Stories That Got Backlogged By Christmas...and Saddam.

More Horrid Parents:
Parents of a newborn are quibbling over which of their pets gnawed FOUR toes off their newborn...the pitbull or the ferret. My questions: Why were either able to get to the baby? What drugs were the parents on that they didn't wake up after the first toe came off? And why don't we have Parenting licenses again?

"The month-old girl was injured December 10 as Mary Hansche, 22, and her husband, Christopher Hansche, 26, slept; they woke up when they heard her crying.

The parents were jailed on $50,000 bond each, charged with child desertion and criminal negligence.

The husband had blamed the dog and told police the ferret had been in its cage all night, Bossier City spokesman Mark Natale said Wednesday. The charges wouldn't change regardless of which pet was involved, Natale said, because the baby "was injured by an animal while in the custody of the parents."

The girl has been released from the hospital and is in state custody." (source) (H/T: Liz)

Fred Phelps International Man of Insanity:
Fred Phelps, "pastor" of the "Westboro Baptist Church" -and I use the terms lightly, has now taken his freak show international. He is making a name for himself in Europe by accusing the King of Sweden, Carl Gustaf, of being gay.

"Phelps' site calls Sweden "a land of sodomy, bestiality, and incest", and goes on to say: "The King looks like an anal-copulator, & his grinning kids look slutty & gay."

Under pictures of the royals, the site says: "You jackass Swedes just don't get it. Once you have laws to chill Bible preaching, we don't give a rat's tutu whatever else you do or say. You are drippings from the Devil's own penis - a veritable sperm bank for Satan's queers."

The site and its content have infuriated Swedes who have a close bond with their royal family. The government has expressed its concern to the US Ambassador. And, the royals have consulted their lawyers.

Although Phelps could be prosecuted in Sweden it is doubtful he could be extradited." (source)

My Guilty Pleasure Gets Sued:
Yes, I admit it...I read Perez Hilton. It's People magazine on crack.

Now an L.A. photo agency is suing him for 7.6 million dollars:

"The suit claims Hilton used 51 photographs without permission, payment or credit, including images of a pregnant Katie Holmes, Kevin Federline pumping gas and Britney Spears showing her, um, assets.

"We've had trouble with a lot of bloggers," X17 co-owner Brandy Navarre told the Los Angeles Times for a story on its Web site. "But he's the biggest, and the most arrogant and pigheaded about it, frankly. "He is stealing our images and costing us money every day," she said.

Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, said he believes he has done nothing illegal. "I am going to vigorously defend myself," he said. "I am willing to step up to the plate and fight for my rights and fight for the rights of all bloggers."

His attorney, Bryan Freedman, said Hilton has a legal right to make satirical or humorous use of newsworthy photographs. If the copyright lawsuit succeeds, "the effect would be to eliminate the ability to comment on and transform photographs under the fair-use exception to the Copyright Act," Freedman said.

But X17's lawyer, John Tehranian, argued that Hilton "is basically free-riding on the labor and efforts of X17 and its photographers who stay up all night and roam the city." Seven other photo agencies sent Hilton a joint letter demanding that he stop using their photographs but they have not sued, the Times said." (source)

All Bloggers (especially those who use pictures taken from the web -LIKE ME) need to be watching this case and doing whatever they can to support Mario. (Also, I have seen him give photo credits many times -as I do if I know the origin of the picture)

Fair and Balanced Quizzing

You Are 44% Republican

You aren't a full fledged Republican yet, but it's probably the party that fits you best. You probably consider yourself an independent Republican. You usually support the party, but you also think for yourself!

How Republican Are You?

You Are 16% Democrat

If you have anything in common with the Democrat party, it's by sheer chance. You're a staunch conservative, and nothing is going to change that!

How Democrat Are You?

...I wonder what the other 40% is? I know, independent thinker...sounds about right.

Ding Dong the Dictator is Dead...?

This afternoon word came from "Iraqi and American sources" that despite the 30 days given for Saddam's demise, it would probably take place "this weekend". Now word comes that the hanging is planned for this evening (by 10pm EST).

"The time has been agreed upon. It will be done by six o'clock in the morning (Baghdad time)," the official said.

"The agreement was reached during a meeting between Iraqi and American officials. Saddam will be handed over shortly before the execution." (source)

"...Al-Nueimi said U.S. authorities were maintaining physical custody of Saddam to prevent him from being humiliated before his execution. He said the Americans also want to prevent the mutilation of his corpse, as has happened to other deposed Iraqi leaders.

"The Americans want him to be hanged respectfully," al-Nueimi said. If Saddam is humiliated publicly or his corpse ill-treated "that could cause an uprising and the Americans would be blamed," he said." (source)

"...Haif'a, a schoolteacher in her thirties standing with her daughter, offered a typically Shia point of view. "It makes me happy to see him executed, he should have been killed three years ago, his people are still fighting because they believe he will come back," she said..." (source)

This may come as a shock to those on the left, but I don't want to celebrate anyone's death... I hate that we need a death penalty. I wish people wouldn't do things that warranted death.

...But, if I start to feel bad I'll just remember the guy who had his hands sawed off with no anesthesia...or the small children raped, imprisoned and killed, the fact that he raised monsters like Uday and Qusay, or the picture of the Kurdish women dead with her baby clutched in her arms...

UPDATE 1: "Hussein hanged, lawyer confirms"

Saddam Hussein, the former Iraqi dictator who spent his last years in captivity after his ruthless Baathist regime was toppled from power by the U.S.-led coalition in 2003, was hanged Saturday for crimes committed in a brutal crackdown during his reign, U.S. and Iraqi sources tell CNN." (source)

UPDATE 2: I had no idea that President Bush was personally having Saddam executed to "keep his mouth shut", but that is what everyone at The Huffington Post and The Democratic Underground are saying, so it must be true...right?! I can't believe WE gave Saddam the wink and nod to invade Kuwait and gave him those weapons to gas the Kurds! Wow. Now I see why we they hung him so damn quick... I mean he blurted out everything else in court and I don't know why he wouldn't have said that, but if the DU says it --who are we to question...? (To give credit, neither Atrios or Kos have participated in this "theory"...yet. Though there were posts of rejoicing that Ford was dead over at Eschaton, which I found a bit odd...)

Gerald Ford & Kentucky Politics

"I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your president by your ballots, and so I ask you to confirm me as your president with your prayers." -Gerald Ford, August 9, 1974.

Someone asked me yesterday where I was and what I thought when I heard that Gerald Ford had passed away... I wasn't sure how to answer because I didn't remember and I felt bad because I didn't really have a reaction. I was too young to remember him as a President and I probably knew more about his wife than I did about him. I do know if he wouldn't have lost the election (because he pardoned Nixon?) in '76, we wouldn't have had to endure 4 years of a "misery index" with Carter... So, feeling guilty I was reading through some news stories and biography pages last night when I came across this quote:

"President Ford was a humble public servant who led our country to calm in a time of turmoil and who did so with a kindness, dignity and sincerity that wasn't overlooked. President Ford's passion for public service and his love for our country will never be forgotten." -Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher (source)

Ernie Fletcher...why did that name ring a bell? So I looked him up. He's a Republican Governor in Kentucky that seems to have more allegations and charges against him than Nixon did:

"...On May 11, 2006, Fletcher was indicted by a grand jury for three misdemeanors; conspiracy, official misconduct and political discrimination. All were related to the merit system investigation. The grand jury has returned a total of 29 indictments in the case - 14 of which remain sealed by the court.

On August 11, 2006, Special Judge David E. Melcher ruled Fletcher is protected by executive immunity and cannot be prosecuted while in office. This ruling "essentially stayed the case until Fletcher's term expires, or unless he is removed through impeachment by the Legislature..."(source)

Despite all this, Fletcher is running for re-election in 2007 (I found one of his Republican challengers: Billy Harper). I think the opponents' campaign should use this quote about Ford...Fletcher is praising him for being the one to come in after a scandal and creating calm...and it would seem that's just what Kentucky needs now...

So prompted by the question about Ford, I did do a lot of reading about him and found this interesting Kentucky story...so, though "where were you when you heard Ford died" seemed strange to ask a 30-something year old at the time...it prompted what could be an interesting discussion...

Life Observation #17

This topic has been on my mind for a long time, but I haven't posted about it because WAY too many people in my life are in this situation and I didn’t want anyone to think I was posting about them (as it could be any one of 25+ people). So I am prefacing this post by saying, on everything I hold dear I am writing this as a generalization --asking questions about an observation I have made over the years and I have NO SPECIFIC person in mind as I write (or no ONE specific person...) So if you’re thinking I wrote this about you, or you, or you—I didn’t... It was actually sparked by someone I only know through association that is mad right now because his 12 year old daughter hasn’t spoken to him in 8 months…

Did that pique your interest? ;)

I understand that marriages and relationships end. People try and when they can't make it work they move on looking for a better situation. I get that. What I don't get is why people move from the relationship they're leaving right into another one. I think both sexes do it --but I’m pretty sure men do it more.

Help me understand this... Why leave a bad relationship and immediately jump into a new co-habitation? Why not get your own place and spend time by yourself healing, making things right with family and kids if you have them and figuring out what went wrong and what needs to change the next time around. And why would the "new person" even want the damaged person to move right in? Do they not care if they’re the rebound person -or are they so desperate they don't care if they are? Don’t they want the person to take time and sort out all their emotions/guilt/etc. before jumping into something new?

Many in this situation get mad that people in their lives are so upset with them --but why don’t they understand it's too much too soon? If you want friends and family to accept this huge life change...do it in increments. You can't tell family (especially kids) that you and your spouse aren't going to be together anymore AND that you’re moving in with some new chick/dude... that's WAY too much to be processed.

Anyway, hearing this scenario more and more lately just makes me wonder what facilitates it. A distorted sense of romance? -you've been so unhappy for so long you believe this is “the one” and want it that second regardless of how many people you hurt?...or maybe just that people have a hard time being alone because then they’d have to face their mistakes?...or is it as simple as a man needs someone to cook and wash his underwear...? Why the rush?

Caption It...

Einstein Would Have Fit Right in at Berkeley...

"Patriotic women should be sent to the front in the next war." -Albert Einstein

Someone that claimed to be "a U.S. Army Sergeant with 18 months of trigger time in Iraq" sent me an email saying this was the quote that came to mind when they read my blog.

I couldn't get the quote out of my head after I read it...not in an "the email bothered me" way, but in a "what a retarded quote from a brilliant man" way... But then I realized I knew absolutely nothing about Einstein on a personal level and I decided to do some reading.

I have never understood why patriotism is deemed wrong in the eyes of some. I have never understood why it's wrong to defend your country when it's threatened. I have never understood why I get emails demanding I join the military because I "support them" --should you all join the fire department because you want them to put your house out if it should catch fire? I have never understood pacifism as past wars have been the only way that past evils (gassing Jews, slavery) have been eliminated. I have also never understood the disdain for those that would don the uniform and fight on all of our behalves...

Unlike many today, Einstein included the military in the "majority" -meaning they stand to gain by acts of war and are not part of the minority that will suffer -as they joined to "defend thier country"...

"Heroism on command, senseless violence, and the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism - how passionately I hate them!" -Albert Einstein

I began reading a correspondence between Einstein and Freud about the nature of war... Einstein, an inter-nationalist, believed that only a "Supreme Court of all nations" could alleviate war (I wish he could see how well the United Nations was doing...or the EU for that matter). He asserted that aggression was a psychosis, but Freud didn't agree...

The more you read about him -the less his rants seem to be about "the aggression of war" and his disdain seems to be more about patriotism. My final conclusion --like many brilliant scholars...the man was a social misanthrope that seemed to lack common sense.

Anyway, I guess I can thank Seth for the interesting reading that was facilitated by his snarky email. This is stuff they just don't teach you in school. ...And Seth, for future reference, you'd have more credibility if you used your (dot)mil addy than a Yahoo one.

Well, maybe he wouldn't have fit in at Berkeley...it seems he was also a Zionist.

Edwards '08: The Silky Pony Rides Again...

I think the vice president and his wife love their daughter. I think they love her very much. And you can't have anything but respect for the fact that they're willing to talk about the fact that they have a gay daughter, the fact that they embrace her. It's a wonderful thing. And there are millions of parents like that who love their children, who want their children to be happy. —John Edwards, Vice Presidential debate (2003)

John Edwards was an odd enough choice as a Veep nominee (IMO anyway)...he's a one term Senator (where he voted in favor of the war in Iraq) and a trial lawyer before that. But now we hear (because of a glitch in his website) there will be a second run at being the Democratic nominee for President. How has one term in the Senate prepared him to run a country? He hasn't even run a company, city or State (mind you, the same complaint is true of Obama).

Now we get to go through another two years of hearing how his father "worked at a mill" --what does that mean anyway? Is that politico-speak for 'I was poor and understand you less fortunate folk'? Didn't the fact that he failed to carry a single state during the primaries last time around show him those folks weren't buying it? And why plan to announce his run in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans...? The multi-millionaire has so much in common and so much history with the people there?

Something about Breck Boy has always rubbed me the wrong way...he comes off like a shady defense attorney or something... Or that he's rich as hell and tried to play off that he's 'like us'...

We bloggers are going to have it easy this time around. We won't even have to look to dig up any dirt, we can just sit back and watch --and let Hillary and her team do all the leg work...

Caption It...

It Dropped So Low in My Regard, I heard It Hit the Ground...

Another Icon of the Left Falls...well, he's dead and presumably in hell--so you can't fall much further than that. But now that we have definitive proof (in the form of declassified documents) that Yasser Arafat planned and oversaw the murders of two American diplomats...I wonder if his Nobel Peace Prize will be revoked?

"The decision to award Arafat the coveted Nobel Prize was based on the belief that he had renounced acts of terror and had become a sincere participant in a true peace process. But this was all a fiction. Even in 1993 and 1994, with the ink fresh on the peace agreement papers, there was a high rate of terrorism against Israel; seventy-three Israeli soldiers and civilians were killed and more than 100 wounded in 1994, up slightly from 1993." (source)

This double execution took place in the early 70's...which would indicate that Clinton knew he was negotiating with a man that had a direct hand in murdering Americans with immunity...

"...James J. Welsh (then the National Security Agency's Palestinian analyst) believes the initial cover-up of the communications breakdown and the role of Arafat was launched to prevent embarrassment to the State Department and White House. President Nixon, he points out, was in the death throes of the Watergate scandal at the time. The last thing he needed, Welsh speculates, was an international scandal to deal with on the front page of the Washington Post.

Later, after Nixon was gone, Welsh believes the whole matter of the Arafat tapes was kept quiet to protect the future viability of signals intelligence intercepts of this kind. And, finally, he said, the cover-up persisted to foster Arafat's role as a "peacemaker" and leader of the Palestinian cause..." (source)

We all argue here day after day...but is there any situation where we can really take an educated stand...is there any happening that civilians actually have all the facts...?

R.I.P. Dante

On Christmas night he and I were out on the deck and I told him under no circumstances was he to die on Christmas day...for my mom's sake. He listened and waited until yesterday.

Great Danes don't usually live 10 years.

He could be a giant nudge, but he will be missed.

Holiday Etiquette for Dummies...

You would think anyone over 20 years of age would know this, but it seems not so let's reiterate BASIC etiquette (for any day, but especially during the holidays):

You NEVER, under ANY circumstances, invite someone to come to your host/hostess's house without asking them first.

For the second year in a row (even after a thorough dressing down replete with trucker-speak last year), The Man's brother someone who will remain nameless invited people over to my Mom's house without telling anyone he had done so. There was not enough food because we did "Christmas dinner" proper on Christmas Eve and Christmas day was supposed to be laid back with hors d'oeuvres and finger foods and not having to entertain anyone...

The nameless person not only lied and said The Man invited them (he wasn't even there), but then sat in another room and didn't talk to them. He invited them only to save himself a trip to their house -and they had to feel uncomfortable when it wasn't their fault...

Boundless audacity. Someone here asked me once what's wrong with being a mid-30's bachelor that has never been married or had kids-- I think this is the answer...living alone with no responsibility to anyone but yourself creates extremely self-absorbed, thoughtless tendencies in many (before I get 100 emails: MANY, not ALL) cases. But if you ever do choose a mate...heed this warning: You marry a family!

Can you guess what kind of mood I'm in today? Unfortunately, the Eagles slaughter of Dallas didn't cure me like it did some others in my family...

So should today's post be about horrible relatives or nightmare-ish holiday stories...?

Merry Christmas to All...

I searched for things to post...uplifting things. I searched for stories of miracles and unexplained acts of kindness and good will, but unfortunately I came up short. So, for just this once, I'll head the old adage about refraining from speech when there is nothing nice to say.

In lieu of a proper post, I will send you all this year's Christmas card and wish you a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas day. I especially send my thoughts and love to all those who are away from family and friends...swallowing sand instead of pumpkin pie.

See you all on Boxing Day...

...all right, so I lied...watch this* courtesy of Rickvid. ...If I had the ability to keep my mouth shut, I wouldn’t have a blog now would I?! ;) (*language advisory -lyrics)

Imagine This...

...Right before the 9/11 Commission is about to commence, Condoleezza Rice goes and pulls classified documents. She sneaks them out in her socks and underpants. She stashes them under a construction trailer, then retrieves them and tries to light them on fire. She is unaware that people are watching her every move. When she is caught she tells the 9/11 Commission and the American people that they were only "copies" and she didn't really destroy any...they're all there. And the left takes her at her word?

I know I've written this about a 1,000 other things, but I can't even begin to fathom the outrage and the marching on Washington if Condi had done even ONE of these things let alone ALL of them. Valerie Plame and Foley put together don't come near the magnitude of the crime committed by Clinton's National Security Advisor Sandy Burger.

"...Mr. Berger executed the cloak-and-dagger maneuver in October 2003 while taking a break from reviewing Clinton-era documents in connection with the work of the so-called September 11 commission.

" Mr. Berger exited the archive onto Pennsylvania Avenue," the report says, recounting the story the former national security chief told investigators. "He did not want to run the risk of bringing the documents back in the building. … He headed toward a construction area on 9th Street. Mr. Berger looked up and down the street, up into the windows of the archives and the DOJ, and did not see anyone. He removed the documents from his pockets, folded the notes in a ‘V' shape, and inserted the documents in the center. He walked inside the construction fence and slid the documents under a trailer."

According to the report, Mr. Berger said he retrieved the documents after leaving the archives complex for the evening and took the papers to his office. It is not clear how long the documents were unattended at the construction site, but the report suggests it was a few hours, at most.

The former national security chief said he cut three documents up in his office and discarded them in the trash. Mr. Berger returned two other documents after archivists notified him that some records were missing, but his efforts to retrieve the others from the trash collector were unsuccessful..." (source)

...And it was a only misdemeanor charge? We will never know if documents were destroyed --and the obvious question this event begs is 'what was so hurtful to the Clinton administration that Berger would risk this stunt rather than have the 9/11 commission and the American people know about it...?

I wanted to see what they were saying about this over at the Democratic Underground...the answer: Nothing. It seems they are all-consumed with spitting hate and finding replacements for Virgil Goode. National security documents stolen and cut up and all they can talk about is one of millions of people that think we should limit Muslim immigration? Then I checked on the Kos Kids...top post there? Also Virgil Goode. Can ONE liberal come forward and admit that if this had been a Bush Cabinet member the world would be turned upside-down right now...?

(Photo Credit: Rush)

Worst Date Ever:

Today's "fun" post (though with all the stress and commitments mounting, fun seems a distant concept...) is recalling for everyone your WORST DATE EVER. I actually just told my mom about mine the other day...

I think I was 21 and decided to go out with a guy that was completely not my type. I normally dated Harley boys and he was a Yo Rocko Italian club guy. His name was Fabrizio -for real.

He picked me up in his silver Lexus and took me to see 'Mo Money' (how romantic huh?). About 15 minutes into the movie he started holding my hand. That's fine. Then he moved my hand in his to his chest. Still okay. Then he moved both hands lower and I felt skin. He had his Johnson out in the theater...15 minutes into a first date! I proceeded to "eeek" and get up and walk out. He followed me out and he acquiesced when I told him to take me home. As we neared my street he drove right by and drove into a park near my house. At this point I'm panicking a bit and keep telling him to take me home. Turns out he wasn't dangerous --just incredibly conceited. He really thought I was playing hard to get and this was some elaborate game of mating foreplay. "Come on baby...this is Faaaabriiizioooo, you know you want it..."

So that was the worst date ever. ...and the last Italian boy I ever dated.

What was yours?

The Most Popular Name in England...

...is no longer George or Joseph --it's Mohammed or Muhammed.

"...There have been 2,833 babies named Mohammed born so far this year, and 1,422 named Muhammad, for a total of 4,255 – compared to 3,386 Georges and 3,755 Josephs, the Telegraph reports.

The popularity of the Prophet’s name reflects "the diverse ethnic mix of the population,” according to the Telegraph.

The name Mohammed alone is more popular than Henry, Edward, Michael, Adam and Charles." (source)

Here in the States, Mohammed ranked down at 622 in 2005 (and that is up from #493 in 1999). It will be interesting to monitor Mohammed ascent or decent in the years to come. Jacob and Michael are still the top names. (source)

Whether you name your child Mohammed or Michael it says the same thing to me...you're a bit boring and unwilling to take risks --even if it means your child will need the first letter of your last name attached his whole life because there are four other children with the same name in his class... Michael M., Michael J., Michael C. I hate that my Ninja's name rose to #42 on the popular list ...And don't even get me started on Jr.'s...

Ways To Utilize a Burqa...

This story stood out because since 9/11 my mom has held fast to the belief that Osama Bin Laden is strolling around Pakistan in a Burqa...even though I've told her he's pretty tall and probably wouldn't pass as a woman... But this story definitely illustrates one of the more nefarious uses of a head to toe covering.

"...A man who was being hunted for the murder of a policewoman is understood to have escaped from Britain by disguising himself as a veiled Muslim woman.

Mustaf Jama, a prime suspect in the fatal shooting of PC Sharon Beshenivsky, assumed his sister’s identity — wearing the niqab and using her passport — to evade supposedly stringent checks at Heathrow, according to police sources.

The use of the niqab, which leaves only a narrow slit for the eyes, highlights flaws in British airport security. At the time, Jama was Britain’s most wanted man, while Heathrow was on a heightened state of alert after the 7/7 terrorist atrocities in London five months previously.

The Times has learnt that British immigration officers rarely carry out a visual check to match a passport photograph with a departing female passenger’s veiled face..." (source)

So, in a post 9/11 world we are willing to let cop-killers escape rather than offend someone and ruffle some feathers... Do you feel safer than you did five years ago? NO.

Can You Keep Up With Liberal Logic?

In an interview the other day Ted Turner said that he believes that only women should be eligible for elections for the next 100 years. All levels of political offices.

He went on to say that unless this drastic "woman only" measure took place right away we would be doomed to a full scale nuclear war and that the earth would warm so much it would be unfit for humans.

He said that if this plan were to go into effect, the "military budgets would be slashed to nothing."

The next question for Mr. Turner was "If Hillary Clinton and Al Gore both run in 2008, who will you vote for?"
Turner's reply? "Al Gore. He's the most electable."

It was a bit Twilight Zone-ish...

Pink's New Cause Celeb

When I first read the article where Pink is urging us to boycott Marino and Australian wool my stomach turned a bit (I'm no vegan, but I don't want living things to suffer):

"...The outspoken singer says, "I am calling on consumers to check labels on sweaters before buying them, and if they're merino wool or made in Australia, to leave them on the racks."

At a news conference held just before her concert at the Paris Bercy arena in France Tuesday, Pink premiered her new video expose of Australian wool cruelty.

In the disturbing four-minute video, which is being launched on the Internet, Pink shows viewers the suffering that merino sheep endure in the Australian wool industry.

She agreed to front the film after learning that millions of lambs are mutilated each year by having chunks of skin carved from their backsides-without any pain relief, in a practice known as "mulesing."

In the harrowing video, Pink says, "If you're like most people, you already refuse to wear fur because of the obvious cruelty involved, and, like me, you may even look for the stylish alternatives to leather.

"But what about wool? Most of us have never thought about it. Sadly, like any other industry that uses animals, the wool trade uses methods so sadistic that it makes you consider clearing your closet of any animal products." (source)

It sounds really bad, but then common sense (and a very strong attachment to my Uggs) kicked in and I realized this is PETA and Pink we're dealing with...so I did a bit of reading on the practice of "Mulesing".

First of all, it's not done to get the wool as Pink implies --it's done to prevent some infection called "flystrike" (hundreds of maggots from the Australian BLOWFLY are deposited into the back of the sheep and this practice is believed to alleviate that -a fact which most of the anti-mulesing sites don't dispute). It seems that sheep die from flystrike but rarely die from mulesing.

Now, I don't know if any of you have Rottis, but I have been there when they dock the tails and let me tell you...it's horrible. God, the squeals... But worse than that, Pink is so worried about baby sheep having some butt skin cut off -how about the fact that Americans cut of baby's penis skin with no anesthesia? I'd say that's a little worse than a sheep...but hey, that's just me.

A Few Suggestions...

1) Blackfive reported that soldiers from the UK aren't being supported from home. I know it's a tough time of year, but if there's anymore love to spread around we should support these soldiers too -they are fighting and dying alongside our guys...

"...It is illogical, but true, that when soldiers take part in campaigns which are politically unpopular at home, their courage and dedication are less appreciated. I am told by the father of a British soldier just returned from six months in Iraq (and soon off to Afghanistan) that our troops in Basra receive very few letters of support from people at home, whereas their American counterparts have many letters, cards and parcels from complete strangers. He says that such messages cheer the soldiers up tremendously." (source)

For a Brit in Iraq:

British Soldier
c/o G1 Branch
HQ MultiNational Div (SE)
Basra, BFPO 641
United Kingdom

And for a British soldier in Afghanistan:

British Soldier
c/o G1 Branch
HQ Helmand Province Task Force
Camp Bastion, BFPO 792.t
United Kingdom
(H/T: Jules)

2) For a last minute gift idea: If you have any woman in your life that went through a breast cancer scare or endured the actual diagnosis and treatment...you MUST buy them "Cancer Vixen". It's a graphic novel by New Yorker Magazine cartoonist Marisa Acocella Marchetto that details her journey through breast cancer diagnosis and treatment with humor and amazing candor. Actually, I think all women would love this whether they've lived through cancer or not. This is one of the best books I've read in a long time -actually I read the 224 pages about 3 hours -Justrose lent it to me and told me once I started reading I wouldn't be able to put it down...she was right. (Short Video Clip of the book)

Buy it, read it and thank me later.

3) Did everyone but me know that Montel Williams was a Marine for 21 years? I knew there was a reason I liked that dude.

Yeah, I know, that's not a suggestion...yet.

Montel went to Iraq and brought the troops some Christmas surprises. The trip will be aired on his show today and tomorrow: ON LOCATION: HOLIDAYS WITH OUR TROOPS. You can check the schedule for your area here. It looks like it'll be a great show...

Give Me Your Best Line...

I know we've done this before, but these are my very favorite comments to read...and we have some new people that can help out…and I really could use some laughs today...

Pick up lines that you've used that worked, that got shot down --or even better that got you slapped or kicked... ;)

Of course I'm partial to "You must do karate, because your body is kicking!" LOL
My brother's friend actually got a girl's number with this one (I kid you not): Do you teach Special Ed, because your making me retarded". He scored with that!

So let's have them...

Hollywood's Persistent Psychosis

Sean Penn 12/18/06:

"Let's put his administration under oath, and then if the crimes of treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors are proven, do as Article 2, Section 4 of the United States constitution provides, and remove the president, vice president, and … civil officers of the United States from office. If the Justice Department then sees fit to bunk them up with Jeff Skilling, so be it."

"So look, if we attempt to impeach for lying about a blow job, yet accept these almost certain abuses without challenge, we become a shit stain on the flag we wave." (source)

Sean Penn went to school for auto mechanics and enunciation...I am FAR from an elitist and most of the non-college people I know are street/common sense smarter and make more money than the college folks, but as a commenter on the Huffington post so succinctly summed it up..."what are the chances of a person without a degree in journalism getting a job at the San Francisco Chronicle covering the elections in Iran?" Unless your name is Sean Penn that is...

Matt Damon on Hardball with Chris Matthews:


Damon comments that [Cheney doesn't seem like someone that has any personal courage and that he didn't go and that when it was his time to go he deferred six times but he doesn't hesitate to send other people's children to war]. (To be fair Robert Di Niro looks a bit uncomfortable during this exchange -Matthews on the other hand is practically wetting his pants with glee)

Did Matt enlist and I didn't hear about it? Has he gone? If there was a draft, would he go or use his influenece to go with the USO instead? Like him or not you can't say Cheney hasn't served --he has been a public servant for 37 years. What has Matt Damon done? Where has he served?

The Cut and Run Resistance

David Zucker (Hollywood director) sums up James Baker's Iraq study group:



("Zucker, a longtime liberal Democrat, switched to the Republican Party in 2004 reportedly due to his concerns about national security and voted for President George W. Bush." - source)

It seems like Bush didn't take the study-group too seriously either - yesterday the Washington Post reported that instead of the "cut and run and call it redeployment plan", he's opting for the expanding the military to kick some militant ass plan...

"...Bush said he has instructed newly sworn-in Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to report back to him with a plan to increase ground forces. The president gave no estimates about how many troops may be added but indicated that he agreed with suggestions in the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill that the current military is stretched too thin to cope with the demands placed on it.

"I'm inclined to believe that we do need to increase our troops -- the Army, the Marines," Bush said in the Oval Office session. "And I talked about this to Secretary Gates and he is going to spend some time talking to the folks in the building, come back with a recommendation to me about how to proceed forward on this idea."

The president's decision comes at a time when he is rethinking his strategy in Iraq and considering, among other options, a short-term surge in troop levels to try to secure violence-torn Baghdad. The Joint Chiefs of Staff are resisting the idea during internal debates in part out of the conviction that it will further strain already-pressed forces." (source)

Did You Know Santa Was A Disney Character?

Sixty year old James Worley has a natural white beard and big belly. This almost got him kicked out of Disney World.

Children were asking Worley if he was Santa Claus. Not having the heart to disappoint them he played along and gave them some "ho ho hos" --that is until Disney employees descended and told him to "alter his appearance" or he would have to leave the park. Their reasoning:

"They said they wanted to preserve the magic of Santa." -and-
"Santa was considered a Disney character."

So he was ordered to stop looking like Santa...even though it wasn't a costume?

"...Mr Worley took off his red hat and red shirt but said: "I look this way 24/7, 365 days a year. This is me."

Even after bowing to the request to alter his appearance, Mr Worley, from Tampa, said children continued to ask if he was Santa. "How do you tell a little kid, 'No, go away, little kid'," Mr Worley told local television.

Mr Worley said he still loved Disney and Christmas." (source)

Has the entire world gone mad?

Your Ideal Mate

Reading yesterday's "kiss me" proposals were a riot (and the private emails even better! LOL) --and it was meant to be fun. It's the week before Christmas and people are stressed out wondering who they forgot to buy for and wondering how they'll afford to buy anything else... So we should be able to de-stress and have a little fun...right?



So, onward to today's fun. Your IDEAL mate. This is a character from a movie (not the actual actor just the person they portray) that would be perfect for you. A character that you love everything about -looks, personality, sense of humor... The one who makes you feel 16 again because you swoon over a fictional creation. The Man says this is too hard to say just one person...

For me it's too easy. It's Aragorn from Lord of the Rings with no contest. Long black hair, blue eyes, honorable and brave...I could be his Elven queen.

So, if you could pick one fictional character as your ideal...who would it be?

Countries Compete For Biggest Cup Size?

There was actually a country-by-country study of European cup sizes by 'Bodyfashion Promotion'. It seems that Britain took the top slot with Danish women coming in second. Though the Dutch women came in third, the study shows that their breast sizes have increased over the past 20 years.

"Dutch women are getting bigger breasts and 32 percent of them now have a D-cup or bigger compared with 20 percent five years ago.

Some 42 percent of women aged 30-39 have D-cup breasts and feel in general okay about that. Women with a large bra size are now the largest group in the Netherlands.

But the shape and size of breasts start to change once women reach the age of 40 and women then opt for a smaller bra size.

Some 44 percent of surveyed girls aged 12-19 think that eating fatty foods helps increase the size of their breasts. All survey respondents said poor nutrition habits are the cause of increased breast size. Hormones in food and the general increasing size of the population are also leading to bigger breasts." (source)

I figured that with all the pictures of Aragorn up I should post something for you boys... And you know I have a penchant for odd stories.

Savage Was Right About the Tsunami

Do you remember the huge bellow from the left'o'spere last year when Michael Savage riffed about the tsunami saying [the United States should not be sending any aid to the affected countries because they are "hotbeds of radical Islam."] Libs were literally frothing at the mouth...

Truthfully many of us probably thought this was a little harsh -and we shelled out the cash we didn't have to help people that were worse off than us.

Well, it seems that Savage was clairvoyant and I hope everyone that blew a gasket over what he said last January reads this story from the UK Sunday Times:

"...WHEN people around the world sent millions of pounds to help the stricken Indonesian province of Aceh after the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004, few could have imagined that their money would end up subsidising the lashing of women in public.

But militant Islamists have since imposed sharia law in Aceh and have cornered Indonesian government funds to organise a moral vigilante force that harasses women and stages frequent displays of humiliation and state-sanctioned violence.

International aid workers and Indonesian women’s organisations are now expressing dismay that the flow of foreign cash for reconstruction has allowed the government to spend scarce money on a new bureaucracy and religious police to enforce puritan laws, such as the compulsory wearing of headscarves.

Some say there are more “sharia police” than regular police on the local government payroll and that many of them are aggressive young men..." (Read the entire article)

I should have listened to Savage --I ate Ramen for a week to fund terrorism. Lovely.

Foreign aid should be treated like the homeless --never give them cash, buy them a meal. We urban dwellers know this well, so why do we deviate on a larger scale. NO money should be sent to foreign governments -send food, clothes and help...but no cash.

Warning: Seemingly Callous Post to Follow

When WTC victims, Katrina victims, trapped firefighters, surrounded cops and pinned down Marines/Soldiers are rescued it's incredible and uplifting and until they are it's gut wrenching...

Not so much with the Mt. Hood hikers. All of the aforementioned people were in situations beyond their control. Not so much with the Mt. Hood hikers.

I am a "Discovery Channel" junkie -from Dirty Jobs to Cash Cab, but the channel gets changed as soon as "Extreme Everest" comes on. Who cares about a bunch of people that put themselves into ridiculous situations?

Now the Oregon National Guard is out looking for these hikers....using God knows how many thousands of dollars in resources --they even have a Chinook up there. For what? Someone's HOBBY? Should the National Guard escort me to karate class? Are these hikers and they're families going to pay back the resources that were used to find them when their HOBBY went awry?

I know it seems callous, but I'm having trouble mustering sympathy...

Update: It seems I'm not the only one wondering who should foot the bill. After I wrote this I noticed an email from Liz with an article asking the same question. Thanks Liz, now I don't feel as heartless.

Beware Men: Your Services Aren't Needed

Most men didn't look at the big picture when they supported Roe V. Wade... It was the first step in excluding them from parental decision making. It's a woman's body if she wants to end her pregnancy (even if the man objects), but it's the man's financial responsibility if she wants to keep the kid...

...But now it goes a step further. New government proposals in the UK would eliminate the need for a father --and in order to pass these laws they must establish that children don't really need a 'father figure'... Now maybe all the men that sat back declaring this a 'woman's issue' may rethink that...

"...The need for a child to have a father should be removed from the law governing fertility treatment, a government White Paper said today.

Clinics must still consider the welfare of any child born as a result of IVF or other fertility treatment but whether a father figure is present will no longer be necessary, under government proposals.

The move would make it easier for single women and lesbian couples to have children using donor sperm.

The Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act said: "On balance the Government has decided to propose that the reference to need for a father (in consideration of the welfare of the child) should be removed from the Act." (source, source2)

Once cloning is up and running, you will be an outlived commodity... Be afraid, be very afraid...

Oh, and it seems in the interim you should stop putting your laptops on your laps.

Good Kissers Apply...

So, I knew The Man had "made-out" with someone after we got together (before we were married, mind you, but while we were dating and basically as soon as I went back to England). For some reason I had forgotten this happened and something reminded me of it yesterday, so I was teasing and informed him it was only fair that I be entitled to a retaliatory make-out.

But here's the thing...As a stay-at-home mom most of the men I encounter are either under 10 or related to me (aside from my Sensei’s and the Stepford Elementary janitor...but that wouldn't be smart...). If actually given a "free pass" after 10 years of being with one person, how would you go about picking the candidates?

I decided that applications would be the best route. I will solicit 2 paragraphs or less to tell me why YOU should be the "the one" to help me save face... The Man should suffer for a bit and wonder what I will do... It's only fair right -an eye for an eye...Truth, Justice and the American way... Carpe diem...

;)

Veterans: Job Opportunities in '07

Integrated Biometric Technology is going to be creating jobs nationwide for US War Veterans.

"As part of the program, veterans will be qualified, screened and trained to become "trusted agents" of IBT to enroll individuals into federally-mandated credentialing programs. Veterans certified as trusted agents of IBT are responsible for gathering demographic and biometric data from individuals that must be secured as it is submitted into various federal screening programs. They also will be integral in the issuance of the secure credential when it is produced.

"American war veterans are a diverse, hard-working and disciplined group of individuals that embody the spirit of our company's mission to secure our nation and protect our citizens from crime, terrorism and fraud," said Charlie Carroll, CEO of IBT. "We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to these men and women who have given their lives to the service and protection of our country. We are honored to repay this debt by creating a new set of high-profile and important career opportunities for them within our enrollment service centers across the U.S." (source)

These jobs are set to begin January 2007. Here is the contact information:
L-1 Identity Solutions
Doni Fordyce, 203-504-1109
dfordyce@L1ID.com

Or you can go to VetSuccess.gov

Full Scale of GITMO Torture Exposed!!!

Those at GITMO are showered with feces, seminal excretions, spit, blood and urine on a near daily basis. They have no recourse against vicious attacks on their person. They have been called horrible names and racial slurs. They are victims of ambushes. They are in danger every day.

...And those are the American guards. The Captors if you will. We had this information coming from Club GITMO in the past, but now we have the actual numbers from the incident reports.

On the other hand inmates have had dietary requests met and exceeded. They have a huge Arabic library. Harry Potter was demanded in Arabic and the request was fulfilled.

"...During the 12-month period that ended in August 2006, authorities reported 3,232 incidents of detainee misconduct. They included 432 assaults with bodily fluids, 227 physical assaults and 99 efforts to incite a disturbance or riot.

"This is serious stuff," Adm. Harris said. "And yet the guard force and the intelligence people maintain a remarkable degree of restraint and equilibrium. The young Americans that work here are doing a spectacular job in a dangerous place."

Officials said most guards are not allowed to handle Korans or other religious and cultural items for the inmates. The Korans, prayer beads and Islamic rugs are stored in a 300-foot long building similar to a small aircraft hangar.

Al Qaeda inmates have been taught to lie about Camp Delta and claim torture. Officials cited a terrorist training manual known as the Manchester Document and seized by British authorities in 2000. The manual directs al Qaeda operatives to make false claims of torture and mistreatment. More than 340 people have been released from Camp Delta.

“They're out there walking around spewing forth all manner of lies and evil things and distortions, but the fact is that they're released," Adm. Harris said." (source)

Once again we have a case of the left'o'sphere and the MSM readily believing the Terrorists over our troops...

What Religion Suffers the Most "Hate Crimes"?

With all the whining in the news by CAIR and the ACLU (among other civil rights groups) most people might assume that Muslims were the most targeted in retaliation for their murdering compadres... They would be assuming wrong if they were in the UK.

"...One in 400 Jews compared to one in 1,700 Muslims are likely to be victims of "faith hate" attacks every year. The figure is based on data collected over three months in police areas accounting for half the Muslim and Jewish populations of England and Wales. The crimes range from assault and verbal abuse to criminal damage at places of worship...

...A report by MPs in September said British Jews were more vulnerable to attack and abuse now than for a generation. Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, who sat on the All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Anti-Semitism, said it was "perverse" that not all police forces recorded anti-Semitic incidents and said that some forces "verge on the complacent." (source)

I am guessing that here in the US Blacks, gays and Jews would all rank above Muslims when it comes to 'hate crime'. I'd be interested to see those numbers.

Potheads Beware: Cannabis & Mental Illness Linked

This story got an resounding "no duh" from me... Most (maybe all) of the people I know that still indulge on a regular basis are definitely loopy in the clinical sense. I know it's a chicken or the egg scenario --Do they still smoke pot in their 30's because it calms their mental illness or did the pot help induce the mental illness?

"...THE use of cannabis, particularly among young people, substantially increases the risk of mental illness and worsens existing mental health conditions, a major report has found.

Where There's Smoke: Cannabis and Mental Health, by the Mental Health Council of Australia, said the drug's dangers were underestimated and called for an education campaign.

The research found cannabis use could trigger psychosis in some people and could induce schizophrenia in those with family histories of mental illness.

There was a link between early and regular cannabis use and later depression, but little evidence to suggest people turned to cannabis because of existing mental health conditions.

The council's chief executive, John Mendoza, said there was now proof smoking cannabis had serious mental health risks.

"You increase that risk further if you have a family history of mental illness," Mr Mendoza said.

"You increase the risk again a notch further if you begin using at a young age, when brain development is at crucial stages.

"And you increase the risk a further step if your use is regular and prolonged, and if you use the substance in a way that increases its potency through the use of bongs." (source)

Sorry to any of the tokers I know...don't shoot the messenger. ;)

Another Theory on Baby Theft...

A week or so ago I posted wondering if the declining availability of infertility funding was fueling the recent rash of attempted fetus and newborn theft here in the States...

But the theory in the Ukraine is entirely different:

"...Several reports in British papers last week told the story of a video showing a post-mortem examination of infants of Ukrainian mothers who believe their babies were stolen from them at birth.

The video was given to reporters by a charity worker representing 300 families who believe their healthy babies were falsely declared dead by staff at a maternity hospital in the Ukraine's most easterly city of Kharkiv.

Due to pressure from families, authorities agreed in 2003 to exhume the babies' bodies for examination. A senior British forensic pathologist who has viewed the video says that what he's seen does not look like standard post-mortem practice, the BBC reported.

The video shows severed limbs and torsos with organs, including brains, stripped away.

The thorough dismemberment of the bodies has led some to believe that, if the grisly evidence points to the babies having been murdered, the hospital may be supplying harvested stem cells from bone marrow to an underground market..." (Read the entire story), (Also at the Beeb)

This scenario has long been a central argument for the no-embryonic-stem-cells camp. Similar to fears of "Organ Donors" (will they do less to save you if someone 'more important' in the hospital could use your bits?), imagine Bill Gates needs stem cells and can offer millions...how many doctors would comply?

Only In Philly...

...Can you be driving behind a 3-series Beamer driven by a man in a three piece suit with this license plate:



He was a big man, thankfully he didn't notice me taking the picture in his rearview.

...Can you actually manage to escape a police station from a second story window -then run across a street without looking and get hit by a car. Priceless.
(H/T: PA Water Cooler)

Odds and Ends...

1) Obama falling from grace?:
Did you know his middle name was Hussein? Iraq Hussein Osama? If that's not foreshadowing to a bunch of nothing good...I don't know what is. Then there were some shady real-estate dealings, revelations of drug and cocaine use (can they forgive him when they ride Bush relentlessly for it without appearing too hypocritical?), and the fact that he's a smoker (God forbid!).

Then there was the Obama/Maureen Dowd exchange:

OBAMA (off mic): You talked about my ears, and I just want to put you on notice: I'm very sensitive about -- What I told them was, ''I was teased relentlessly when I was a kid about my big ears.'

DOWD (purring): We're trying to toughen you up. (source)

Has he read what his party says about Bush? How can he think he can possibly run for President if he can't even taking some mocking over his ears...? (They didn't even look big when he was younger)

2) Plus Size Clothing Should have Warning labels:
"...Naveed Sattar, professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, said that oversized clothing should have obesity help line numbers sewn on them to try to reduce Britain's obesity crisis.
The suggestion would be to put the label on all clothes with waist sizes over 37 inches for boys or 31 inches for girls. Women's clothes over size 16 would also get a label..."

Of course this is a huge concern in the UK because of National healthcare -it costs Britain up to 9% of thier budget treating obesity-related health issues. Warning labels in plus size clothing is much more palatable than the trans fat bans that are sweeping the nation... New York, Chicago I believe and now Philly. Bars with no cigarettes, fast food with no fat...no wonder we're getting rid of books -pretty soon it would be illegal to read in the library anyway...

3) 2006 Military Recruiting Statistics:

It seems our all-volunteer military force is going strong despite how poorly they've been treated -despite attacks and legal challenges to recruiters on college campuses -and despite what's being said about no one enlisting or re-upping in the MSM and the left'o'sphere. (source)

Only 76%!!!!

You Are 76% Control Freak

You are a pretty major control freak, though you may not know it. While your confidence is inspiring, your bossy ways tend to scare people off.

Are You A Control Freak?

I would have thought I was much more of a control freak than 76%...it's probably because I didn't write the quiz, you know, you really can't trust other people to get things done right.... ;)

Philly OEF Veteran Gets a House...

...and this is no hand-me-down. It's a sweet house complete with a huge flat screen TV, a hot tub and a laptop. He earned it -and he deserves it. I wish all returning combat veterans could be afforded this reward...

Army Sgt. Pisay Tan's mother was a Cambodian refuge and Tan wanted to repay this country for taking her in during the Vietnam War by serving himself.

Tan served in Operation Enduring Freedom and even after hours of surgery and rehabilitation, and losing both legs...the 25-year-old says he still believes no sacrifice is too big and describes his service as "the perfect opportunity."

"... U.S. Army Sgt. Pisey Tan is now officially a Ridley resident, thanks to what is likely the largest, best-decorated present anyone in the county will receive this year. Tan joined his brother, Dara, and mother, Bo Mao, with hundreds of others Thursday for the official unveiling of his new home: a two-story single house on Youngs Avenue built specifically to Tan’s needs by general contractor the McKee Group Inc., and non-profit organization Homes For Our Troops.

Tan, of the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment, lost both his legs to an improvised explosive device while serving his second tour of duty in Iraq last August, but as his Army buddy Todd Bussard, of Atlanta, said, Tan never showed any bitterness or anger.

Tan has been an inspiration to all who speak of him, including McKee Group President Frank McKee, who considers Tan his personal hero.

"He is a treasure, this young man," McKee told the group gathered under tents on Youngs Avenue Thursday. "He served all of us and now we get the wonderful opportunity to serve and do something for somebody who did so much for us."

Groundbreaking took place on the fifth anniversary of 9/11 and construction followed at a break-neck pace with help from hundreds of volunteers and organizations.

"It took unbelievably generous donations of time, labor, material and money from many subcontractors and charitable contributors to make this home a reality," said McKee. "I’m very proud to stand before you representing this group of people who would put their heart and soul into building a house for a young man who gave his heart and soul to defend his country. Our goal and our hope is that people see this from around the country and other builders help out fellow veterans and take care of them the way we have for Pisey. That’s the best thing that could happen. It is our dream." (source)

You can watch the video here.

Hats off to McKee Group Builders who have started a "HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS" project. I really hope more builders follow suit. It sounds like Sgt. Tan was a wonderful first recipient!

Veteran's Arab Effigy

Pat La Tray, a veteran of "several wars", says that he doesn't care that people are offended by the Arab that hangs from gallows in his front yard with an American flag piercing his heart --he says He is offended by Americans that don't stand up for the troops...

People have complained, but considering the display is on private property there isn't much that can be done. The ACLU and CAIR find their hands tied by freedom of speech...

"...Nearby resident Pilar Sinelnikoff said she doesn't care what La Tray says. The effigy offends her every time she walks by it. "I'm appalled he calls himself an American," she said. "He's pathetic."

Sinelnikoff said she has not spoken with La Tray, but she knocked on the door and spoke with his wife last week. She told Sinelnikoff that her husband put it up.

"You cannot miss it when you walk or drive by," Sinelnikoff said. "It's just disgusting."

When asked her thoughts about the effigy, Nong La Tray, who is a citizen of Thailand and moved here in 2002, said she has no problem with it. She said Muslims were oppressive in her home country.

"They're not good people," she said." (source)

"It is a patriotic symbol," La Tray said. "It has nothing to do with race or religion. I'm an American to the bone," he said. "For me, it is strictly about Islamo-fascism." (source)

He should be selling them on eBay...

Oliver Stone's World Trade Center

So I broke down and paid the $4 to rent this at Blockbuster last night. I know I urged everyone to get a bootleg copy so Maggie "I hate America" Gyllenhaal wouldn't get a cent, but the truth be told...I have no idea how to go about getting a pirated movie.

The first movie about the World Trade Center on 9/11 and the (real) story is compelling --it should have been a "gimme" for Stone. I didn't cry and The Man fell asleep. This movie was an utter disservice to those that lived through this hell...

The only thing it accomplishes is to make you think about the scores of people that were most likely trapped under the rubble and the horror they went through. There were so many other things going on that day --and I think the image of the people jumping was paramount in people's minds, but this did show the hell underground.

Oliver Stone took an incredible story that happened in the context of a world-changing event and managed to make it into a movie in which you don’t feel emotionally vested in the characters... How is that even possible?

President Bush is Amazing!

It seems that on top of pulling off the world's best plot and cover up by toppling the World Trade Center and creating a hurricane and planting bombs on the New Orleans 9th Ward levees to kill lots of poor black folks...he has now pulled of the ultimate crescendo--he has caused a Senator to have a stroke...

BWahahahaha... Now the GOP will regain power!!!!

No, I'm not making this up --thanks to the folks over at NewBusters who watch the liberal MSM so we don't have to, we have the transcript of The View's Joy Behar asking of there is a such thing as "a man-made stroke"...

"...In other words, did someone do this to him?"" -Joy Behar

Good Lord.

Another great post over at Newsbusters: Julia Roberts won't kill spiders now that she voiced the animated Charlotte (of Charlotte's Web).

"You think, that’s a person, or somebody’s Mom or somebody’s best pal.” -Julia Roberts, Good Morning America, 12-13-06

Mark Finkelstein goes on to wonder whether she gives unborn babies the same consideration...


(BTW: You should be voting over at the Weblog Awards for Newsbusters in the "Best Media Blog" Section -right now the very liberal "The Raw Story" is leading and the POLLS CLOSE TODAY...Actually while you're there, go through and vote for all your favorites!)