes Kerry, both of whom would like to become the next president.
What kind of message is that to send to our troops? Especially around this time of year when the nation celebrates Independence Day and proud Americans everywhere display the flag in honor of the men and women serving their country.
The Senate vote was hailed by such American-hating fanatics as Cindy Sheehan, John Murtha and Howard Dean. I'm sure the radical trio — and what amounts to the brain trust of the Democratic Party — is trying to organize a "burn the flag" rally as we speak.
Sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the flag amendment simply reads: "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States."
"It's OK to burn the American flag as a protest, but you can't offend Muslims by printing a cartoon? So much for what the left considers freedom of speech."
The 66-34 Senate vote was one less than the two-thirds — or 67 votes — required to send it to the states for ratification. The House cleared the two-thirds threshold last year, 286-130, with mostly Democrats opposing the measure.
Thirty of the 34 senate votes rejecting a proposed Constitutional amendment to ban flag desecration came from Democrats. Surprise, surprise.
Only three Republicans — Robert Bennett of Utah, Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island and Mitch McConnell — joined the leftist cabal in failing to protect the flag. Voters in those states should think long and hard about re-electing these RINOs — Republican In Name Only. The final vote against the flag amendment came from James Jeffords, the Vermont senator who claims to be an independent, but votes 100 percent of the time with the Democrats.
In addition to Sens. Clinton and Kerry, prominent Democrats who voted "No" to protecting the flag include 2008 presidential hopefuls Joseph Biden of Delaware, Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Russell Feingold of Wisconsin.
Of course, the liberal press was quick to praise Clinton, Kerry and the rest of the leftist bunch for standing up for "freedom of speech." Not too long ago, these same newspapers, led by the New York Times, refused to print the editorial cartoons that caused Muslim rioting throughout the world because they didn't want to offend Muslims. It's OK to burn the American flag as a protest, but you can't offend Muslims by printing a cartoon? So much for what the left considers freedom of speech.
The Supreme Court has ruled repeatedly that there is no such thing as absolute freedom of speech. Hate speech and speech that incites violence are not protected by the First Amendment. Although the high court has ruled that burning and other desecration of the flag are protected as free speech by the First Amendment, Congress and the 50 states can amend the Constitution to reflect the will of the majority.
Most Americans believe it is wrong to burn the flag, which millions of Americans have died defending. The 34 senators who failed to protect one of our most treasured symbols of freedom and the sacrifice of American troops should pay a price for their vote.
A day after the disappointing Senate vote on the flag amendment, the liberals in the House struck. Democrats defeated a measure designed to protect the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Republican effort to counter the radical left's campaign to remove "under God" from the Pledge failed to gather a majority vote in a House committee.
The legislation is designed to strip federal courts of jurisdiction over cases challenging the pledge. The most recent attack using the courts came from militant atheist Michael Newdow, who wants "God" removed from our U.S. currency, the Pledge and all government buildings.
A simple majority is required to report a bill to the House floor with a favorable committee recommendation, but the House Judiciary Committee split 15-15 on the pledge bill. One Republican, Bob Inglis of South Carolina, and 14 Democrats opposed the measure.
There is hope that the committee will act on the bill again because seven of the committee’s 23 Republicans missed the vote.
Democrats spend millions of dollars on strategists and pollsters to help them figure out why they're the minority party. Here's some free advice. The Democratic Party is out of step with the majority of Americans, who believe the flag should not be burned and the words "under God" and "In God We Trust" should remain part of American society.
Until rank-and-file Democrats show the courage to take back their party from left-wing extremists, the Democrats will be the permanent minority party in the United States.
WHAT DOES IT COST YOU TO HAVE YOUR CAR WAXED?
Since I haven't been feeling all that great lately, I decided to find out how much it would cost me to have my Bronco "professionally" waxed.
Normally I wash the Bronco every weekend, and wax it the first weekend of the month. But, like I said, I haven't been running on all 8 cylinders for many months, and just don't have the energy to do it.
I figured it would run around $35.
But, when a tooth filling costs $196, and a gas tank filling costs $95.97, I didn't think I could get away with $35.
When I was talking to the guy I asked what kind of wax he uses. There are several I prefer, unfortunately he doesn't use any of them. He uses a "spray-on wax"! A WHAT?
I told him that I wanted a paste wax and that I didn't want to see a single buffer swirl in the finish.
He asked why I was so particular about "an old Bronco".
"AN OLD BRONCO" my ass!
My Bronco may have found my driveway in September of 1994, but it looks as good now as it did then, except for a couple of small stone chips on the passenger side of the windshield.
At any rate, he wants $125 to wax the Bronco!
I guess I am getting off cheap ... I was talking to someone up here in Saint Marie, and her husband had this guy do his motorcycle ... $200!
I think I will do the Bronco myself. I may not be able to get it done in a couple of hours like I used to, but I'll be damned if I am gonna pay someone $125 to put a coat of wax on the Bronco!
However, if Sharon wants to stop by for a visit, she is welcome to help...
PLOTTING TO SELL COCA-COLA RECIPES
OH MY!
Another Day When There Is Nothing To Bitch About
Or maybe my medication is starting to work?
When I got out of bed this morning I had all intentions of washing and waxing the Bronco.
They were good intentions.
However; with the thermometer hitting the middle 90's, and the humidity hanging around 84%, I soon changed my mind.
There has got to be someone in this area that will do it at a reasonable price...
I READ A HEADLINE ON ONE OF THE NEWS WEBSITES
It stated that the large North Korean missile, the one that flopped after 35 seconds, was aimed towards Hawaii.
When I went to look for the article, it had been removed.
Has the American media decided to hide this? Or was an "urban legend" which was not verified before it was posted?
Either way, the media sure fucked-up on this one!
ANIMAL ANATOMY
A friend and I were exchanging e-mail today and she stated she was going to make a special dinner tonight. I asked her what she was going to make that was "special".
"Oh, baked chicken and cheesy potatoes," she told me.
I suggested a stuffed breast of veal, crisp "speargrass", minted applesauce, and some thin potato perogies. For desert I suggested some good vanilla ice cream with a dash of creme de menthe poured over.
And she replied, "I didn't know veal had breasts!"
And I replied, "All mammals have breasts..."
GENOCIDE IN SAINT MARIE
Evidently the poison that someone spread around the prairie dog holes isn't worth what they paid for it!
It may have killed a few of the dogs, a couple of rabbits and some birds. But, my little friends are still playing in the back yard.
And that makes me very happy!
I FOUND IT!
NORTH KOREAN MISSILE WAS AIMED AT HAWAII
The long-range Taepodong-2 was part of a barrage of seven missiles test-fired by North Korea on Wednesday. They all fell harmlessly into the Sea of Japan, but South Korean officials said the long-range missile had malfunctioned, suggesting it was intended for a more remote target.
Japan's conservative mainstream daily Sankei said that Japanese and U.S. defense officials have concluded that the Taepodong-2 had targeted the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean, after analyzing data collected from their intelligence equipment.
The newspaper quoted unidentified Japanese and U.S. government officials.
The officials decided that the missile was pointed at Hawaii from its angle immediately after launch and the altitude it reached, after analyzing data collected by destroyers equipped with the Aegis radar combat system and RC-135S electronic reconnaissance aircraft, the newspaper said.
It said the findings support a belief North Korean intended the launch as a protest over U.S. economic sanctions against the isolated regime.
But Pentagon officials said Thursday that the brief flight of the Taepodong-2 missile made it difficult to collect useful technical data, including its intended target, its payload and whether it was a two-stage or three-stage missile.
Some U.S. officials were even leaning toward the theory that it was configured as a space launch to deliver a satellite into orbit, rather than as a flight test of a ballistic missile.
Japanese Defense Agency refused to confirm the Sankei report.
The Taepodong-2, North Korea's most advanced missile, has a range of up to 9,300 miles and believed capable of reaching parts of the United States with a light payload.
Hawaii is about 4,350 miles southwest of North Korea.
The daily said it was not immediately known why Hawaii was targeted, but added that analysts believe Pyongyang might have tried to demonstrate that the missile could reach the United States, or because Hawaii is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
North Korea might have avoided targeting Alaska because of a risk that the missile could mistakenly hit a land area in that route, the report said.
YES
I Suffered Through
G.W.'s "press conference"
I didn't have to. We have tons of what he was spewing up here in any cow pasture you are brave enough to walk in!
This guy has turned into the fastest lame duck in the history of the United States.
But what pisses me off the most is that he is not doing what the American people hired him to do.
He reminds me so much of the Clinton era. You know, stern face, harsh words, pointing finger, and strong threats.
Now, it all about "negotiations" and "diplomacy"!
Now, it's all about giving the bad guys a chance to make up their minds without threats.
HEY NUMBNUTS! YES YOU G.W.!
The ragheads and the north cumreans made their choice a long, long time ago!
Now is the time to do things the right way ... my way!
And that is all I have to say today...
IS AMERICA HEADED FOR DECLINE?
What One Generation Allows In Moderation
The next accepts in excess
"What one generation allows in moderation," it was once said, "the next accepts in excess." This has certainly been true in America in recent years.
Anyone old enough to be raising children has witnessed firsthand the decline of moral standards since the time we were kids. It seems the time-honored notions of courage, honor, sacrifice, responsibility and decency have become a thing of the past.
Do I really need to give examples? Just turn on the TV to any sitcom and see for yourself. We've come a long way since Mayberry R.F.D.
For many, a healthy skepticism has morphed into outright "blame America first" for anything that goes wrong in the world. We are at war with the forces of evil, and many among us can't even identify what evil is. Many even cheer for our side to lose.
History has shown us that great civilizations pass through a succession of phases: From bondage to spiritual faith, from spiritual faith to great courage, from courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to complacency, from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependence, and from dependence back to bondage.
"President John Adams once said, 'Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.'"
We all know about the rise and fall of ancient Egypt, Israel, Greece, Rome, and a host of other civilizations over the past 5000 years. Success, no doubt, breeds complacency.
Call ours the "American Civilization." And what phase are we in now? Well, my heart wants to tell me we are somewhere between liberty and abundance, but my head tells me it is closer to complacency or apathy.
Until this time, each American generation since the founding has left this nation in a little better condition than they had inherited it from their parents. Looking ahead, the continuance of this trend seems doubtful.
Many virtues that have evolved over centuries formed the basis of our culture. We once admired the progress of humankind, the development of reason, the advancement of law and science, and the ideas of free markets and individual rights. In the U.S., the union of these ideas, and others, has allowed more people here to enjoy more wealth, opportunity and freedom than has ever been known on so vast a scale ever before.
We believed duty and sacrifice were a virtue. Most of us respected people who were good, meritorious, and honorable. But these thoughts, of course, are now considered judgmental because they are based on differentiating right from wrong, correct from incorrect, and good from evil. Today, such talk is often dismissed as intolerance or bigotry.
In recent years, many have sought to dismantle the institutions and standards that have been the very basis of our success. Tolerance, which was once a good thing, has evolved into acceptance of just about anything, no matter how destructive or base it may be.
One part of this problem lies with Multiculturalism, which suggests that all cultures are valid and equal, even those that wish to do us harm. It also suggests that heterosexual white men have established this society to dominate and oppress females, minorities, the needy, and people in less developed countries. Forced tolerance and political correctness over this nonsense have left many people confused about what really to believe.
Yes, we have had racial problems in our past. However, the wrongs of slavery and Jim Crow have been righted, and the time is way overdue when all should be judged by the "content of their character."
In our well-intentioned quest for equality, many standards have no doubt been reduced or eliminated. Much of today's crime, illegitimacy, drug use, and failing schools can be traced to a lack of personal responsibility. A failure to speak truth to individuals for fear of offending them, or affecting their self-esteem, is also to blame. These problems fester in Black, White and Hispanic communities alike.
When discussions of right and wrong become incoherent, surely we invite chaos and disaster upon us. The law alone cannot bring order and unity to society. Its foundation rests on the voluntary consent of its citizens.
While the law often allows us to do as we please, a personal moral code inside each of us prevents us from contemplating, and committing what is rash or unjust.
President John Adams once said, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
No society can survive without a consensus about what is right and wrong, and the only consensus that people in this land have ever coalesced around comes in the form a Judeo-Christian morality. It is this moral consensus that made us successful. Tear this consensus apart for some half-baked philosophy such as Multiculturalism, and decline awaits us.
You don't need to be a Founding Father to figure out that spiritual faith, courage and liberty are what make a people great. Once upon a time, we instinctively knew this. It is a lesson we need to relearn.
HUGHESNET
You're correct!
They're screwed-up again!
MORE GASOLINE SAVINGS HYPE
How many of you have seen the advertisements about saving 10% on the price of gasoline? You know the ads, the ones being used by the credit card companies.
Well, being bored, and being that I didn't have anything else to do, I checked with a couple of them.
One of them does give a 10% discount on their gasoline if you use their credit card. But it has a limit of $50. Not $50 per purchase, but a total lifetime refund limit of $50! Now, gasoline up here is $3.00 per gallon. That means I will get a 30-cent refund on each gallon I buy. BUT, that is only good for 166 gallons, or 5 fill-ups!
Another will give you a 10% refund on their gasoline if I use their credit card. But that is only for the first 30 days. After that it is reduced to 5%.
Another gives a 6% discount on their gasoline, if I use their credit card. But, I have to keep a positive $300 balance in my account. In other words, I send them $300, and they ALLOW me to use that money to pay for my gasoline. And I must keep a $300 balance, so the next month, I have to send them a check for the amount of gasoline I bought the previous month. They get to keep my $300 interest free ... for as long as that credit card is active.
I remember when for 28-cents per gallon, someone came to your car, filled the tank, checked the oil, checked tire pressures and cleaned your windows. In addition, gasoline credit cards were free. And you used to get free dishes or drinking glasses with each purchase ... and let's not forget S&H Green Stamps!
SOMETHING IS WRONG
In Harris County, Texas
Reports indicate that there may have been a mass murder Saturday night!
I have received several emails from residents of Harris County, Texas, stating they heard to most God-awful screams most of Saturday night.
Most emails stated that either it was one woman being tortured over and over, or it was many women being butchered.
If anyone can supply me with the details, I would appreciate it.
"ASK FOR PICTURE ID"
You know the area on the back of your credit cards where you are supposed to sign your name?
Well, on mine I have printed "ASK FOR PICTURE ID".
The last time I went to the Big City I used 4 different credit cards to make some purchases in 4 different stores.
AND NOT ONE OF THE CLERKS ASKED FOR A PICTURE ID!
GOING TO THE BIG CITY TODAY
So, as usual, I will write more when I return.
106 DEGREES!
A record for this date.
As for the Big City. Gasoline is STILL $3.00 per gallon and diesel is STILL $3.06 per gallon.
I found another place that will wax my Bronco. He told me he gets $25 per hour to wax a car, and the Bronco would take between 3 and 4 hours.
I was gonna run around town and use my credit cards again, to see if anyone asked for a photo ID. But at 106 degrees, that game will have to wait.
Went to Albertson's, bought only the necessary items, and headed back home to my A/C.
Too damn hot...
PAYING IN BLOOD
For
Liberal arrogance
If there is one trait that defines Liberalism, it is a hatred for consequences. No matter what the circumstance, Liberals are either trying to ignore, avoid, or blame others for the consequences of their own actions. Normally this would not be a problem, everyone should be free to live as goofy a life as they please, even if it happens to entail stumbling about blindly within a fog of their own self-delusions. However, the problem with Liberals is they cannot just be content with screwing up their own lives; they have to screw up the lives of those around them as well.
If a woman runs around and has unprotected sex, Liberals think the child should be killed because it is unfair to make people live with the consequences of their lack of morality. If someone had a bad childhood and has an unnatural hatred for the cherished beliefs of others, Liberals feel we should ostracize Christianity from society so these misfits do not quite so poignantly feel the sting of missing out on Christmas. Illegal immigrants should be granted citizenship so they do not have to deal with the consequences of ignoring immigration law. Disabled loved ones should be euthanized because selfish family members do not want to deal with their care. And, homosexuals should be allowed to marry because they do not want to acknowledge that two beings of the same sex cannot breed.
Reality is the greatest threat to Liberalism, not Conservatives. When reality comes crashing in, and Liberals are forced to see the consequences of their half baked ideas, their first response is to blame someone else for them. Normally, the people who get blamed will be the ones who said their ideas would never work in the first place, but since the Libs hate them, they make a convenient scapegoat. That might sound like an oxymoron, blaming others who said your ideas would not work after they have been proved right and your ideas did not work, but it far easier for Liberals to lash out in overly emotional incoherence than admit they might have ever made a mistake.
"Liberals are not only ignoring the consequences of their previous decisions, but arrogantly proceeding down another reckless course that will only end in disaster."
So far, the only victims of Liberalism have been our society, culture, children, and way of life in general. However, this soon may change in the face of the international war on terror and nuclear proliferation.
If it was not bad enough that Liberals, headed up by Appeaser-in-Chief, Jimmy Carter, drafted the treaty that North Korea promptly ignored and developed nuclear weapons under, they are now complaining that the treaty did not work, and blaming Bush for it. Evidently, they do not feel that the United States has appeased the psychopath leader of North Korea quite enough, so off we go to the United Nations to learn the true meaning on international diplomatic incompetence. As we speak, the leaders of nations North Korea is not pointing nuclear missiles toward are deciding the fate of those who do. Perhaps, if we are lucky, the UN will get really tough with North Korea, and in addition to a press release expressing “regret” that North Korea is practicing its incineration of Tokyo, and order the United States to send 52 American hostages to Pyongyang to guarantee our good behavior.
Speaking of 52 American hostages, Iran, venue of President Carter’s last diplomatic victory for Liberalism’s cause, is going to develop nuclear weapons, as well. This time, the Bush Administration is doing what the Liberals want, and engaging in multilateral negotiations with a country that is the wellspring of global international terrorism. Not to be the pessimist, but they are not going to work. Iran is doing to pursue the development of nuclear weapons until either they have them, or someone destroys their nuclear production capabilities. We can stand around and negotiate forever, and this fact will not change. Liberals like to pretend that negotiations are an end unto themselves. That somehow, if we talk long enough, and give a hostile enemy concession after concession, peace will mysteriously erupt. The fact that negotiating with rogue regimes is no more effective today than it was in the days of Neville Chamberlain is lost on Liberals. Faced with the reality that the problem is not Iran’s poverty, infrastructure, or need for alternative fuel sources, but the radical terrorist regime running it, Liberals have once again chosen to blame Bush and the United States, in general, for objecting to Iran’s desire to “wipe Israel off the map.”
At no point have Liberals joined the threads together and realized that we are doing the exact same thing with Iran that we did with North Korea. If there is ever a negotiated compromise to the current crisis, all it will do is give the Iranians a few years to secretly violate the treaty and then drop their fully developed nuclear capability on the world as a fiat accompli.
Liberals are not only ignoring the consequences of their previous decisions, but arrogantly proceeding down another reckless course that will only end in disaster. Just as “The New York Times” has decided there will be no negative consequences to their divulging America’s innermost secrets in how it fight the war on terror, simply because they have decided there will not be any, the international community is gambling that their failed methods of the past will somehow now work with Iran and North Korea. My question is, how many millions will have to die before the Liberals admit they were wrong.
WE MUST PROTECT GITMO DETAINEES UNDER GENEVA CONVENTION RULES
THIS IS HOW THEY TREAT OUR SOLDIERS!
Video (graphic) Of Butchered U.S. Soldiers
WHO IS REALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CURRENT KOREAN MESS?
There are two main causes to the North Korean "problem".
The first is the U.N. and the second is Harry Truman.
Korea was the first big blunder by the U.N., and the U.N. has continued to make every problem a cluster fuck since that time!
You name the problem area, and if the U.N. was involved it turned into a disaster!
I can see absolutely NO justification for the U.N., and it is time for the U.S. to get out of the U.N. and the U.N. to get out of the U.S.!
As for Truman ... if he wasn't a good hat salesman, he was a worse President!
MacArthur was the "hero" of the Pacific War during WWII. And was appointed to be the commander of the forces in South Korea when that "conflict" broke-out.
He was doing a good job of it, until the politicians decided to get involved.
If MacArthur had his way there would be no problem in Korea at this time!
But the hat salesman fired him because MacArthur had the balls to speak his mind.
Some day, maybe, the American citizens will allow their military to control and fight the wars, and the politicians will remember that they are only temporary residents of their positions, and should be more dedicated to our domestic situations.
But I doubt it...
NOTHING TO WRITE TODAY
Why?
Because there is nothing worth writing about!
OKAY, I HAVE SOMETHING TO WRITE ABOUT
The local weather!
Two days ago we broke a record for the hottest July 10th, it reached 106 degrees.
Take a look at that day's temperatures compared to what we have had so far today!
Yesterday it only got up to 98 degrees...
