The Pen Is Mightier

I hereby give up PORK for Lent.

2009-02-25T03:52:00.002-06:00

I don't agree with the bill or big government. As for CNN, I've lost a ton of respect for this article alone: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/02/gop.stimulus.worries/index.html

What a gross overstatement generalizing what the GOP leaders were arguing as wasteful spending. CNN decided to be liberal (yeah, pun intended) with it's editing and only included the things that look great on paper. In reality, check out the pork in this piece of SPAM:

http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/economy/2009/02/19/finding-the-pork-in-the-obama-stimulus-bill.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/13/politics/washingtonpost/main4801242.shtml

http://politicalcalculations.blogspot.com/2009/02/where-stimulus-money-is-going.html

On top of all that, The House and The Senate respectively were only given 5 copies each of the 1071-page bill and less than 24 hours to read it. Now, I am not a speed reader, but even if you were, I doubt each and every Senator and Congressperson could share those paper copies or scrutinize the bill as it should be.

*** Anyone else getting strange feelings of fear-based posturing? Anyone remember The (in)famous Patriot Act and how the powers that were, used that act to creep into our private lives using unparalleled authority. Remember how the act was hastily passed in a time of fear? Shivers, kids...shivers. ***

If you think that electing Obama was a monument in honest politics, I once again implore you to seek honesty not only from the President, but from all of those who work for US!

The 'Penis' Mightier?

2008-05-14T23:24:00.002-05:00

So...what's with all the penis in movies these days? Of late, I saw Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Harold and Kumar 2.

So, I know that women have been fighting for equality for a long time and all, but do any of those women really think equality = more penis? I love women, and their naked bodies as much as the next (straight)man, but quite frankly, if I had to give up boobs and female nudity in films, I would gladly do it if I didn't have to see any more man parts on film. I'd just go buy a playboy or look on the pornonet...ahem, I mean internet to get my fill. Who really is writing this in the scripts anyway? Is it really that funny? Not to me! I am tired of seeing a penis just leap out at me when I least expect it!

I know some people will say that its no big deal and we should be like the Europeans and just accept it, but NO! I don't want to be like Europeans! That's why we broke free in the first place! The settlers were trying to GET AWAY from that type of thing. Granted, they were Puritans, but so what, why the penis? Anyone have a good reason?

Really, Arlen Specter?

2008-05-14T23:12:00.004-05:00

What the hell is this guy thinking. The economy is puking on itself and he thinks we should use Congressional time/money/resources to investigate 'Spygate'? What is this guy thinking? Even if the economy were booming and this country was at its most prosperous with no deficit, there is no reason that this should ever happen...ever. Who elected this guy? Pennsylvania, what? Can I get some help here?

Senator Arlen Specter (R- PA)
Phone: 202-224-4254
Fax: 202-228-1229
or online here

I'm counting on your support!

Can of worms...open thyself.

2007-08-01T10:58:00.001-05:00

Disclaimer: Here goes another foray into the annals of web history. This has been blogged over and over I'm sure, but the more I read, the more I am outraged and undignified.

I originally supported the war effort, I still am on the fence as to whether it's right or not. So I try to refrain from saying we should just pull out, or do anything sensational like that. However...

This Gitmo think has got me red-hot. Not just the fact that the prison exists, but the ideal that we created the commissions and set up this strange framework of courts to detain folks.

There is so much to say on the matter, I would like the fellow 'Pen' bloggers to weigh in on how they feel about it. I am in a rush, but decided to post anyhow, since I want to make sure I am not just a silent objector... anymore. Something needs to be done, for sure.

One point I'll conclude with: How can we maintain the stance that we are offering Iraqis the chance at a wonderful set of ideals to live by, when we violate those very ideals with the operation and support of such a facility?

I yeild the floor to you guys and gals...I know you have an opinion on this one Ems.

Russians are confused, stupid

2007-07-26T06:30:00.001-05:00

You know that guy that is the largest mass-murderer in the history of the planet (yes, even more than Hitler)? Russian youth think Good Ole Josef Stalin wasn't such a bad guy after all.

Also of interest is the fact that two thirds of them think that America is an enemy of Russia, compared to twenty percent thinking that Iran is an enemy. This is despite Bush and Putin repeatedly going to the ranch to play grab-ass.

BARBARIC!

2007-07-26T06:26:00.001-05:00

Random Thought

2007-07-21T11:26:00.000-05:00

I am sitting in England, and I just had to wash clothes for the second time. I was whining like a baby and thinking how everyone says how much they hate doing laundry. Then, I had a thought: my great grandmother would probably kick my ass if she heard this. I have a machine, nice detergent, and a folding table. My clothes get thoroughly clean and thoroughly dried without a clothes line. Pretty much, all I have to do is fold them when they are done and put them up. She was probably slaving away for hours scrubbing on the washboard and squeezing them out with one of those roller things before hanging them on the line to dry. I don't have to do anything except dump them in a machine and come back an hour later. Needless to say, I quit whining.

Guess who is still alive?

2007-07-19T11:43:00.001-05:00

ME! I saw this quote (HT: JC) and was inspired:

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

Sorry the posting has been non-existent. I am in England for the summer, and with classes, travel, etc. I haven't paid much attention to this place. Evidently, my "team" of bloggers really hasn't either. I am sure posting will pick up again in the fall, and in the meantime, I hope you are all well.

Speaking of musicians...

2007-06-18T19:03:00.000-05:00

If you don't check out 'Flight of the Conchords' you are missing this...

I can't take the Paris Hilton post anymore....

2007-06-15T19:19:00.000-05:00

Sorry...I had to post SOMETHING so that I wouldn't have to see anything about Paris Hilton first thing.

So.....here is a video of Sam Pacetti.....a GREAT finger picking guitarist from St. Augustine....although the video doesn't show just how kick ass he really is.

Enjoy!

Freakin A, man.

2007-06-09T01:28:00.000-05:00

I am so glad they are throwing that bitch Hilton back in jail. Thank God there is a judge who is man enough to send her back to jail and not cave to her 'devastated' fans -- who are these people?

If you do something wrong, you should be punished. I am so surprised that Noxema girl is still out free since committing vehicular manslaughter a while back (I may be wrong here, but I think I remember that right).

My God, I never thought we would pull out of the spiral of shame that is so evident in today's society. Please join me in prayer to whatever deity (if any) you subscribe to, and hope that they make her serve out her sentence in jail and that she lives to regret ever even thinking of breaking the law... That is, after all, what you are supposed to come away from jail thinking.

Then again, maybe she'll be like most of the others and just come out a worse, more educated criminal.

D-Day

2007-06-06T14:13:00.000-05:00

(Pictured: Eisenhower speaks to the para- troopers)

"There is one great thing that you men will all be able to say after this war is over and you are home once again.

You may be thankful that twenty years from now when you are sitting by the fireplace with your grandson on your knee and he asks you what you did in the great World War II, you WON'T have to cough, shift him to the other knee and say, "Well, your Granddaddy shoveled shit in Louisiana."

No, Sir, you can look him straight in the eye and say, "Son, your Granddaddy rode with the Great Third Army and a Son-of-a-Goddamned-Bitch named Georgie Patton!""
- General George S. Patton, June 5, 1944 (from his famous D-Day Speech)

Grammar Post

2007-06-05T16:33:00.000-05:00

On a whim because someone else used it, I decided to go track down the proper use of "enamored." I have always said "enamored with," and a friend of mine today said she was "enamored of" something. For instance, I am enamored with Scarlett Johansson, whereas she would say she is enamored of Brad Pitt. I thought that was strange, but it turns out both are correct, as one professor's website so cleverly points out:

If you're crazy about ferrets, you're enamored of them. It is less common but still acceptable to say "enamored with"; but if you say you are enamored by ferrets, you're saying that ferrets are crazy about you.

My letter to the Lege

2007-05-31T13:19:00.000-05:00

Background: Texas has a law guaranteeing admission to any public university for any high school student who graduates in the top 10% of their class. Among other things, this has the effect of requiring UT-Austin to admit an incoming class every year composed almost entirely of freshmen from Texas with a high GPA, leaving little discretion for admissions counselors to admit those with more colorful transcripts that include interesting experiences or more well-rounded students who don't fall in that bracket. Another problem is that at some schools, the bottom of that bracket may be a 3.9, while at others it may be as low as 2.8, which means that many of the students, despite being in the top of their high school class, may still be ill-equipped to handle college life on their own, eventually flunking out. UT-Austin has been trying to get a law passed for three sessions now to cap the percentage of the incoming class admitted under this rule to 50%; in the last session a law was blocked that would have capped it at 60% because the House version capped it at 66.67%, and the group of reps who have been blocking the change would not compromise on that percentage discrepency. Below is my letter to Elliot Naishtat, my district's Representative, on why I will be both campaigning and voting against him in the next election.

Dear Representative Naishtat:

The top 10% law was an ill-conceived plan with the best of intentions but the poorest of implementations. For two sessions of the Texas Legislature now you have voted against amending the law to cap the number of admissions under this rule, or finding another method to otherwise alleviate the strain on universities, particular UT-Austin.

I applied to UT several times over the course of a year and a half as a transfer student, with almost a 3.85 GPA from Austin Community College. This would have been enough to get me into any other public university in the state and even the country. Not so with UT, however; because of the burden of mandatory admission of thousands of high school graduates, many of whom go on to drop out of UT after failing to make a smooth transition to college, I was denied admission four times. After finally meeting with an advisor who told me that while my transcript was excellent I would likely never be admitted because of coursework completed 7 years earlier that brought my cumulative GPA below a 3.5, I made the difficult decision to move away from Austin to San Antonio to complete my coursework and degree there. I love Austin dearly. In the last five years it has become the home I never had, and moving away from here was a painful experience, and one I would not have had to face but for the 10% law.

I write you now not to berate you further for supporting this wrong-headed law that makes little account for market forces or considers the disproportionate popularity of the UT-Austin campus. I am not writing to berate you and other legislators for failing to ensure that EVERY UT school has the same academic and research prowess of UT-Austin. I am writing to you to make sure that you know that when I vote against you in the next election, it is because of this reason and this reason alone: you failed to support a necessary and critical amendment to this law during this session.

Every year that goes by without an amendment to the law, education at UT suffers. When faced with the opportunity to fix the situation, you refused to do so. In the last election, I maintained residency in your district because I was angry enough to vote against you for the immediate past session. On election day, however, I could not stomach the thought of voting for a republican. In the next election, however, I will not make that mistake again. You have shown me that giving you the benefit of the doubt was a error in judgment. In the next election I will do everything in my power to fix that error. I am a lifelong Democrat, and have only on the rarest of occasions voted for a Republican. In 2008 I will add one more time to that list, and will up the ante by campaigning for whatever candidate is in the race against you.

You have done your district and all of Texas a great disservice, and I urge you to cede your seat to a Democrat in the primary so that we are not forced to choose between you and a Republican in the next election.

Sincerely,
real name redacted

NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

2007-05-25T12:48:00.000-05:00

Alabama has decided that it is going to officially APOLOGIZE for freaking slavery.

I (as a native Alabamian) think this is crap. Why in the heck are we having to apologize for the actions of others years and years and years ago???

Just curious as to how you other Alabamians feel about this.

I wear my sunglasses at night...to keep out those pesky moonbeams

2007-05-24T12:27:00.000-05:00

Did you know that the earth is flat and that cancer and the common cold are caused from moonbeams? Yeah I didn't either.

Check out this website (The flat earth society) for some interesting reading.

Oh...but where are the evil torture panties!

2007-05-24T10:41:00.000-05:00

Where are the anti-torture people now? I guess it's only newsworthy if it's done by those evil American "terrorists".

A look inside an Al-Qaeda torture house in Iraq.

Today's federal government brought to you by the number ...

2007-05-16T13:37:00.000-05:00

2,900,000,000,000

Can I have that in hundred dollar bills please?

I am five seconds away from jumping on the Fred Thompson Bandwagon

2007-05-15T16:44:00.000-05:00

Fred responds to Michael Moore's challenge to a debate

Because it's a slow news day....

2007-05-15T15:00:00.000-05:00

I saw this on a gossip blog. There is a "little person" (to be PC) that is a Britney Spears impersonator. Normally I wouldn't post something like this...but it's like a car wreck...you have to look at it.

I have watched this like twelve times

2007-05-14T10:52:00.001-05:00

Avetts on Conan:

Jesus Webcam

2007-05-14T10:28:00.000-05:00

Don't worry, there is no nudity (you have no idea what I am talking about right?). Just watch the video and don't laugh too hard:

Webcam Sinner

See more like this on kontraband.com

What would you do if your unborn child was diagnosed with Down Syndrome?

2007-05-10T03:48:00.000-05:00

Lee P at A Bama Blog has an excellent post on the shocking numbers from the New York Times.

I almost felt sorry for her

2007-05-09T14:00:00.000-05:00

Almost. Now, I am starting to think 45 days wasn't enough. Her online petition begins with:

Paris Whitney Hilton is an American celebrity and socialite. She is an heiress to a share of the Hilton Hotel fortune, as well as to the real estate fortune of her father Richard Hilton. She provides hope for young people all over the U.S. and the world. She provides beauty and excitement to (most of) our otherwise mundane lives.

God, whoever wrote this petition needs to get a life. Paris Hilton has given me hope of being reborn into a rich family so I can be a waste of space, do-nothing loser.

HT: WWTDD

This Friday

2007-05-08T19:25:00.000-05:00

The Avett Brothers will be the musical guest on Conan.

Tamerlane

2007-05-08T16:51:00.000-05:00

The History News Network has a great piece on Tamerlane in history and how it affects the world today.

They key thing to understand is the flexibility with which the concept of jihad can be understood and therefore manipulated. If one’s enemy is Christian or Jewish, so much the better. Yet a Muslim enemy can be countenanced, too, because one can always consider that person a bad Muslim who has strayed from the path, and any innocent victims are destined for paradise anyway, so no need to worry about them.

The same disregard for human life, notably of his fellow Muslims, was the hallmark of Abu Musab Al Zarqawi, the former leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq. Like Tamerlane, his victims were, whatever his rallying cry of jihad, disproportionately Muslim.

Unedited

Hillary supporter vs. Obama supporter

2007-05-07T23:01:00.000-05:00

HT: Hot Air

From Mad TV -

Sarkozy wins in France

2007-05-06T15:40:00.000-05:00

Wow, France just elected a pro- American president! That is big news, and maybe they can move away from their socialist bent.

Let the riots by the socialist punks begin!

Riot Alert

Bonds and racism

2007-05-06T15:37:00.000-05:00

Curveballs for Jesus asks the question:

Does rooting against Bonds make me a racist?

Best job ever?

2007-05-06T15:26:00.000-05:00

Beer Taster:

The employee said in his lawsuit that for more than a decade, he drank between 16 and 25 small glasses of beer during his eight-hour shifts at the company

The employee said he also received a bottle of beer after each shift.

News Flash: Many Americans out of their mind

2007-05-05T17:01:00.000-05:00

You know, I have my own beefs with the President, but this is ludicrous. Seriously, that is OUT THERE.

Where there's smoke, there's fire

2007-05-04T12:45:00.000-05:00

The unholy alliance between the ecofreaks, the health nuts, and the values voters is at it again: now they're aiming to expand Austin's ridiculous assault on the rights of property owners statewide with an indoor smoking ban encompassing all businesses throughout the state. Below is the letter I sent to my Rep (Elliot Naishtat) who's already on my shitlist for his support of the "Top 10%" law that guarantees any high school student graduating in the top 10% of his class admission to any public school in Texas--ignoring the fact that the only public schools anyone really wants to go to in the state are UT-Austin and TAMU. I voted for him against my better judgement last time because I couldn't stomach the thought of voting for a Republican, but if he votes for HB 9 then I'll just have to live with the bile in the back of my throat in the next election.

My letter:

Dear Representative Naishtat,
I am writing to you to ask you to pledge to vote no on HB 9, which is a bill to ban smoking indoors at businesses statewide. I do not represent any special interest, nor am I a smoker.

This bill tramples on the rights of property owners both large and small, replacing their judgements and desires about what is permissible on their property with that of the so-called nanny state. It ignores the fact that employees of establishments have a choice in their employment, just as patrons have a right to choose where they take their business. It also ignores the influence of market forces: if there is truly a sizeable subset of individuals who do not wish to be exposed to cigarette smoke, then businesses will cater to that population. As an example, I cite for you the Dog and Duck Pub in Austin, which has had an indoor smoking ban for several years preceding Austin's own smoking ban (a ban which was itself a similarly egregious assault on the rights of property owners.) Its business thrived precisely because it served a segment of the market which was underserved by other bars in the area.

I urge you to vote against this bill.

Sincerely,
karmajunkie
Austin, TX

Hate crimes - Happy Veto, Congress

2007-05-04T10:34:00.000-05:00

Captain Ed explores hate crime legislation in a post today:

But wait -- we haven't fully explored hate yet. Why not class hatred? Poor people hate rich people; why can't we make that a federal crime, too, as well as in reverse? How about the obese? Some people really have irrational hostility to the obese and act upon it. Why won't Congress protect the overweight? Short people? The elderly? Republicans? Democrats? Postal carriers?

Do people understand where this thinking takes us?

As he aptly points out, MOTIVE is part of the CRIME, and all this does is make MOTIVE a CRIME, too. Doesn't make sense to me either. I just hope if someone commits a crime against me that they do it based on some "animus" toward me because I am white or Christian. Then, they will be punished more severely than if they just did it for the hell of it. HOORAY!

Time Magazine

2007-05-03T13:54:00.000-05:00

Wonkette just made me laugh with this one: "Can you identify any of these people, beyond the obvious ones like The Queen and Saruman and whoever."

Yeah, I see Saruman, don't you? Bottom right.

Quote of the Day

2007-05-03T12:39:00.000-05:00

From the Libertarian Party Blog:

Unlike the Republican Party, Libertarians think everyone (gay and straight, male and female, black and white, etc.) should enjoy equal protection under the law. Unlike congressional Democrats, we don't think that certain politically favored groups should receive special benefits or protections. Unfortunately, it looks like Democrats will push a "hate crimes" bill through Congress today.

For my thoughts on this from over a year ago - "You think evil thoughts...you must be punished"

UPDATE: Thank God! For the first time in two years, I actually agree with President Bush on something. It looks like he is going to veto the hate crimes legislation, and conservatives have praised the president for standing up for "our nation's constitutional tradition of equal protection under the law." Agreed.

Bush expected to veto hate crimes bill

Avetts picking up steam

2007-05-02T23:19:00.000-05:00

The Avett Brothers were mentioned in Esquire twice! Someone there must have caught the fever.

They won the 2007 Esky Award for music in the "New Old-Time" category being described as:

Raucous, high-energy return to classic string music made with upright bass, banjo, guitar.

Then, The Leisure Meter for May recommends two and a half hours listening to Emotionalism, the new CD coming out by the guys the author classifies as "bluegrass-rock."

Funny headline of the day

2007-05-02T09:14:00.000-05:00

From Fark:

Hotel places Al Gore's book in nightstand instead of Bible. Suck it Gideons

Recommended: A bit of prose from Eteraz

2007-05-01T22:47:00.000-05:00

Sweet Soul of Melancholy

My favorite line:

Suffering washes us, it is said. So then beat me against the sloping stones of the Jhelum because I am so very dirty.

(Jhelum is a river in Pakistan)

Updates

2007-05-01T17:02:00.000-05:00

I just updated my links to include new finds and more good reads. This is what happens when you have an exam that you don't want to study for ... you find anything and everything to do besides study. Come to think of it, I think that is why I started this blog a year and a half ago.

You know what I hate?

2007-05-01T16:21:00.000-05:00

Having to click through multiple pages of an article ON THE INTERNET.

Jane Galt asks a question that I often think about - "What the hell is with multiple page web articles?"

Doesn't really make sense to me. Karmajunkie? Dr. Jones?

Quote of the Day 2

2007-05-01T15:59:00.000-05:00

This is from one of my favorite blogs, The Airing of Grievances on moving from Virginia to the west coast:

And after spending 10 years living in their midst, having had conversations that featured phrases such as "I'm sorry - I didn't mean to call them the N-word with you in the room" and "Why should gay people be allowed to get married? So they can give married people the AIDS?", I've had just about enough of the shit.

I hate that crap still goes on here, but he is right on point by saying that. I have had conversations like this, too. I don't think it is exclusive to the South, though, maybe just a little more pronounced. Here is to those types of statements occurring less and less.

Lenin checks in from Hell

2007-05-01T15:32:00.000-05:00

Six Meat Buffet celebrates May Day with satire.

Lenin writes to Americans, and he even talks about Che Guevera and Karl Marx. And douchebag Cho.

Hello, it is I, Lenin.

You might be wondering how it is that I come to write you this e-mail, since I am in Hell. Yes, it is true, I have been living here for the past 83 years, and let me tell you it is no picnic. If I have learned anything since being down here, it is this: the devil exists and he is a bitch.

But that is not why I am writing to you today.

Good luck to you all tomorrow. I must go now. One of the new arrivals has been standing behind me for the last half hour, a college kid from the looks of him. He really wants to get on this computer and check out the MSNBC website, for some unholy reason. He is very impatient, and something tells me I should probably not piss him off.

Quote of the day

2007-05-01T15:27:00.000-05:00

It was four years ago today that the POTUS gave his "Mission Accomplished" speech in Maverick's flight suit. The Libertarian Party Blog:

If the mission is accomplished, why are we still in Iraq four years later?

Some people in my home state get it

2007-05-01T15:21:00.000-05:00

From Nashville: Businesses say smoking ban would eliminate freedom of choice

"Adopting a smoking ban takes away a business' right of how to run his or her business," said Mike Nelson, a retail tobacco store owner who has a smoking lounge insides his Knoxville business. "They shouldn't be told what to do by state government."

Kelvin Moxley of the Tennessee Conservative Union said such legislation is unnecessary because "the marketplace already has plenty of nonsmoking venues."

"You do not need a one-size-fits-all government law to achieve this goal of having smoke-free environments," Moxley said. "It would eliminate freedom of choice."

Hopefully, the meddling politicians will stay out of it and let owners and customers choose for themselves.

"Truthers" left confused this week (yes, you Rosie)

2007-05-01T15:10:00.000-05:00

Little Green Footballs and Fark have a little fun with them over the "fire can't melt steel" retardedness.

In the wake of the Oakland gas tanker incident, in which steel melted for only the second time in world history, the “Truther” morons are posting increasingly panicky attempts to “explain” this impossible event all over the web.

This is what happens when you forward stupid messages

2007-05-01T14:38:00.000-05:00

You see what happens, Lucy? You see what happens?

The Pirate is considering burning a corporate goon by emailing her company because she forwarded a stupid "gas strike" email from her corporate account. The email is to stick it to the Middle Eastern oil companies, but as The Pirate points out, this also sticks it to many in America as well.

Apparently, you choose to disregard petroleum producers outside of the Middle East, including your own country. You also choose to disregard the people who work for the companies that ship oil around the world. You failed to consider the people in this country that refine the petroleum into gasoline, plastics, jet fuel, make-up, and tens of thousands of other products you use, each and every day. You failed to consider the impact on the people who work for companies that service the petroleum and refining companies that produce your gasoline. You neglected the truck drivers who make a living bring the gasoline to your town, along with their families. You also missed a shout-out to the construction worker who lives next door to you and builds gas stations for a living. What about the guy who works at the gas station you fill up at, probably for little more than minimum wage? Are you going to tell him that your going to not buy gas to protest his pay, or are you protesting just the profits his company generates? Keep in mind that these oil companies employ hundreds of thousands of people; many your fellow Americans (In case your just prejudiced against middle-easterners), who also pay taxes and spend their money, keeping our economy going.

The best part of this whole situation is she works for this company, whose homepage predominantly features an oil rig and oil refinery on its front page.

One of my favorite phrases is only fitting right here: "Damn, you dumb." Should The Pirate burn her for being stupid?

And the real enemy is ...

2007-05-01T13:24:00.000-05:00

Yeah, you knew that: Iran.

HT: Atlas Shrugs

Condi at Iraq Conference

[Condoleeza Rice] said it was "quite obvious" what Tehran would need to do help stem the bloodletting in Iraq.

"Stop the flow of arms to foreign fighters. Stop the flow of foreign fighters across the borders. Stop using advanced IED (improvised explosive device) technology to kill American soldiers. Stop stirring up trouble among militias that then go and kill innocent Iraqis.

"It's quite clear what needs to be done," she said.

NCRI: Iran Tops List

The State Department's Country Reports on Terrorism 2006 says Iran is the "most active state sponsor" of terrorism with elements of its government — notably the Revolutionary Guards and intelligence ministry — supporting many extremist groups in Iraq and elsewhere.

The two "were directly involved in the planning and support of terrorist acts and continued to exhort a variety of groups, especially Palestinian groups with leadership cadres in Syria and Lebanese Hezbollah, to use terrorism in pursuit of their goals," the report said.

How are these not acts of war against the United States? If someone is sending in arms and helping advance the cause of car bombs and the like, I consider that to be an aggressive act. And where are all of you (myself included) that were crying when Iraq (presumably) had weapons of mass destruction? Now, we have blatant STATE SPONSORED TERRORISM against our own soldiers, yet you act like it is nothing!?!?

The way I see it, we have three options:

Ignore the problem and keep doing what we are doing.
Attack Iran.
Ratchet up covert activity and resources within Iran itself.

The first option seems the be the one that most of the Americans seem to want to do. Pretending there isn't a problem does not make the problem go away, I promise. I have been practicing this philosophy lately, and the funny thing is you almost forget that we even have soldiers fighting in Iraq. I hear "car bomb killed eight American soldiers ..." and I tune out. It is really easy to do, but it is cowardly. No more. We have to deal with Iran one way or another, so now the question becomes "What are we going to do about it?"

The second option is the most reckless and straightforward approach, the Milo Talon approach: "plunge in and let the devil count the dead." We know nearly for certain that a ground war in Iran at best will be the hardest war we have ever fought and at worst will be a complete disaster. That leaves strategic bombing, which might work by getting their attention and showing that we mean business. This has international implications, however, and I can promise you the Russians aren't going to think it is very funny. Furthermore, this just may cause the Iranians to increase their support for terrorist groups and anti-Western fanatics. The worst outcome of doing this might be losing the pro-Western groups within Iran, due to the fact that Iranians are highly nationalistic and may rally around the flag.

Finally, we have the one that I hope we are already doing. Increase covert activities and pour more resources into pro-Western Iranian groups. I'm "[talkin'] bout a revolution" people. A revolution in Iran is long overdue, and it is time for the people of Iran (who on the whole are a good people) to push the boot heel of the Ayatollahs off of their faces. In my opinion, this is the best course of action for now, and we have to do our part to encourage a (hopefully) peaceful revolution in the country. I hope we are.

Story from the airport

2007-05-01T13:11:00.000-05:00

My friend, Michael B. recently went on a trip, and you will never believe what happened at the airport.

"There is nothing that $20 dollars wont get you at the airport."

He came by with another bag and asked me to follow him, dropped off the bag at security, and starts to go back downstairs with me close behind. Wondering where the hell this guy is taking me, I am asked, "So what's it worth for you to make this plane?"

"I got twenty. Will that get me there?" I felt like i was participating in a drug deal.

He took the bill from my hand and motioned for me to follow him, while he began to look around to see who was within eyeshot. "My boss is on the floor this mornin'. You know, he kinda a hata', you know?"

"I hear ya, brotha'" somehow came out of my mouth, in the most caucasion of ways, as if this was the life I led.

After a few more steps he says, "You know how to limp?"

"What?"

While going around behind a wall, "You know how to limp?" He appeared from behind the wall with a wheelchair. Yes, a wheelchair.

Clink.
Clink.

The footrests came into place.

"Sit down."

It was too late to turn back now. It was either wheel my way towards my gate in shame, or go stand in the pissed-off conga line and then another guaranteed hour in customer service (which is actually closer to a more amiable mosh pit; weird, huh?).

So here I go, shame on wheels, imagining the time in Hell I may spend for this, the karma that I must be generating (I picture "The Nothing" from The Neverending Story) or at least some major spiritual community service with parole when it comes time to see St. Pete at the gates.

Read the whole thing for all the funny stuff, complete with Michael's favorite comedian, Lewis Grizzard, tied in.

Fun with economics

2007-05-01T11:19:00.000-05:00

HT: MCS

Conference Envy

2007-04-30T14:53:00.000-05:00

Remember when Jim Delany talked about how great the Big 10 was and insinuated how lax the SEC was in academics compared to the Big 10?

I love speed and the SEC has great speed, especially on the defensive line, but there are appropriate balances when mixing academics and athletics. Each school, as well as each conference, simply must do what fits their mission regardless of what a recruiting service recommends. I wish we had six teams among the top 10 recruiting classes every year, but winning our way requires some discipline and restraint with the recruitment process. Not every athlete fits athletically, academically or socially at every university. Fortunately, we have been able to balance our athletic and academic mission so that we can compete successfully and keep faith with our academic standards.

The Big 10 is scrambling so much to beat the SEC at everything and achieve the proper "balance" that they have sent Penn State on a mission to shatter the competition in the Fulmer Cup (EDSBS's fictional trophy for the team that has the most arrests). Penn State has 43 points, which is, as one commenter so cleverly pointed out, "twice as many points as they will score in any game this season." Keep up the good work kitty cats. The rest of us will bow down and pay homage to your impressive victory.

"His chick left with JaMarcus"

2007-04-30T11:20:00.001-05:00

HT: With Leather

That Brady Is a Chump:

Just one person CAN make a difference

2007-04-29T18:26:00.000-05:00

HT: The Jawa Report

Become Just. One. Person

The post is about how just one person could have prevented all those deaths at Virginia Tech, and it is very thoughtful. Then, it goes on to describe various crimes and how only one person could prevent each one: you. I agree with it, whole-heartedly.

But in those classrooms and residence halls in Blacksburg, Virginia, Just. One. Person. legally licensed to carry a pistol could have made all the difference in the world to 32 people.

We have been told far too many times that the best thing to do when attacked is to instantly surrender. We have been told when a rapist strikes, to give in or offer a condom. We are told when faced with our own death, the best action is inaction.

Enough.

From here on out we must commit to a policy of action not inaction. We must realize, understand, then accept that no one is responsible for our safety but ourselves. The police do incredible work, but they are a response and recovery unit there to pick up the pieces after the crime. I am always looking out for my wife's safety, but I am not with her 24/7. She is almost 100 miles away right now. All I can do is try to help her be prepared to protect herself.

Thank God I was born an American

2007-04-29T18:12:00.000-05:00

Iran cracks down on 'Western' hairdos: "Tehran barbers' association head says police issued directive forbidding its members from giving men offbeat hairstyles; report says Telecommunications Ministry to start filtering ‘immoral’ video, audio messages sent via mobile phones"

You will look the way I want, you will act the way I want, and eventually, you will become what I want. One of these days, these people HAVE to get fed up and start a revolution.

All this is going to cause is the market correcting itself by having black market barbers. The thought of having to go to some back alley black market barber to get a freaking haircut is the stupidest thing I have ever heard.

And filtering text messages? WOW. I would probably be in big trouble in Iran.

I love NASCAR

2007-04-29T18:07:00.000-05:00

Gordon won today in one of those dreaded finishes under caution. No one likes them, but they are a fact of life I guess. Now he occupies the 6th spot on the all-time wins list all by himself, winning at Talladega.

Here is his teammate, Kyle Busch, flipping badly in yesterday's Busch race (thankfully he is okay):

Unedited

Quote(s) of the Day

2007-04-29T17:45:00.000-05:00

From irreverent sports blog (which I love), Deadspin

In other celebrations across the country, "Barbaro Day" was held at Delaware Park, and included a remembrance vigil and a barbeque. Everyone agreed that Barbaro was delicious.

The Conner High School track team used Barbaro as inspiration to carry them to victory in the Conner Cougar Invitational ... "I know it sounds really strange, but this one's for him. Barbaro represents everything we are as a program. It's a group of people who fight through pain and have put the team ahead of everything, especially themselves."

Senior Elena Lampman finished second in the hurdles event, and tragically had to be put down after the loss.

"See you later, crazy, mutant, desert guys"

2007-04-29T16:16:00.000-05:00

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. commercial because the end of the Talladega race is near, i don't want to study like I should be doing, and I think it is funny:

Fred Thompson on the draft, PacMan and character defects in the NFL

2007-04-28T12:07:00.000-05:00

HT: Somebody, but I can't seem to figure out where I got linked to that article. Sorry.

First off, I love the fact that Fred Thompson wrote an article for the National Review on the NFL Draft. Check it out here.

Unfortunately, Pacman seems to think his talent entitles him to behave like one of Tony Soprano’s cousins. In his brief career, he’s probably already cost the Titans games with his “look at me” celebrations and cheap-shot penalties. His on-field behavior, though, is a model of decorum compared to what he’s done off the field — including reports of assault (twice), disorderly conduct, vandalism, marijuana possession and taking a swing at a police officer.

So here are a few more questions: Has there ever been a case where a young player first showed his penchant for getting arrested on a regular basis only after turning pro? I doubt it. Similarly, are NFL teams operating under the assumption that having a few million dollars of spending money in their pockets is going to make better citizens out of these guys?

There are a lot of kids out there who idolize star players and will copy their behavior — whether it is good sportsmanship or hanging out at crime scenes. In the long run, though, it may be purely business that teaches the league the cost of benching morality. The Titans, after all, are going to play a year without one of their best players. I wonder what that’s going to do to their bottom line.

I am jealous

2007-04-28T11:53:00.000-05:00

Swamp Land Exile was in a parking lot and saw this license plate:

I am having one of those, "Why didn't I think of that?" moments. Awesome. If you have no idea, what this means, go here. And then go read it.

In the vein of "Ham Hate Crimes"

2007-04-27T17:26:00.000-05:00

HT: Atlas Shrugs

Nine year old Muslim students destroy classroom in Europe

Why did they destroy it you ask? Oh, that is easy, because the teacher was teaching a nature course and started talking about pigs! Of course, they found it offensive enough to start a riot.

Asscher told newspaper De Volkskrant: "A primary school in Amsterdam-Noord has decided no longer to teach about living on a farm. Various pupils began to demolish the classroom when the pig came up for discussion. Apparently it has gone that far. These children, 9, 10 years old, have not been given even the most elementary rules at home about why they must go to school."

After thinking about it, props to the Muslim students that are merely suing the Ham Bandit instead of beating him to a pulp in the middle of the cafeteria.

The Government is Controlling the Sun!

2007-04-27T04:41:00.000-05:00

This article comes from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Click here for a full size image.

First of all, it's hard to believe that any literate person would think like this. Secondly, I can't believe anyone would allow this to actually be printed in a newspaper. And I'm pretty sure that the word 'warning' is a typo that should be 'warming.' If you didn't read the letter, the lady who wrote it believes that Daylight Savings Time automatically causes an extra hour of daylight to occur. And because Daylight Savings Time began approximately a month earlier than usual this year, that is the cause of the warming trend on our climate.

I think this really provides some insight into the minds of a lot of the conspiracy theorists out there. I mean, if you believed the government had the ability to control how many hours of sunlight we receive each day, then it would be completely plausible to suspect the government of causing global warming. And if the government has the power to control the climate, then it would have been a piece of cake to administer AIDS to minorities, assassinate Kennedy, plot 9/11, etc. Right?

The best two minutes of television I have seen in a while

2007-04-26T17:19:00.000-05:00

HT: The Corner

Clip from Boston Legal about the Presidential candidates:

Quote of the Day

2007-04-26T15:46:00.000-05:00

I was going through some old emails I had saved recently and ran across this nugget by a friend who recently moved from Alabama to Nashville:

Just like I told this dumb ass guy at the TDOT the other day, I will not be converting from an Auburn fan to a Vols fan. After a few minutes of discussing this fact the guy decided as long as I am not a Bama fan I will be ok.

On Liberty

2007-04-25T21:45:00.000-05:00

Anthony Gregory on LewRockwell.com: Real World Politics and Radical Libertarianism

Gregory talks about the "libertarian ideal" and where we are moving as a country and society. His post tackles the "war on drugs," healthcare, social security, and eminent domain. Gregory then moves on to the claims that the United States was a conservative haven or a "libertarian paradise," going through our history addressing slavery and World War I. Even Reagan is not safe.

It is lengthy, but it is well worth the read. As I like to do, here are some highlights:

Furthermore, there have also been advances in American liberty in recent times. The most fundamental, I would say, is the elimination of military conscription. We have also seen a reduction of income taxes, some liberalization of state gun laws, a lowering of some trade barriers, and various instances of deregulation in such sectors as telecommunications and transportation. We don’t have the price controls we once did. There are ways that America is freer than it was only 20 or 30 years ago, and surely, for huge segments of the population, 60 years ago, 160 years ago, or 200 years ago.

And yet, surely America is not freer than it once was in all ways.
Surely it is not nearly as free as it could be. If it were there would be no need for libertarian activism. So what energizes us? A vision for an even freer tomorrow, one without the oppressive structures of today.

How come our country is such a paradox? So free yet so not free? We have the biggest government in world history yet the most robust economy ever. We have the freedom to speak our mind that many people around the world would die for, yet we have the highest per-capita prison population on the planet, half of which, again, are people who shouldn’t have even had their wrists slapped.

Unfortunately, these radical insights were ignored by the conservatives that the war brought to power. They soon established a government that came to tax and micro-manage the colonies far more than the British Crown ever could. The Constitution had only solidified the power of the elite interests – just as the Anti-Federalists feared. True liberty was betrayed quickly. The birth of the U.S. happened amidst a birth of libertarian principles, but they were not followed through enough. There was too much compromise. There was too much gradualism.

What has today's warfare regime done for freedom? At home and at overseas bases, the Bush administration's attack on civil liberties has been staggering. Habeas corpus and the Fourth Amendment are gone. And Iraq is, if anything, worse off than before.

None of this is sustainable. The taxation, the welfare statism, the drug war, the gun control, the treating of human beings not as individuals with dreams and wants of their own but as national resources – this is all an affront to human rights and the spontaneous orders of human interaction that spur progress, innovation, and wealth creation and allow for the precious flowering of scientific, artistic, emotional and spiritual discovery of each and every individual soul.

Freedom is most often stolen by the state in the name of freedom. Let us not contribute to these misconceptions. We do not believe in a slightly cheaper version of the US police state, or a more smoothly running welfare state or private companies doing the bidding of politicians abroad on our dime. We do not need the mercantilism our Founding Fathers revolted against. And we also don’t need the gradualism in theory that led them to tolerate slavery, tariffs and inequality between the sexes under the law, as well as the horrible crimes against the American Indians.

Should Fred Thompson run as an Independent?

2007-04-25T16:53:00.000-05:00

That is the question proposed by The Tennessean today.

I like Fred, although I am not completely on board yet, but he is looking like a viable choice for me at the moment. My answer on the independent question, though, has to be no at this point. I don't think he could win as an independent, simply because he will take many of the Republican voters and very few of the Democratic voters.

What do you think?

My favorite headline today

2007-04-25T16:35:00.000-05:00

Lofton Forgoes NBA Millions To Whoop Up On Kentucky Two More Times

Also, look closely at the link address to see the humor there as well.

SEC player of the year Chris “Bend over, Tubby” Lofton has decided all is still not forgiven and will return to Knoxville for his senior season ....

Sarbanes Oxley

2007-04-25T12:31:00.000-05:00

A good discussion has begun at Dean's World, and yours truly has joined the fray. Go express your opinion on SarbOx or just go watch the discussion.

Dean's World: Sarbanes-Oxley Not So Bad?

Gloom, Despair, and Agony On Me

2007-04-25T11:40:00.000-05:00

Just in time for exams, a classic Hee-Haw recurring skit:

Interesting reading for your Tuesday

2007-04-25T11:00:00.000-05:00

Annales Hiezecihelium examines the "what if" there is life on other planets, as scientists have discovered Decima, an Earth-like planet that may be capable of sustaining life. What implications does this have for our faith as Christians?

The Bible does not rule out the creation of other planets, or other life, in the Genesis account. Nor does the Bible even say that humans are specifically the only sentient creatures in God's creation. But does the Bible suggest that there are other sentient creatures, other life?

Why did God not tell us? The answer seems obvious: the Bible is God's revelation of Himself and his interaction with humans. We do not know how God reveals himself to the angels -- or if revelation is even necessary. Why, then, would it not be possible for God to have created life elsewhere, without revealing that to us?

If, one day, a human probe or vessel visits Decima, and they do find life, who is to say that such life will not have already discovered the worship of Creator, His Son, and His Spirit? As Lewis theorized, such a discovery would -- like the possiblity and potential of life on Decima itself -- have enormous implications for Earth and her people.

After all, how astounding an affirmation of God and His Gospel would the discovery of sentient life worshipping the Triune God be?

Whether or not Decima, or some other planet that science may soon discover, sustains life, the Bible, and our understanding of God and his revelation to us, will not be shattered by the discovery. Indeed, such a worldview-changing event may draw even more of God's image-bearers on Earth -- and Decima? -- to relationship with him.

Great little speech from Jeff Foxworthy.....

2007-04-24T16:02:00.000-05:00

It's a little long I know...but it's worth the read (or watching). It is everything I have tried to say when people make fun of me for liking country music and I think it comes at a good time...while people are debating rap music, lyrics, etc.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

from the CMT awards.....

"I started thinking about why I like country music and doing this show so much, and here's what I came up with, y'all.

"I like country music because it's about the things in life that really matter. It ain't about braggin' about how you're gonna mess somebody up, or how somebody ain't respectin' ya. It's about love, family, friends -- with a few beers, a cheap woman and a two-timin' man thrown in for spice. It doesn't take political sides, even with things as ugly as war. Instead, it celebrates the brave men and women who go to fight 'em, the price they pay to do it and the longin' we have for them to return home to the ones that they love.

"It's about kids and how there ain't nothin' like 'em. I get tired of hearin' about how bad kids are today, because there are a lot of great kids out there that just need somebody to love 'em and believe in 'em. Country folks love their kids and they will jack you up if you try to mess with 'em!

"People in country music don't forget the people that allow them to do what they do for a livin'. They sign autographs and they take pictures with the fans because they know without 'em most of us entertainers would be gettin' a lot dirtier in the course of our workday. We are thankful that people want to hear the songs and the jokes that we write. Country music doesn't have to be politically correct. We sing about God because we believe in Him. We are not trying to offend anybody, but the evidence that we have seen of Him in our small little lives trumps your opinion about whether or not He exists.

"We love country music because it touches us where we live. It's about mommas, and when they were hot, and when they are unappreciated, and when they were dyin'. It's about daddies and the difficulties they have sometimes at tellin' the people that they work so hard to protect and provide for how they feel about 'em.

"Country music is about new love and it's about old love. It's about gettin' drunk and gettin' sober. It's about leavin' and it's about comin' home. It's real music sung by real people for real people, the people that make up the backbone of this country. You can call us rednecks if you want. We're not offended, 'cause we know what we're all about. We get up and go to work, we get up and go to church, and we get up and go to war when necessary.

"All we ask for is a few songs to carry us along the way, and that's why I love this show, because it ain't some self-important Hollywood hype with the winners determined by somebody else. On this show, you decide who goes home with a trophy and you get to dance and sing along with the people that bring you the songs of your life."

Explanation

2007-04-24T12:34:00.000-05:00

This is an explanation and clarification of my post, Gordon ties Earnhardt. In it, I took Earnhardt fans to task for criticizing Gordon's tribute to their hero:

I do find it amusing that Earnhardt fans have somehow taken offense to this gesture. Many of my friends have made comments about how they think it disrespects his memory or something, but they are just misconstruing. Gordon haters, the lot of them, always think that Gordon is a bad guy, and nothing he does will ever make him good in their eyes.

and

Since Earnhardt fans adore the Earnhardt family so much, maybe they should try to emulate Junior's behavior.

I deliberately put these comments before I linked to Antonette's post at Unrestricted because I didn't want to associate her with those views (even though it is no secret that there is no love lost between her and the Hendrick MotorSports team, which includes Gordon). Again, I deliberately put my scathing comments before I referenced her post where i said she was "downplaying" Gordon's achievement. Here is what I said after:

Earnhardt would have more wins, no doubt about it. Gordon would have caught him eventually, though. Earnhardt reached this mark when he was 49, and Gordon is just 35. That is a tough pill to swallow for the naysayers. Unless something takes him out of racing early like retirement, Gordon is going to shatter Earnhardt's number, and he will shatter the modern-era record set down by Waltrip as well.

Earnhardt fans also forget that Gordon raced Earnhardt from 1993 to 2001. I am not going to go into a long drawn out history, but I want to mention a few facts. Earnhardt won in 1993 and 1994 (his final one), but in his third season, Gordon beat Earnhardt by thirty-four points for the Winston Cup Championship. Then, racing against Earnhardt for the next few years, Gordon went on to win in 1997 and 1998. That is head to head racing. Gordon could beat Earnhardt head to head and the older could beat the younger as well. I honor Earnhardt's achievements, and he is one of the greatest drivers that ever lived, but Gordon is also in that elite group. The man has four titles, second only to Richard Petty's seven and Earnhardt's seven. To love one doesn't mean hatred of the other ... except maybe to some Earnhardt fans.

What I meant, in response to Antonette's post, is that Earnhardt would definitely have more wins, but he was always going to be overtaken by Gordon. I also wanted to honor Earnhardt as a legend and one of the greats, while at the same time saying that Gordon is also going to be one of the greats and belongs in the same category. I did not intend to associate her with the comments that came before the link to her blog, only the ones that came after.

I sincerely did not mean to, but it is evident now, however, that I offended Antonette. Antonette's latest post today says:

Everyone has a right to thier opinion. And while some like to nitpick other's opinions, I do not, and maybe that is why I become offended easily.

I have to realize that my passionate, come from the heart blogging will sometimes create a little disturbance especially when it involves Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson. I guess I need to take the good comments along with the bad ones. But sometimes the bad comments are just a little hard to swallow especially when you feel that you've been offended.

She also says that people "come out of the woodwork" to comment, and I assume that she means me (as well as "Marc" who commented on the same post that I did). Truth be told, I read all her posts (and have done so for over a year), occasionally leaving comments. I think she just now noticed because I referenced her in a post. I respect her as a fellow NASCAR fan, and I don't know how my respect for her hero, Earnhardt, didn't come through in my post, as I tried to make that clear.

With all that said, I apologize to Antonette for for offending her. She is a great fan of the sport that I love, too, and she is extremely knowledgable and entertaining in her posts about it. This is not to mention the fact that she has been on my blogroll under the category "Best Damn Sports Sites" for quite some time, so I consider her blog a worthy read (I only link to five racing sites, but hers is the only blog of the bunch). I have never explicitly said it in a post, but if you are a NASCAR fan, you should visit her place sometime. I will continue to read and comment on her blog, and I just wanted her to know that I harbor no ill will toward her whatsoever. I didn't intend to offend.

I'm gonna ham steak the $hit out of you!

2007-04-24T11:43:00.000-05:00

Every morning I wake up and wonder what ridiculous headline I'm going to see in the news that day. Well, some folks up in Maine decided to save me some trouble by giving me the most ridiculous headline of the year.

Ham Sandwich Hate Crime

Ok, seriously. I've had enough of this politically correct crap. So you're Muslim, and it's offensive to be around ham. Well, guess what? I'm not Muslim, and it offends me to be around your whiny, sniveling existence. Grow up. We live in a free society, and so long as we do, people are going to say and do things that are offensive to you, me, and others. It's not a hate crime. It's called life.

Unedited

1 ... 2 ... 3 ... MAKE FUN OF BAMA!

2007-04-24T11:30:00.000-05:00

HT: The LinkMaster

Of course you all know by now, but the spring scrimmage at Alabama turned out 92,000 fans. I tend to think that they just wanted to make sure they get to see Alabama win at least one game this year.

Loser With Socks has a photo gallery complete with hilarious captions.

You know this guy is with Jesus

And from the comments section:

Those aren’t real Bammers posting comments here. Those are Barners that are trying to create problems and trouble. Everyone knows that Bammers can’t read. It’s in the Bible.

In the words of Allen Iverson… “I mean listen, we’re sitting here talking about practice, not a game, not a game, not a game, but we’re talking about practice. Not the game…” Quit talking about practice, Perry.

Then, my favorite quote regarding the 92,000 was from the guest blogger on Abovethelaw.com yesterday was from Birmingham and began his first post with:

Good morning from Birmingham, which we've got all to ourselves because most of the state is in Tuscaloosa at football practice.

As my buddy, Bizzuck said, "I wish i had the body of a 4 year old. I could jump off a building and be okay in three days."

2007-04-24T11:24:00.000-05:00

HT: Deadspin

Fortunately, four-year-olds are indestructible, and he only needed 30 stitches. The team signed a football for him -- gee, thanks! -- and the kid seems OK about it: "It was kind of scary 'cause I got bonked by the football," the boy said, hugging his own football. "It kind of hurted."

This kid gets completely rocked, but boy, can he take a hit. I don't think I could take that hit, and if I did, I wouldn't be alright for a long time.

Captain America goes to jail

2007-04-24T08:35:00.000-05:00

UPDATE: Apparently this idiot had the burrito in his pants while he was going around groping chicks.

The news that comes out of central Florida never ceases to amaze me.

Some doctor was arrested at a costume party after someone claims that he sexually assaulted them. He was arrested and booked still wearing his costume.

PLEASE clink on the link to check out the pictures of him being booked...hilarious.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Central Florida doctor is accused of sexually assaulting a woman during a costume party while he was dressed as the super hero Captain America.

Raymond Adamcik was arrested Saturday night at the On Tape Café and Lounge and booked at the Melbourne Police Department while still wearing blue tights and a Captain America head gear.

"It was just a group of doctors that were traveling throughout the city going from bar to bar," Melbourne police representative Jill Fredricksen said.

Authorities said Adamcik was in possession of a large burrito and drugs.

"While in the restroom, he attempted to flush a bag of marijuana as well as a joint down the toilet," Fredrickson said.

Police said they were able to recover a joint from the toilet but the bag was flushed, the report said.

The doctor now faces drug and battery charges in connection with the incident.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

I think it's hilarious that they felt the need to tell us about his possession of a LARGE burrito....hahahaha..I guess he had the munchies.

Ed Hochuli is a lawyer?

2007-04-23T22:38:00.000-05:00

HT: ATL

Ed Hochuli, the most recognizable official in all of sports, is not only HUGE ... he is a lawyer.

NYT interview with Hochuli

Ed Hochuli, an N.F.L. referee since 1990, is known as much for his muscular upper body as for his lengthy announcements on the field. A former football player at Texas-El Paso, Hochuli, 56, is a partner in Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, a law firm in Phoenix.

In many cases, this is what it is like between lawyers when they are on opposite sides, too:

I love my relationships with the players on the field. I am amazed how someone can for six seconds be as violent as they are, and then when the play is over they are joking with the guy they just faced off against.

There is also Ed Hochuli merchandise here. And if the powers that be want to send me a shirt for my shameless plug, I will be happy to take one.

"If it feels good, do it."

2007-04-23T02:32:00.000-05:00

HT: Wonkette

David Letterman prepares a top ten list for the White House Correspondents' Dinner:

Random observation

2007-04-22T23:57:00.000-05:00

Why do so many people use the word "loose" in place of "lose?" I don't understand how anyone could get out of 2nd grade without knowing the difference, but I see adults walking around every day that make this mistake. In my opinion without any statistics to back this up, it has to be the most egregiously misused word with respect to degree of difficulty.

Gordon ties Earnhardt

2007-04-22T18:05:00.000-05:00

MSNBC: Gordon honors Earnhardt with latest win

It has been quite a while since my man won his last race, but this time it is special. It marks the tying win for sixth on the all-time list. I think Gordon handled it with class, taking the #3 flag and taking it around for a lap, honoring his mentor and one of NASCAR's legends.

I do find it amusing that Earnhardt fans have somehow taken offense to this gesture. Many of my friends have made comments about how they think it disrespects his memory or something, but they are just misconstruing. Gordon haters, the lot of them, always think that Gordon is a bad guy, and nothing he does will ever make him good in their eyes.

Earnhardt Jr.'s comments during post-race interviews:

Congratulations to Jeff. He’s a class act and I’m happy for him. I ran over to Victory Lane to shake his hand and let him know.

I know a lot of fans of my dad’s aren’t the biggest Jeff Gordon fans, but he and my dad were business partners on a lot of things and worked together a lot more than most people realize.

Since Earnhardt fans adore the Earnhardt family so much, maybe they should try to emulate Junior's behavior.

Antonette at Unrestricted downplays his achievement:

Jeff Gordon tied Dale Sr. with 76 wins. What a bunch of bull! How can you compare apples to oranges? I mean I can understand if Dale Sr. was still alive and retired, but the man is dead! If Dale Sr. was still alive and racing, I'm sure that Dale would have more wins under his belt,however I'm sure Gordon fans believe otherwise.

Earnhardt would have more wins, no doubt about it. Gordon would have caught him eventually, though. Earnhardt reached this mark when he was 49, and Gordon is just 35. That is a tough pill to swallow for the naysayers. Unless something takes him out of racing early like retirement, Gordon is going to shatter Earnhardt's number, and he will shatter the modern-era record set down by Waltrip as well.

Earnhardt fans also forget that Gordon raced Earnhardt from 1993 to 2001. I am not going to go into a long drawn out history, but I want to mention a few facts. Earnhardt won in 1993 and 1994 (his final one), but in his third season, Gordon beat Earnhardt by thirty-four points for the Winston Cup Championship. Then, racing against Earnhardt for the next few years, Gordon went on to win in 1997 and 1998. That is head to head racing. Gordon could beat Earnhardt head to head and the older could beat the younger as well. I honor Earnhardt's achievements, and he is one of the greatest drivers that ever lived, but Gordon is also in that elite group. The man has four titles, second only to Richard Petty's seven and Earnhardt's seven. To love one doesn't mean hatred of the other ... except maybe to some Earnhardt fans.

CNN is accidentally funny

2007-04-21T16:04:00.000-05:00

From Wonkette:

Fred knows what he is talking about

2007-04-21T15:30:00.000-05:00

HT: The Jawa Report

Fred Thompson on guns:

Still, there are a lot of people who are just offended by the notion that people can carry guns around. They view everybody, or at least many of us, as potential murderers prevented only by the lack of a convenient weapon. Virginia Tech administrators overrode Virginia state law and threatened to expel or fire anybody who brings a weapon onto campus.

The logic behind [the anti-gun] attitude baffles me, but I suspect it has to do with a basic difference in worldviews. Some people think that power should exist only at the top, and everybody else should rely on "the authorities" for protection.

Despite such attitudes, average Americans have always made up the front line against crime. Through programs like Neighborhood Watch and Amber Alert, we are stopping and catching criminals daily. Normal people tackled "shoe bomber" Richard Reid as he was trying to blow up an airliner. It was a truck driver who found the D.C. snipers. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that civilians use firearms to prevent at least a half million crimes annually.

When people capable of performing acts of heroism are discouraged or denied the opportunity, our society is all the poorer. And from the selfless examples of the passengers on Flight 93 on 9/11 to Virginia Tech professor Liviu Librescu, a Holocaust survivor who sacrificed himself to save his students earlier this week, we know what extraordinary acts of heroism ordinary citizens are capable of.

Many other universities have been swayed by an anti-gun, anti-self defense ideology. I respect their right to hold those views, but I challenge their decision to deny Americans the right to protect themselves on their campuses -- and then proudly advertise that fact to any and all.

"We are Virginia Tech"

2007-04-21T11:34:00.000-05:00

Nikki Giovanni, one of Cho's professors and a nationally known poet, delivers a speech about the tragedy. I saw her on the news the other night, and she is very sharp.

Pistol packing granny....

2007-04-21T08:18:00.000-05:00

This lady is kick a**!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Miss America 1944 has a talent that likely has never appeared on a beauty pageant stage: She fired a handgun to shoot out a vehicle's tires and stop an intruder.

Venus Ramey, 82, confronted a man on her farm in south-central Kentucky last week after she saw her dog run into a storage building where thieves had previously made off with old farm equipment.

Ramey said the man told her he would leave. "I said, 'Oh, no you won't,' and I shot their tires so they couldn't leave," Ramey said.

She had to balance on her walker as she pulled out a snub-nosed .38-caliber handgun.

"I didn't even think twice. I just went and did it," she said. "If they'd even dared come close to me, they'd be 6 feet under by now."

You can read the entire article here.

Paper or plastic, part deux

2007-04-20T09:57:00.000-05:00

If you read this blog semi-occasionally, you'll recall a discussion on the idea of a plastic grocery bag ban recently passed in San Francisco, which was touched off by my friend (who happens to be the bass player for a really kickass band) posting an item about it and calling for a similar ban in Austin. While I agree with the ends, I completely disagree with the means: an outright ban is a bad idea, an unwarranted intrusion of government into private life, and will ultimately do nothing meaningful at all towards achieving the stated goal.

Now it looks like my friend's getting her wish: Austin is looking to pass a resolution limiting or banning the use of plastic bags by large stores. They're forming a commission panel of sorts to study the issue. Right now I urge everyone to write or call your councilman and support not a ban on plastic bags, but a consumption tax similar to that passed in Ireland awhile back. This will go much further towards achieving the goals of reducing plastic, while preserving the freedom of private individuals. Other thoughts are welcome... post below. (And yes, I realize that the consumers of this blog are probably not in Austin--but the day will come when such a ban comes to your doorstep as well. Now's the time to be both environmentally responsible while heading off environmental fascism at the pass!)

Should professors be allowed to carry guns?

2007-04-19T17:07:00.000-05:00

Eugene Volokh, one of America's great legal minds, poses the question.

Here are some highlights, although you should really read the whole thing to understand the argument:

Now of course if arming the five people for the extremely rare situation when they'll need to stop a madman will end up causing more harm than good in the much more common situations when there's no madman around, that might be a bad tradeoff. That is the argument I've heard against letting students possess weapons on-campus: They're young, they drink a lot, they'll start shooting when they get into a hot argument in class or at a debate. I'm not sure that's right, but let's say it is.

But wouldn't the average professor — or average university employee generally — who wants a concealed-carry license to carry on campus be at least as responsible as the average citizen who wants a concealed carry license to carry outside campus?

I've also heard some arguments that suggest universities are different because they are places for reasoning, not violence: They should be gun-free zones (except of course for university police officers and security guards, who for some reason don't count) because that's needed to create the proper climate of peaceful inquiry. But the sad fact is that you can't make a university into a gun-free zone. Mad killers can bring guns, and use them, regardless of what policies you announce. The question is whether they will be able to use them against a disarmed population, or against a partly armed population. Allowing people the tools to defend themselves against the mad killers does not, it seems to me, worsen the climate.

But if we are trying to think what could have decreased the carnage, I've come around to the tentative view that allowing at least university employees to be armed is the likeliest solution. When one person — a not very well-trained person — comes into a place occupied by thousands of people, and kills over thirty, there's a simple explanation for why he could get away with it: Though he was outnumbered, they were outgunned.

I would have to mull it over a little more to come to own conclusion, but I do think these are facts:

If someone had a gun in that room besides this whacko, the probability is that the kill count would never reach 30.
Students are less likely to kill each other than a madman
Professors are probably, on the whole, more responsible with firearms than students.

I can only see two problems with this. The first is that a professor might not want to carry a gun. Second, if the madman knows that the professor is likely armed, then he would kill the professor as soon as he walked in the door. Still, professors in neighboring rooms would still have their weapons to subdue the madman. I am just thinking out loud a little ... what do you think? How would you answer the question whether or not armed professors would help/hurt the situation?

Will Hoge: Mr. President

2007-04-19T17:01:00.000-05:00

I will be going to see Will Hoge this weekend, and I wanted to post the words to one of the funny songs, Hey Mr. President (Anyone But You):

Hey, Mr. President,
Can you tell me where my money went?
Eighty hours a week
And I'm breakin' my bones,
And I can barely feed my three kids at home.
Bills and debts are all I call mine.
I got a foot in the grave,
Or in the welfare line.
Come November
Gonna go downtown.
Gonna pick me up a ballot,
And I'll write this down.

Anyone but you would be just fine.
Anyone but you can have this vote of mine.
I don't believe what you say is true,
So I'm gonna vote for anyone but you.

Hey, Mr. President,
Can you tell me why my boy got sent
Across the ocean and off to war,
And we don't even know what we're fightin' for?
Nuclear bombs,
Poison gas,
Would you send your own son off so fast?
Probably not, 'cause the rich don't fight.
They just sit back and let the poor kids die.
Come November
Gonna go downtown.
Gonna pick me up a ballot,
And I'll write this down.

Anyone but you would be just fine.
Anyone but you can have this vote of mine.
I don't believe what you say is true,
So I'm gonna vote for anyone but you.

Hey, Mr. President,
Can you tell me where my job went?
I went today and the factories were closed.
They're movin' it all down to Mexico.
See you on the T.V. every night
Sayin' everything's gonna be alright,
But I dunno just what I'll do.
Maybe me and my family could move in with you.
Probably not so I go downtown
Pick me up a ballot and I write this down.

Anyone but you would be just fine.
Anyone but you could have this vote of mine.
I don't believe what you say is true,
So I'm gonna vote for anyone but you.

Oh, give me John Kerry
Give me Howard Dean.
Give me John Edwards
Or Steve McQueen.
Or Al Sharpton, I don't mind.
You can give me Ray Charles.
At least I know he's blind.
Or Ronald Reagan
Or Schwartzenegger
I'd rather have an actor than just a faker.
Gary Coleman
Or the guy from Cheers
Or bring Clinton back for four more years.
Barry Goldwater
Or Colin Powell
I'm sure you know what I mean by now.

Anyone but you would be just fine.
Anyone but you could have this vote of mine.
I don't believe what you say is true,
So I'm gonna vote for anyone but you.

Fundamentalist Christians: MOUNT UP!

2007-04-19T16:45:00.000-05:00

I kid, I kid.

HT: InstaPundit

Did you know that only four countries in the world require you to be 21 years of age in order to drink alcohol? I find that amazing. The drinking age really should be lowered back to where it used to be. At least let the states set their own drinking ages, and quit forcing them to play the game in order to get their stupid road money.

Lowering the drinking age limit

Although all 50 states ban drinking by persons under 21, technically there is no national drinking age. Each state has a right to set a lower age -- more than half had lower age limits in the 1970s -- but doing so will cost it 10 percent of its federal highway funds and cause significant uproar from contractors and construction unions.

He notes that 18-year-olds have a right to marry, adopt children, serve as legal guardians for minors, purchase firearms from authorized dealers, and are trusted with the vote and military responsibilities. So, he says, it is not unreasonable to think that they can, with proper preparation, be trusted to drink.

Students may not care about McCardell's cause because they have little trouble finding fake IDs, or getting older friends to purchase their alcohol. His strongest argument, however, may be that delaying legal drinking until 21 merely delays tragedies that might be prevented with earlier instruction in temperance. The age that has the most drunk driving fatalities? Twenty-one.

The Case Against 21

That’s because when it comes to alcohol, the United States is more like Indonesia, Mongolia, and Palau than the rest of the world: It is one of just four countries that requires people to be at least 21 years old to buy booze. The only countries with stiffer laws are Islamic ones.

McCardell suggests that one effect of raising the drinking age was not to prevent deaths but merely to delay them. “The most common age for drinking-related deaths is now 21, followed by 22 and 23,” he says. “It seems that the minimum drinking age is as likely to have postponed fatalities as to have reduced them.”

I’m convinced: The time has come to lower the drinking age to 18, or perhaps to let states experiment with lowering it. At the very least, shouldn’t soldiers who are trusted with M-16s also be trusted with six packs?

Now that is what I call "drunk"

2007-04-19T12:37:00.000-05:00

This lady should be dead.

REDMOND, Wash. -- A Woodinville woman arrested following two car crashes last week registered a .47 blood-alcohol content on a breath test - nearly six times the legal intoxication threshold and possibly a state record.

Deana F. Jarrett, 54, was taken to Evergreen Hospital as a precaution following her arrest April 11, the Washington State Patrol said Wednesday. No one was injured in the accidents.

Jarrett blew the .47 on a portable breath tester after she collided with two other vehicles in quick succession, the patrol said. A check of all 356,000 breath tests administered since 1998 in Washington turned up only 35 above .40 - and none of those was higher than .45.

The legal intoxication threshold in Washington is .08.

Wow...this lady is someone's mother...grandmother even!!! For a 54 yr old she sure can hold her drink.

Celebrity is relative

2007-04-19T10:43:00.000-05:00

So I work at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City. It's not as glamorous as you think. It's really just another shitty restaurant job. The one perk, I guess, is that you occasionally see a 'celebrity'. With any luck, you might actually wait on them.

In the last few months, I have seen or waited on Melissa Joan Hart (Clarissa Explains It All, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, etc.), Tracy Morgan (SNL, 30 Rock) and Kevin Bacon (Do I really need to cite movies? If so, The Pen will come and hit you over the head with a tack hammer because you are a retard). All through this time, I never really balked at anything. I mean, Kevin Bacon was kinda cool -- He looks just like he does in the movies! -- but even when I was playing with MJ Hart's infant son, I didn't really think anything of it. After all, they are just people like you and me.

But then it happened...I got starstruck. Last night, none other than Sig Hansen of The Deadliest Catch was in the restaurant. If you don't know him (you should!), he is the captain of The Northwestern; a boat featured on The Discovery Channel's show about Alaskan Crab fishermen. As an added bonus, his little brother Edgar was there too!

Now, I don't care for celebrity. I think it's something created by the media and sustained by people who read US or OK! tabloid rags. However, this guy is a real man's man. He is the captain of a ship that routinely faces 40-50 foot seas and nothing but the worst weather mother nature has to offer. I bet if he was in New Orleans when Katrina/Rita hit, he would have donkey punched those hurricanes and sent them packing.

He had just finished an interview with John Stewart on The Daily Show and was talking with his publicist from Discovery and some guy who wants to write a book about the crew. I was particularly interested because even before this show started, I had delusions of doing this in college. Although that went away for a while, I was plunged back into that icy reality when he was in speaking distance.

He told me I was nuts for wanting to do it. I guess he saw that I was pretty clean cut and maybe he just thought I was a city boy attracted to the celebrity of it all. What he didn't know was that I have been fishing all my life, and though nothing can prepare you for the icy hell that is the Bering Sea, this sort of thing is right up my alley.

After some discussion, he gave me some tips and the time of year to head up there to get into it, if I was serious. But I couldn't help but notice his reservation when he kept repeating, "I don't want to steer you wrong..." Maybe it was the stern amount of liquor he was putting away (Jack Daniels, if you please), or maybe it was that he has seen to many young bucks die in the deadliest job in the world. All in all, he was a great guy, a true hard ass, and it is a night I will not soon forget. Who knows if I'll make it up there to Dutch Harbor or not, but I will certainly give it a shot after this.

On a lighter note

2007-04-17T19:25:00.000-05:00

One of the funniest things I have seen in a while - Which ahtlete do you drink like?

I have every single one of these guys in my crew. I am a combo of Kobe and Peyton Manning.

RE: Virginia Tech Shooter Identified: Charlton Heston

2007-04-17T18:54:00.000-05:00

I wanted to highlight the comments that were made to my previous post.

Dr. Jones said:

I think that lots of times, the basic principles of liberty that our forefathers so dutifully outlined were created in a simpler time. When people had guns then, it was to hunt, or for self protection. To my knowledge, the only time hand guns were used was in the situation of a duel. I'm sure there were random drunkards who shot up people, a la the old west, but this is getting out of control, don't we think?

Why do people have guns now? The vast majority of the people in this country own guns "to hunt," "for self protection," and for personal collecting. The people that use guns in crimes and murders are by far the extreme minority. Don't throw out the baby with the bath water, as the saying goes. The only reason that something like this can happen (mass killings) in this day and time is because we have more rapidly-firing weapons. I think, even if the forefathers envisioned automatic weapons, they still would have included the 2nd Amendment because all that a quickly-firing weapon does is add to that level of protection.

Emily said:

Other than that..I agree with Karma...if someone in those rooms had a gun (for protection) that psyho wouldn't have made it as far as he did.

and karmajunkie said:

Frankly, I'm of the opinion that if more people--or even one person--involved in this tragedy of epic proportions had exercised their right to bear arms, the death toll would be much, much lower.

Agreed. There is definitely a greater chance that this psychopath would never have killed thirty-three people if the ban against guns on campus didn't exist. I am not saying that Virginia Tech's policy is a bad one (guns don't belong everywhere); I am just pointing that out. Take for instance the guy at Appalachian State that, after flunking out of law school in early 2002, killed the dean, a professor, and a student. In that case, two students retrieved their guns after hearing the shots, confronted the suspect, and he surrendered. Maybe that is different here because the kid locked the doors, but it is a "what if" that needs to be considered.

There are terrible, awful, psychotic people in this world. There are mentally disturbed people like this kid that committed these atrocities on completely innocent people that didn't deserve this. However, because something happens doesn't mean that "something must be done."

Virginia Tech Shooter Identified: Charlton Heston

2007-04-17T08:56:00.000-05:00

HT: Drudge

Blaming Charlton Heston

What happened yesterday was a tragedy. It is terrible, and I didn't even plan on bringing it up on the TPIMTTS because it is so awful. However, advocating gun rights did not cause this tragedy to happen, and it is especially not Charlton Heston's fault. This kid was mentally disturbed and just lost it.

"As such, it has trumped every other consideration, not least the fact that on any given day about 80 people are killed by firearms, the vast majority by murder or suicide. Gun violence may cost $2.3 billion each year in medical expenses, but it is a price, gun supporters believe, that is worth paying to protect a fundamental freedom ..."

Yes, that is exactly right. Our country was founded on liberty, something many of our European neighbors don't know anything about, and liberty remains a cornerstone of our republic today.

I also find it particularly disturbing that they are pointing to the Assault Weapons Ban that wasn't renewed in 2004 as a potential cause of this. I didn't hear a thing on the news about this kid having an AR-15 or an AK-47. In fact, he used a Glock .9mm pistol and a .22 pistol, which are both very common handguns. All they are trying to do is confuse the issues with this argument.

During the period following World War II, America was seen as the guardian of democracy and was equated with the defense of liberty ...

And that is precisely why we believe in the right to bear arms.

The most mature response was from a German paper:

"Now we will probably begin discussing the overly lax gun laws in the United States. There, buying a machine gun is often easier than getting a driver's license. And a new ban on violent games and killer videos will also be put back on the agenda. But in the end, nothing is likely to happen. And the next killer already lives somewhere among us. But we have little reason to point an accusing finger at the Americans. Despite strict gun legislation, we (in Germany) have experienced the school shootings in Erfurt and Emsdetten. We have to consider the problems in our society. And we have to take care of our fellow humans."

Gun violence in schools is probably not more common than in the past, contrary to the sensationalist stories you will read in the newspaper today. That is not to take anything away from this being the worst mass shooting in U.S. history:

How common are mass shootings at U.S. schools? Eugene poses this question in his last post, and asks whether the rate of such incidents has increased. The answers are "very rare," and "probably not."

The extreme rarity of such incidents should be kept in mind as we decide what, if any, policy changes should be made in response to the Virginia Tech tragedy. Some changes may well be warranted, but we should guard against costly overreactions such as the draconian "zero tolerance" policies implemented in many schools after the Columbine attacks in 1999. As a professor in the Virginia state university system (of which Virginia Tech is a part), I hope we can resist the temptation to enact similar measures.

This kid did this because he was messed up in the head, and he couldn't deal with his girlfriend not wanting to be with him. He was crazy, why can't that be it? Isn't the simplest answer usually the right one? It isn't because of video games or assault weapons bans or Columbine. People have been murdering each other in fits of passion and rage since the dawn of time (with or without guns). That is not Charlton Heston's fault, nor is it the NRA's.

Captain Ed summed it up pretty well:

We should take care [not] to make instant analyses based on tragedies such as this. The truth is that a free society will always be vulnerable to lunatics and terrorists, and that gun control does not and has never prevented tragedies such as this. No-gun zones and ownership restrictions only apply to those who want to obey the law. The solution lies in finding better means of securing public areas so that another gunman like Cho cannot run wild on campus.

Quote of the Day

2007-04-17T08:01:00.000-05:00

HT: Gone With the Wind: An American Epic

This is exactly how I feel about studying for finals:

I’ve read review after review saying the same thing and have realized with a sense of growing horror that eventually I’m going to have to read War and Peace.

- Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone With the Wind on critics comparing the two books

The article is also interesting, in and of itself, especially about the novel's influence in other cultures.

The kids are running loose with our charge cards again

2007-04-16T17:32:00.000-05:00

Your tax dollars at work

Now, I am definitely running for Congress one day. The vacations alone would be worth it. And I can bring my wife, too? Thanks taxpayers!

Finally ...someone with some sense

2007-04-16T07:15:00.000-05:00

I heard about this guy this morning on the Pat Campbell show.

A black man that agrees with me about Imus AND the entire gangsta culture.

Read the article here. (It was just too long to post all of it)

Help Save Delara Darabi

2007-04-15T23:30:00.000-05:00

Ali Eteraz turns our attention to this tragic story.

Save Delara!
About Delara

Talk about a mistake. This girl, when she was 17, confessed to a murder that her boyfriend committed because they thought she wouldn't get the death penalty because she was underage. Unfortunately, they hadn't been to law school or read the criminal code closely.

She was convicted of the murder and lost her second appeal in January to the Iranian Supreme Court. Part of the outrage is because Iran is the signee of an international treaty that expressly prohibits administering the death penalty to minors (yes I realize treaties aren't binding in Iran's courts).

Did I mention she is a gifted painter? Here are her paintings.

A statement from Delara:

Currently, SaveDelara.com is looking for a web volunteer to revamp their website, and Eteraz is the man to contact. Go here if interested.

InstaQuote

2007-04-15T22:54:00.000-05:00

I'd be delighted to live in a country where happily married gay couples had closets full of assault weapons.

- Glenn Reynolds (InstaPundit - October 2004)

Amazing - if I had these skills, I would never lose at beer pong

2007-04-15T20:25:00.000-05:00

HT: Deadspin

Shredding rap music

2007-04-15T20:10:00.000-05:00

HT: The Pirate

It sounds so stupid when you take the beat and the angst out of it, it really does sound like rubbish. However, Nina Gordon has a beautiful voice and actually improves the song.

Conspiracy theories don't exist? AHHHHHHHH!!!

2007-04-15T19:00:00.000-05:00

Recommended reading from Eject! Eject! Eject! Seriously, you have to read it.

As I was leaving Joe’s, he said something I’m sure he thought was very funny. He said, “Man, I’ll bet a guy like you thinks Lee Harvey Oswald really shot JFK.”

Of course he shot JFK, Joe. Who do you think did it? The American Beef Council?

Joe looked at me the way I had been looking at him. That is to say, he simply could not process that I could hold such a belief in my head.

You’re serious?

I’m dead serious. I recommended Case Closed, by Gerald Posner – without question the best piece of critical reasoning, research and logic I have ever read, bar none.

I suspect he did not follow my advice. Books like that are bad for his business.

Man, you’re out there, said Joe.

You know, the sad thing is, I’m starting to believe he is right.

No, what fascinates me is the emotional motive of people who, presented with overwhelming evidence that the events that transpired on November 22nd, 1963 or September 11th, 2001 really happened exactly the way it appeared, continue to spin ever more elaborate webs in order to get to a place they need to be emotionally. Who are you going to believe: them or your own lying eyes?

All of this conspiracy nonsense comes after the fact. What we saw on those days was clear and vital and unmistakably obvious. In the case of the Kennedy assassination we are asked to believe – against all physical evidence to the contrary – what a few professional witnesses recall for pay ten or twenty or thirty years after the fact. Some guy who claims to see a puff of smoke on the grassy knoll is now a world-wide celebrity and not just some dude with time on his hands on a November afternoon. (And don't be deterred by the fact that a musket firing black powder was the last firearm that emitted "a puff of smoke;" perhaps Kennedy was murdered by a re-animated Stonewall Jackson. Prove it didn't happen!)

Well, in that vein I’d like to ask some questions myself. Is Michael Moore a serial pedophile? I’m just asking, and I’m sure a lot of my readers would just like to have some questions answered. I heard that Rosie O’Donell ate a baby at a Satanic Ritual once – is that true? Can you please provide the evidence that this did not in fact happen? Thanks. Who has murdered more hookers: Bill Maher or Charlie Sheen? Come on, you can’t tell me there’s no smoke there. I just want a possible explanation…

I work as a TV editor on SUNDAY MORNING SHOOTOUT. Oliver Stone was our guest several months ago. When asked if he regretted anything in his career, he had the audacity to say he regretted not putting THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION on the top of his movie JFK. He’s a dramatist, he said. His is job is to tell a story. He went on to say – and I remember I gasped when I heard it – that the problem in Dealy Plaza that day was due to “a failure of perception.” That’s a direct quote.

Have these dramatists ever – EVER? – run a business? Have they any clue at all how much effort goes into keeping the French Fry station at McDonald’s adequately staffed, to say nothing about pulling together a few thousand people in spectacular acts of mass murder? Do they have any idea that the honest human men and women who work for the government are anything more than plot points in their own bitter narratives? Is there no end to the evidence – as if more evidence was needed – that we are daily led to believe the worst about our government, our businesses and our country by self-centered psychotics who understand nothing but the absolute imperative to glorify themselves at the expense of everyone and everything they share this civilization with?

Rothbard on our favorite day: Tax Day

2007-04-14T15:33:00.000-05:00

From LewRockwell.com:

My favorite part -

But if taxation is robbery, then it follows as the night the day that those people who engage in, and live off, robbery are a gang of thieves. Hence the government is a group of thieves, and deserves, morally, aesthetically, and philosophically, to be treated exactly as a group of less socially respectable ruffians would be treated.