Farris Hassan's Iraq Adventure
Florida teen Farris Hassan, who was taking a class on immersion journalism, decided to really get into his topic by taking a trip. Without his parent's knowledge. By himself. To Iraq.
Read the story here.
Dear Nameless Hookup, About The Other Night...
Thanks to inSPOTLA, Los Angeles residents can now tell their flavor-of-the-night that they gave them more than a good time.
The site states that "...there's an easy way to tell your sex partners you have HIV or another STD. Send them a free inSPOTLA ecard, ANONYMOUSLY or from your email address..."
They also provide helpful hints on composing your message, such as "...put yourself in the other guy's shoe. Think about how you were told--what you liked and what you didn't--and put the best of it into words."
The site goes on to recommend that you get tested should you be the happy recipient of such an email.
Link: Oddly Enough News Article | Reuters.com.
Linked to basil's blog
Michael Jackson Hates Jews
No wonder Michael Jackson is now living in Bahrain and going native (converting to Islam). Jackson had this to say about Jews during a recorded telephone conversation:
Referring to Jews, Jackson is heard saying that "they're like leeches…I'm so tired of it…They start out the most popular person in the world, make a lot of money, big house, cars and everything. End up penniless. It is a conspiracy. The Jews do it on purpose."
Ah well, he probably makes an exception for young Jewish boys.
Link: New York Daily News - Home - Jacko's sicko Jewish rant.
Doctored U.N. Report Missing Vital Information
When the U.N. made its report of the murder of Rafik Hariri, former Prime Minister of Lebanon, something was missing from the final edit; the names of his murderers.
The final, edited version quoted a witness as saying that the plot to kill Mr Hariri was hatched by unnamed senior Lebanese and Syrian officials�. But the undoctored version named those officials as Maher al-Assad, Assef Shawkat, Hassan Khalil, Bahjat Suleyman and Jamal al-Sayyed.
Link: Independent Sources � Blog Archive � 1 more thing the UN can’t do: Use MS Word.
Rosa Parks Dies
Rosa Parks died at her home on Monday. She was 92 years-old.
Ms. Parks will forever be remembered for standing up against prejudice (no pun intended) by refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man back in 1955 in Alabama.
Her arrest led to an almost year-long boycott of buses by blacks, organized by Martin Luther King, Jr.
For a wealth of information on Ms. Parks try these links: Miami Herald, La Shawn Barber's Corner (more links there), Time
Tracking Code Discovered in Color Printers
Those pages coming from your printer contain more information than you think.
Last year, an article in PC World magazine pointed out that printouts from many color laser printers contained yellow dots scattered across the page, viewable only with a special kind of flashlight. The article quoted a senior researcher at Xerox Corp. as saying the dots contain information useful to law-enforcement authorities, a secret digital "license tag" for tracking down criminals.
Apparently, printers from most major manufacturers contain this coding, including those ubiquitous HP printers.
The code for Xerox printers has been cracked by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights group.
Link: Sleuths Crack Tracking Code Discovered in Color Printers.
The Battle for the Internet
Heavens, what would Al Gore think if we were to surrender control of his creation to the United Nations?
It is precisely because the US "has never abused its position in that way" that the Internet has become so universally accepted. It is on the basis of that "full faith and confidence" in the system that vast information flows, often transacted by companies worth many billions of dollars, can occur on a routine basis. By maintaining this medium of exchange, the United States has become the information central banker to the world. H/T Cutler's Yankee Station
Charities Report Low Donations for Quake Victims
Charities are reporting a marked slow-down in response to the recent earthquake in South Asia.
No one knows yet how much has been raised by U.S. charities since the 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Saturday. But nonprofit relief organizations say donations are coming in much more slowly than after the tsunami or Katrina.
The article states that the American Red Cross says "the pace of giving for earthquake relief is far slower then it was after Katrina or the tsunami."
Some of the charitable organizations think the slow down might be due to so many disasters coming within a short period of time.
Personally, I think people aren't feeling very good about the direction we're headed. Instead of conservatism, we have a government out on a drunken spending spree, with a bunch of Democrats who may sweep the next election by pretending to be fiscally responsible.
We have a Congress that is reluctant to cut any pork. They would prefer that you dig ever deeper into your pockets.
Instead of meaningful (think FAIR TAX) tax reform that would stimulate businesses, generate jobs, and do away with an absurdly difficult tax code, we get a cap on home mortgage interest deductions and an additional tax passed on to you through limits on what your employer can deduct on health insurance.
People are afraid that the economy is about ready to go south and they're battening down the hatches.
OU Bomber
The father of suicide bomber, Joel Hinrichs, says that his son committed suicide in an open area to avoid harming others.
That statement doesn't quite jive with earlier reports that Hinrichs had jihad materials in his apartment. Also suspicious is the report of “unique' items of significant monetary and operational value" found there.
Senate Approves Detainee Treatment Rules
The senate approved an amendment that prohibits the use of "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" by a whopping 90-0 vote.
Another Shameless Town Uses Eminent Domain
Union Township, New Jersey needs a motto. I suggest "We may be little, but we're big on sleaze."
Carol Segal was planning to to build townhouses on property he owns in Union Township.
Segal said he met with Cryan, who is head of the township's Democratic Party, and other local officials "scores of times" over the past five years to discuss the project. He claims the talks turned adversarial after he rejected proposals to work with various developers they proposed.
So what happened next? The township committee voted unanimously to take Segal's property away (through eminent domain) and build using a developer of their own choosing.
On May 21, Albert G. Mauti Jr. and his cousin Joseph hosted a fundraiser for Assemblyman Joseph Cryan at the Westmount Country Club in Passaic County. The two developers and family members picked up the $10,400 dinner tab, donated another $8,000 and raised more than $70,000 that night for the powerful Union County Democrat, according to state election records.
Three days later, the governing body in Cryan's hometown of Union Township -- all Democrats -- introduced an ordinance paving the way for the Mautis to build 90 or so townhouses on six acres of abandoned industrial land along the Conrail line in town.
Cryan denies that the fundraiser and the vote only days later are related.
Oh yeah. I believe that one.
By the way, if you would like to voice your opinion, I'm sure the fine folks at the Municipal Office would appreciate hearing from you. Their phone number is (908) 735-8027 or you can fax them at (908) 735-0591.
Links: The Washington Monthly, Star Ledger
Barber on Bennett
La Shawn Barber weighs in on Bill Bennett's comments regarding abortion, crime, and blacks.
I knew that La Shawn, should she choose to post on the topic, would give a measured, reasonable response. She didn't disappoint me.
...Part of what makes Democrats liberal is that their agenda, devoid of real ideas and solutions, is based on race. In order to win elections, they must pit the races against each other. Constant racial and class warfare is what they wage, nothing more. For the love of God, I am asking blacks to think, use their minds and stop reacting with infantile emotion... (Emphasis added)
It would help a great deal if we didn't have the likes of Charlie Rangel, Al Sharpton, and the "Rev." Jackson out there with their idiotic, race-baiting harangues. (I think I have grown to dislike Rangel more than the other two combined.)
These people do not have your interests at heart. Rangel keeps his job by counting on your knee-jerk reactions. Jackson and Sharpton have made millions at your expense.
You want something better? Listen to La Shawn, Cosby, JC Watts, Condi Rice, a host of others.
You want your kids to have a better life? Take all those sociopathic, gangsta rap CDs and burn them. Tell them to pay attention in school. Tell them to get a good job and get married before having children. Tell them that selling drugs isn't an acceptable career path.
Make your own life a good example for them to follow...and stop voting for those people who's only concern is that they keep you "down on the farm."
OU bomber update
Flopping Aces has quite a bit of information posted.
Suicide Bomber at OU
This is getting pretty close to home.
One person was killed in an explosion near a packed football stadium at the University of Oklahoma on Saturday night in what authorities said appeared to be a suicide.
The blast, in a traffic circle about 100 yards from Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, could be heard by some in the crowd of 84,000, but university President David Boren said no one inside the stadium was ever in danger.
Reports of a second bomb appear to be inaccurate. There was no information about the bomber.
Links: U. of Oklahoma Blast Is Apparent Suicide - Yahoo! News, OU: statements
Update: more at Dr. Hartline, who is a student at OU
Planning For Emergencies #1
I hope that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have driven home the point that we need to take responsibility for ourselves and our families.
One of the first things you can do is to put together a survival kit for each member of your family. While your kit should be customized to fit each person's needs, certain items should be included in each pack. I would consider the following to be the bare minimum:
- Water (at least a 3-day supply for each person)
- Food (at least a 3-day supply for each person)
- First Aid Kit
- Flashlight
- Knife (at least for older family members)
- Moist Towelettes
- Radio with extra batteries or a hand-cranked radio (one per family, or one for each person, if you have money to burn)
- Whistle (cheap) or walkie-talkies (probably better, but not so cheap)
- Dust mask or kerchief to filter dust (a clean T-shirt will do in a pinch)
- Can opener, if you include canned goods in your pack
- Medications: Prescription and OTC
- Important documents
There are different kinds of kits: bug-out kits, get-home kits, kits for your office, kits for your home. Check out the links I've included for more on these.
While you don't have to acquire everything at once, you should get started.
Bias, what bias?
Springfield, like many other parts of the country, had a "Peace" rally today. Here is a picture of the anti-war crowd.
Actually, judging from the signs, it wasn't so much a peace rally as it was an anti-Bush rally (although there was at least one sign denouncing SUVs.)
What I find most interesting are the actions of a local TV station (I'm not sure at this point which station, but I intend to find out.)
This station sent out a reporter and camera to film and interview the war protesters--JUST the war protesters. They completely ignored what was on the other side of the street, where, lo and behold...
Cindy eats Rosa's dust
Confederate Yankee compares Cindy Moonbat Sheehan to Rosa Parks--OUCH!
I voted for Roberts before I voted against him
John Kerry thinks the SCOTUS should be more about feelings and less about the law.
The Washington Post Gets It Wrong; Scott Johnson Gets It Right
In a recent Washington Post book review of Jonathan Aitken’s biography of Chuck Colson, the author, David Greenberg claimed that Chuck Colson and Prison Fellowship accept federal funds from President Bush’s faith-based initiatives program.
The allegation is completely untrue, as PF President Mark Earley stated in a letter to the Post, which follows: (Oh! You didn't publish that letter , DID YOU?)
H/T La Shawn Barber
Links: B Relevant: The Washington Post Gets It Wrong; Scott Johnson Gets It Right, Scott Johnson: Wielding the Hatchet
Hurricane Rita upgraded
The National Hurricane center says Rita has reached category 3 and is likely to grow to a category 4 storm.
Rita had sustained winds of 115-mph (185-kph) winds on Wednesday as it headed into the Gulf. The storm hit the Florida Keys but did not get close enough to reach the vulnerable chain of islands with its most destructive forces.
Rita's most likely future track would take it to Texas by the end of the week, raising fears the sprawling storm could bring heavy rains to flooded New Orleans and threaten the recovery of oil production facilities in the Gulf of Mexico.
Galveston has ordered residents to evacuate and New Orleans has already evacuated two busloads of people, with 500 other buses ready to go.
Six Meat Buffet "A River of Cash No Levee Can Hold"
Six Meat Buffet rightfully ponders the sanity of shoveling federal dollars (meaning your money and mine) into the corrupt political system of Louisiana and has a suggestion:
...How about a two-or-three year moratorium on all federal taxes for every resident of Louisiana and Mississippi? Seriously. I realize a huge amount of cash is needed, but instead of a blank check, how about a big check and a tax cut? Wouldn’t that be a way the federal government could help people get on their feet - a conservative way? Wouldn’t that draw people back to their states, attract new businesses and entrepreneurs, create jobs, and jump-start the Gulf Coast economy? (Emphasis added)
I've heard several people float this idea recently and I agree, but I would take it several steps further; enact the FAIR TAX and let the entire nation benefit just as the entire nation is helping rebuild the area.
Links: NRO: Tax Cuts Are Katrina Relief; Louisiana Political News Service; Tancredo: Block Aid to Louisiana Politicians, They Can't Be Trusted; METROBLOGGING: NEW ORLEANS; Deroy Murdock: Katrina and the Waves of Cash; World Magazine: Getting a bit carried away?
Clarification/Correction: While "A River of Cash" was posted on Six Meat Buffet, it was written by Johnny Walker Red.
Update: Read Hurricane Economics, written by Alan Reynolds of the Cato Institute
Update #2: Bush Rules Out Tax Hike to Fund Recovery
When do-gooders do harm
The moral of the story is sympathetic giving destroys society. Expectant giving (where some sort of action is required in return) works.
...white America does remain morally culpable — but because white leftists in the late 1960s, in the name of enlightenment and benevolence, encouraged the worst in human nature among blacks and even fostered it in legislation. The hordes of poor blacks stuck in the Superdome last week wound up there not because the White Man barred them from doing better, but because certain tragically influential White Men destroyed the fragile but lasting survival skills poor black communities had maintained since the end of slavery.
I might add that it has had the same effect on white families here in Missouri.
Link: Focus: White do-gooders did for black America - Sunday Times - Times Online.
FEMA gets a new director
R. David Paulison, Acting Under Secretary/U.S. Fire Administrator, has been named as a replacement for Mitch Brown.
Certainly, Paulison's resume looks stronger. FEMA's site says Paulison was the Director of the Preparedness Div. of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate from 2003-2004.
Before joining FEMA, Mr. Paulison, who has 30 years of fire/rescue services experience, was chief of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department. In that position, he oversaw 1,900 personnel with a $200 million operating budget and a $70 million capital budget. He also oversaw the Dade County Emergency Management office.
He began his career as a firefighter.
New attacks promised
To commemorate Sept. 11, 2001, a member of the "religion of peace" says "We are Muslims. We love peace, but peace on our terms, peace as laid
down by Islam, not the so-called peace of occupiers and dictators." (Emphasis added)
ABC News--Tape Released: American al Qaeda Member Warns of Attacks
Disasters are ripe for abuse
One hundred and eighty-three Missouri businesses received $60.73 million in low-interest, guaranteed loans that were meant for the Sept. 11 loan program.
Of the 19,000 loans approved by the two programs, fewer than 11 percent went to companies in New York City and Washington, according to an AP computer analysis of loan records obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.
Nationwide, the federal government provided, approved or guaranteed nearly $4.9 billion in loans through the STAR program and a second program that required borrowers to document economic damage from the terror attacks. Those loans benefited nearly 19,000 recipients — even as some New York businesses in the shadow of the World Trade Center struggled to get federal assistance.
I hope Congress thinks about the abuses of 9/11 funds while appropriating money for Katrina disaster relief. I hope, but I have my doubts.
Link: News-Leader.com | Local News.
A MUST READ
A long post that is worth reading every word Link: Eject! Eject! Eject!: TRIBES.
H/T Six Meat Buffet
More Links
GentleWhisper has posted an email from a New Orleans police officer. READ 100,00 BODY BAGS and if you haven't gotten around to donating yet, please do.
little green footballs says that flyers have been circulating that call for gangs to join with Islamists in jihad against the LAPD.
Modern Tribalist has an article on child labor in India.
NewsBusters says a poll shows that U.S. citizens aren't nearly as ready to take Bush to task on Katrina as the media would suggest.
UNCoRRELATED has a different take on Kayne West's comments about hurricane relief efforts.
Wizbang is unperturbed by the promise of vacations for New Orleans' first responders.
InstaPun***K is floating some ideas of how bloggers can help disaster victims.
Random Responses has a link to a petition to make Giuliani Hurricane Relief Coordinator.
Today's Links
Hugh Hewitt, saying that now is not the time to counter the wild accusations surrounding the Katrina disaster: " Every serious person knows that the Titanic didn't sink because the Carpathia was slower than everyone might have wished."
La Shawn Barber, concerning illegal immigration, says we need to focus on employers hiring illegals.
Absinthe & Cookies is glad she isn't an Ann Rice fan.
Apropos Of Nothing writes hundreds of Muslim Palestinians torched homes in the (Christian) town of Taibe.
The Belmont Club notes efforts by women in Canada to prevent sharia from becoming part of family law.
Cerulean Sanctum has an urgent prayer request.
Gallery of the Absurd wonders why Tara Reid has a TV show. Check out the artwork.
Dr. Hartline thinks that Sean Penn should have donated money instead of going for a photo op in a leaking boat.
Bush names choice for Chief Justice
President Bush has nominated John Roberts to succeed Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who dies on Saturday.
Senate officials are considering three options: starting Roberts' confirmation on Tuesday with a delay built in on Wednesday for Rehnquist's funeral; starting the confirmation hearing on Thursday; or starting the confirmation hearing next week, the scenario considered to be the most likely.
Chief Justice Rehnquist Dies
Chief Justice William Rehnquist died this evening in his home. Link: BREITBART.COM - Just The News.
H/T Instapundit
TCS: Tech Central Station - Three Cheers for "Price Gougers"
Link: TCS: Tech Central Station - Three Cheers for "Price Gougers".
With every disaster or crisis, it seems that the public, press and politicians require a remedial course in Economics 101. In fact, apparently we need an ongoing educational campaign even when there is no catastrophe, as demonstrated by the recent foolish legislation in the state of Hawaii to cap wholesale fuel prices. Note the subhead in the linked story: "Some analysts warn move may spur supply problems."
H/T Instapundit
Allow Americans to give and they will be generous; no tax robbery is needed
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. attributed to Albert Einstein
I knew it wouldn't take long before someone offered up raising taxes as the answer to our problems. See NewsBusters: NYTimes Uses Hurricane Katrina to Push for Higher Taxes.
Sadly, this disaster has probably killed any hope for tax reform.
Look people, the answer is NOT rolling back the tax cuts or raising taxes. We must pass tax reform (preferably the FAIR TAX) and put government on a diet. We MUST hold our local officials responsible. We must be responsible citizens, take it upon ourselves to help our neighbors(which is being done), and become engaged in our local government. Put the money back in the hands of the states and let them govern as this country was meant to be governed.
The response by federal government has been slow and inefficient. The local response, New Orleans in particular, has been beyond pathetic--exactly the sort of response you can expect when you become enamored of the federal nanny state. While even the best laid plans go astray, given the history and topography of that area, they should have had an exacting plan of action.
If you do not care to make an effort to become better informed, kindly do your neighbor a favor and DON'T VOTE.
Flood blog
a.k.a. the "survival of New Orleans" blog Link: The Interdictor. H/T Wizbang
"Church" calls cops on pro-troops demonstrators
Once again, liberals demonstrate their tolerance...
There we were (we being a bunch of pro-troops patriots, Vince Jericho of KSGF and staff) peacefully standing on Battlefield street this morning, showing our support for the troops.
The next thing we know, someone from the First Unitarian Universalist "Church" of Springfield called the police, complaining: we were using their parking lot, the KSGF van was on their property, KSGF's TABLE was on their property...all of which was true. There were a few cars using their lot, KSGF had parked their van, speakers blaring, at the corner of their lot--conveniently next to the small group (as in 5) of anti-war protesters. I'm sure Vince thought they would enjoy listening to the show. They apparently didn't.
Continue reading ""Church" calls cops on pro-troops demonstrators" »
Katrina Flood Aid
I have several charities I'd like to suggest sending your "Katrina" donations to: America's Second Harvest, Samaritan's Purse, Feed The Children and the ASPCA.
They are all effective, highly-rated charities.
To check out more charities, go to the Charity Navigator. Glen Reynolds will be posting many more links on Instapundit.
Camp Casey
A conservative gets an inside look at Camp Casey. Link: Captain's Quarters.
First suicide bomb since Gaza withdrawal
The dust hadn't settled before a Palestinian terrorist sent 40 people to the hospital as he blew himself up.
Abbas condemned the attack, but his security adviser said it was a result of Israel's "crime" in Tulkarem, where five militants were killed by troops attempting to arrest them.
Link: USATODAY.com - First suicide bomb since Gaza pullout hospitalizes 40.
Gaza
One would think that the Palestinian Authority would want to get their act together in Gaza first, but...
After condeming an IDF raid in Tulkarm, PA Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei plays the race card and then says "Our people can't celebrate and dance in the Gaza Strip while Jerusalem and the West Bank are weeping." Read the rest here.
HELP TRACK DOWN THESE BOTTOM-FEEDERS
This is absolutely sickening. Perhaps some Seattle-area bloggers can help. There are some pretty good close-ups of the scumbags who beat these soldiers.
SEATTLE - Two soldiers who just returned from a year in Iraq were badly beaten in an attack outside Pioneer Square. But believe it or not, someone caught the beating on videotape. Now, police are asking for your help identifying the suspects.
The brutality of it all was captured on tape outside of Larry's Nightclub on First and Yesler on July 31.
Links: Six Meat Buffet � Blogswarm: Find These Assholes.
Say Anything and his readers are all over this and have come across some interesting things.
Blogads Logo Contest
Blogads (BlogAds?) has a contest going. They are looking for a new logo and looking to bloggers for inspiration. Go here Blogads Logo Contest to check it out. H/T Hugh Hewitt
Hmmmm, I work with numbers all day, so my creativity withered on the vine a long time ago. I'll throw a few ideas out there anyway:
- a kid with a
lemonadeblogad stand - a kid spray painting graffiti on a wall
Pain in the unborn
According to this article in USA Today, a rehash of old medical reports suggests that unborn babies probably don't feel pain prior to the 7th month.
A fetal-pain researcher takes issue with the report:
They have stuck their hands into a hornet's nest," said Kanwaljeet Anand, a fetal-pain researcher and professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He believes fetuses as young as 20 weeks feel pain. "This is going to inflame a lot of scientists who are very, very concerned and are far more knowledgeable in this area than the authors appear to be. This is not the last word — definitely not.
Generation Why? writes "Since when did the existence of pain become the criteria for whether we should kill another person? If this is is the criteria, then it should be legal to kill those under anesthesia, in a coma or on painkillers."
La Shawn Barber and her readers are all over it. (Scroll down the page)
Hamas Bombmaker Vows to Continue Attacks
Did anyone seriously think anything would change because of the withdrawal from Gaza?
Hamas released videotape of a man (purportedly Mohammed Deif) vowing to continue terrorist attacks until Israel is wiped from the map. Link: Hamas Bombmaker Vows to Continue Attacks - Yahoo! News.
Toasty Moe poses an interesting question.
Mark Steyn writes in Why Gaza? Why Now? "Invited to choose between nation-building or Jew-killing, the Palestinians prioritise Jew-killing – every time." H/T Apropos of Nothing
AmbivaBlog finds a small ray of hope. H/T Alarming News
"Extreme Makeover" comes to Purdy
Area businesses, colleges, and individuals are teaming with Ty Pennington and the crew from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in a project to help Camp Barnabas (Purdy, MO) construct new housing for the camp's founders and volunteers, along with a multimedia building.
Camp Barnabas is a Christian camp with a mission to help children with special needs including those with developmental and physical disabilities, visual and hearing impairments and chronic medical disorders. There are also two sessions for adults with physical or developmental disabilities.
When the dialogue becomes a soliloquy: how the Democrats chase away their own
I'm sure that there are a lot more Scott Randolphs out there, but they seem to have no voice within a party that panders to the extreme.
I actually felt myself become a republican today. It was around 10am, when I read the latest update of the Cindy Sheehan saga in CNN.com. I then shot over to read some blogs about it, and perused the comments in some of them, which was nothing but a long series of petty (albeit entertaining) partisan bickering.
Then it happend. [sic] The good little democrat in me tied the little noose around his neck and jumped off the stool. He just couldn’t take it anymore.
Wake up Dems. Bush-hatred, abortion, religious phobia and entitlements--is that all you've got?
And speaking of Kelo...
The city of New London adds insult to injury. First they seize private property and now they say that the homeowners owe BACK RENT! What complete bastards.
An NLDC estimate assessed Dery for $6,100 per month since the takeover, a debt of more than $300K. One of his neighbors, case namesake Susette Kelo, who owns a single-family house with her husband, learned she would owe in the ballpark of 57 grand. "I'd leave here broke," says Kelo. "I wouldn't have a home or any money to get one. I could probably get a large-size refrigerator box and live under the bridge."
H/T Michelle Malkin
Link: Fairfield County Weekly: A New (London) Low.
Another must read
Apropos of Nothing: Two Scenarios Two different visions of the aftermath of the evacuation of Gaza.
59 Million Strong
This week's burning question from 59 Million Strong is "Should Jenna and Barbara Bush enlist in the military to show support for their father's war?"
What do they plan on doing, sending a crowd with pitchforks to make the girls "volunteer?"
Springfield's "Vigil for Cindy Sheehan"
59 Million Strong was sending out emails trying to get people to show up for their "Vigils for Cindy" around the country, which were organized by MoveOn, TrueMajority, and Democracy for America.
There were 113 people signed up for the one here in Springfield, but it looked like about 40 people actually showed up. This is what the "crowd" looked like at about 7:45 p.m. Maybe some showed up after I left, but it was only supposed to last about an hour.
The weather was great, so that shouldn't have kept the throngs of adoring Cindy fans away. I only wish I'd gotten a picture of this older gentleman with a sign that said "IT TAKES A CINDY." It seemed that there were very few younger people in the gathering; most were at LEAST middle-aged or older.
I'm sure these rallies went over better in other parts of the country. I was pleased to see that it didn't here.
Supporting our troops? Please...
Wednesday evening, Sharon Ash intends to hold an anti-war, candlelight vigil near Olde Town Center in support of Cindy Sheehan--at least she doesn't try to claim she's supporting our troops.
Ash and Willard resident Joan Collins are members of the Peace Network of the Ozarks, a group that formed three years ago to try to stop the invasion of Iraq before it happened.
Collins said she'll be at Wednesday's vigil.
"It's important on a personal level because I can't imagine losing a child to a war that shouldn't have been launched," she said. Along with backing Sheehan's effort, Collins said Wednesday's candlelight vigil will be "in support of our troops and the families who have suffered losses." (Emphasis added)
I can tell you right now, had my son come home in a coffin, I would not be pleased with the sort of "support" that these women are showing.
Perhaps they mean to support the terrorists by raising their hopes that we'll pack it up and go home. It has been done before.
You want to support our troops? Look over there on the side bar--there's plenty of opportunities starting with American Snipers.org and ending with the Wounded Warrior Project.
Just know one thing; Sidle up to me with your little candle, sister, and you're likely to start a war on a whole new front.
You know it's time to worry when...
the likes of David Duke gives you the thumbs up. Read Why Cindy Sheehan is Right!
H/T Six Meat Buffet
U.K. reviews fertility laws & La Shawn Barber wants your input
La Shawn Barber would like you feedback on some questions she poses:
If a significant number of women begin choosing to abort their babies
because doctors discovered a “gay gene,” would your stance on the
“right to choose” change or shift in any way? Would the number of women
killing these “defective” babies make a difference? Is one potentially
gay dead baby one too many?
For the entire post, along with a link to the article she refers to, read Calling All Abortion-Supporting Liberals and Homosexuals!
"America's Most Wanted" fugitive caught in Missouri
Tommy Dewayne James was arrested in Joplin one day after being seen on "America's Most Wanted." .
Cindy's fan base
Aljazeera is quoting her. H/T The Discerning Texan
Dear Laura, I'm still waiting for those brownies
Another comment on Cindy Sheehan's "We have the Power" post. Menlo Bob must be quite a character:
Because of your bravery I am going to give a large sum of money in your honor to the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club in the Bronx. They do so much good for our community. It's Al Franken's favorite charity.
Posted by: Menlo Bob at August 14, 2005 11:15 AM
Then there's this quote, from Cindy's own post:
We had a very interesting day. We had Bush drive by really, really fast twice. I caught a glimpse of Laura. I was hoping after she saw me that she would come down to Camp Casey with some brownies and lemonade. I waited for her, but she never came. (Emphasis added)
Free speech v.s. treason
The Lebanese Political Journal makes a case for restricting speech:
Speech costs the most when humans must pay for it with their lives. If Abu Hamza al Masri urges Muslims to commit acts of terror, and they do, he must be silenced. If he believes Islam is at war with the West, regardless of whether the West believes this notion, he is no longer a free citizen. He is committing treason and must be tried, not just deported.
H/T Instapundit
Man outed on national radio show receives $270K
Roberto Hernandez collects $270K for being outed on the "Raul Brindis and Pepito" radio show.
Hernadez was driving to the local radio station where he worked when he was called by a man who said they'd met at a San Francisco gay bar. The caller then told him that their conversation was being broadcast live.
Prior to the show, even Hernadez's family was unaware of his sexual orientation.
Confederate Yankee on Cindy Sheehan
"A terrorist RPG killed the body of Casey Sheehan. It took his mother to try to kill his legacy."
My sentiments exactly.You can read the rest here.
The news in small bites
Did you wake up this morning and wonder what Joey Buttafuoco has been up to lately?
The 3 minute political platform: Speed dating & politics in the U.K.
Doctor recommends colleges return to single-sex dorms.
Only in Missouri: Barking man bites mailman.
Here's a teacher with a real problem. All I can say is "YUCK!"
U.S. Olympic Committee forces ferret competition to change their name.
Cleric Omar Bakri wants to return to U.K. for more freebies
Extremist cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed may return to the U.K. so he can have a free operation. Seems to me that the Brits have given him quite enough already: a car and several hundred thousand pounds in benefits.
All this for a man who would not inform the authorities if he knew of a terrorist plot.
Honoring Casey
Now HERE is something that does Spc. Sheehan (and all our military) honor. Kindly excuse my previous poor effort and read IRAQ THE MODEL'S: A message to Cindy Sheehan.
H/T Blackfive
In honor of Spc. Sheehan
I would like to honor Spc. Casey Sheehan for a brief moment.
By all accounts, Casey lived a life of service: service to his community, his church, his country.
Casey Sheehan volunteered (in fact re-enlisted), knowing that in all likelihood he would deploy to Iraq.
On April 4th, 2004, Spc. Sheehan once again volunteered; this time for a Quick Reaction Force convoy to help free his fellow soldiers trapped in Sadr City, where he, along with seven other brave soldiers, was killed in action.
Spc. Sheehan was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
Rest in peace, soldier. Our country salutes you.
Links on Casey: The Iraq Page; Black Sunday in Sadr City (pieces together the events of the action in which Casey was killed)
Jonesboro shooter to walk free
August 11 was Mitchell Johnson's 21st birthday--the day he was slated to walk out of the federal detention center. Federal authorities will not confirm his release because Michell was a minor when he was convicted.
Mitchell Johnson was, at age 13, one of two boys charged with the murders of five people at the Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Arkansas back in 1998.
On March 24, 1998, Johnson, then 13, and Golden, then 11, stole high-powered rifles from Golden's grandfather. Dressed in camouflage, they waited in the woods behind the school until the lunch hour, when Golden ran into a hallway to trigger a fire alarm.
As classmates and teachers filed out of the buildings, Johnson and Golden opened fire. Children ducked or scrambled while teachers tried to herd pupils back into the building. Four students and Shannon Wright, an English teacher, were killed; 10 others were injured.
Links: Jonesboro School shooting, AR town angry shooter may go free, 5 dead, 11 wounded in Arkansas school shooting, 4 dead in Arkansas school shooting
Cindy Sheehan's family asks her to stop
According to an email sent to the Drudge Report, the rest of the Sheehan family does not agree with her tactics; "We do not agree with the political motivations and publicity tactics of Cindy Sheehan."
Air America's new ad campaign
Rambix and the Red Star gives a sample of the new ad campaign that Air America is rolling out. Looks like it will work about as well as everything else they've tried.
Air America: digging for spare change in the sofa?
Certainly looks like Air America is having cash flow woes; they were late on their payroll and put the blame on their payroll processor. Link: The Radio Equalizer -Brian Maloney: Staffers Worried About AAR's Future.
Westboro "Church" strikes again
Yes, the Westboro church-of-hate has been at it again, disgracing distressing families who are honoring their loved ones. You can read about it at Objective Justice.