Islam in the News...

"Everybody in America is soft, and hates conflict. The cure for this, both in politics and social life, is the same—hardihood. Give them raw truth." -John Jay Chapman

"Britain's biggest terrorist trial ended today in the conviction of five men for a plot to use fertiliser bombs to blow up the Bluewater shopping centre, the Ministry of Sound nightclub and British gas and electricity supplies.

Two other men were found not guilty on a charge of conspiracy to cause explosions likely to endanger life.

The verdict from an Old Bailey verdict came after 27 days of deliberations during which the jury of seven men and five women were told to return a majority verdict.

Those convicted on the conspiracy charge were Omar Khyam, 25, Waheed Mahmood, 35, and Jawad Akhbar, 23 - all from Crawley, West Sussex, as well as Salahuddin Amin, 32, of Luton, Bedfordshire and Antony Garcia, 25, of Barkingside, East London." (source)

"The Kansas City International Airport has added several foot-washing basins in restrooms to accommodate a growing number of Muslim taxicab drivers who requested the facilities to prepare for daily Islamic prayer, WND has learned.

The move concerns airport police who worry about Middle Eastern men loitering inside the building. After 9/11, the airport beefed up its police force to help prevent terrorist attacks.

"Why are we constructing places of worship for them inside our airports?" said an airport official who requested anonymity. "Why are we catering to their rituals? We don't do it for any other religion."

Other major airports also are dealing with increased demands from Muslim cabdrivers." (source)

"A cable company is offering the Al-Jazeera network in its cable package, one of only a few in the nation to do so. Burlington Telecom, a city-owned cable company that serves 1,200 households in Vermont's largest city, began offering the Arab-operated network about six months ago. "We were certainly squeamish about it at first, given its reputation in the United States," said Tim Nulty, director of Burlington Telecom. "But if you look at it, it looks like BBC. I think it's more mainstream and more objective than CNN." (source)

"Ham Incident" Update: "Many are now attempting to use the parody as “proof” that the incident did not occur. But, it did. School Superintendent Leon Levesque commented that the situation in Lewiston, apparently regarding the town’s and school’s relations with its Muslim population, is a “sensitive” one. Then, the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence’s Stephen Wessler advised a CBS affiliate: “This is a wake-up call that the level of hate and anger, among a small population, is vibrant!” (source)

No wonder Turks are out in droves --attempting to squash the Islamic regime (and Turkey is 99.8% Muslim)...
"Up to a million people rallied in a sea of red Turkish flags on Sunday, accusing the government of planning an Islamist state and demanding it withdraw its presidential candidate.

But despite the Istanbul protests and a threat from the powerful army to intervene in the election, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, architect of Turkey's EU membership drive, said he would remain the ruling AK Party's candidate for head of state.

The protesters flooded the streets of Turkey's largest city, praising the army and denouncing Gul and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, whose AK Party enjoys a huge parliamentary majority, as a threat to a secular order separating state and religion.

"Turkey is secular and will remain secular," they chanted." (source)

Many Teachers Only Last 4 Years...

The measly salary earned by many teachers is referred to as "combat pay" and it isn't enough to compensate for the stress of being a parole officer and a baby sitter. Because of the looming possibility of law suits and the heavy load of bureaucracy, teachers find themselves unable to actually teach. They are getting frustrated and leaving the profession (many after just four years)...

"...Stephan Goyne entered teaching as a "fight the good fight" kind of guy, taking a job in East Oakland right out of college.

But after six years in the trenches -- transferred from campus to campus, forbidden from organizing field trips and ordered to teach math only after lunch -- Goyne left the profession. Now he works in real estate and runs a Brazilian jiujitsu studio in Oakland.

Sabrina Walasek loved teaching middle school science and math in Daly City and Felton, near Santa Cruz. But after six years, the Oakland resident found herself worn out from keeping kids in check .

"The amount of energy spent on discipline and behavior management just got to me after a while," Walasek said. The stress wasn't worth the pay, she said. "It was almost impossible to exist in the Bay Area on that salary," Walasek said.

She and her husband, also a teacher, both left teaching. Now she uses her education experience and business degree in developing educational toys at LeapFrog in Emeryville, a job that comes with a much higher pay check.

The 1,900 teachers surveyed by the institute said they left mainly because of the endless amounts of paperwork, constant interruptions and fruitless meetings that take time away from actual instruction, said Ken Futernick, principal author of the study and director of K-12 Studies at the institute.

"Those kind of things aren't just driving people crazy, they are driving teachers out of the classroom," Futernick said..." (source)

I don't know enough about NCLB to say whether it's a factor --I have heard that the paperwork is overwhelming. It's confusing because I've talked to teachers that love it and others that hate it. The NEA (teacher's union) is another huge problem. I think our political correctness plays a big part and the failure to offer teachers incentives that other professions receive may be the biggest IMO. I'd commit to stay somewhere for 3-5 years if they offered student loan payback (like the nursing profession does)...

If saying that teachers are one of the most important keystones of our society is more than just lip service, we have to start attracting top candidates and not the bottom of the barrel.

Lesbianism: Bad for your Health...?

Well, it seems those boys are good for something... ;)

Considering there have been studies showing the link between reproductive cancers and nuns (who don't use their reproductive bits)...I have wondered if breast and ovarian cancers are also higher among lesbians. And it seems they are.

But now a new study finds that they (lesbians, not nuns) are also at a much higher risk for obesity.

"...Lesbians are twice as likely as heterosexual women to be overweight or obese, researchers said.

The report, in the American Journal of Public Health, is one of the first large studies to look at obesity in lesbians.

Ulrike Boehmer of the Boston University School of Public Health and colleagues looked at a 2002 national survey of almost 6,000 women, and found lesbians were 2.69 times more likely to be overweight and 2.47 times more likely to be obese.

"Lesbians have more than twice the odds of [being] overweight," the authors wrote.

This would put them at a higher risk for diabetes and heart disease, among other ailments.

"Our findings indicate that lesbian sexual identity is linked to a greater prevalence of overweight and obesity," the authors wrote in the study, released this week.

They reviewed smaller studies that have suggested a higher prevalence of obesity among lesbians..." (source)

Breast and ovarian cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity? Makes you think women just might be here to use those reproductive organs... Then again --I'm not a big believer in lesbians, as I've met only one in my life that only slept with women...

D.C.'s Heidi Fleiss to Name Names...

I know, I know... I shouldn't be fascinated with stuff like this, but what can I say...I am. I want to see the list. I like when hypocrisy is exposed. And, in all honesty, I'm kinda nosy.

The deputy secretary of state has already resigned because his name and number was on Deborah Jeane Palfrey's "list":

"On Friday, Randall L. Tobias resigned as deputy secretary of state one day after confirming to Brian Ross of ABC that he had patronized the Pamela Martin firm. Speaking yesterday on "Good Morning America," Ross said Tobias told him Tobias's number was on Palfrey's phone records because he had called "to have gals come over to the condo to give me a massage." There had been "no sex," Ross quoted Tobias as saying, and that recently he has used another service, "with Central American gals," for massages.

Tobias, who is 65 and married, was director of U.S. Foreign Assistance and administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development. He previously held a top job in the Bush administration overseeing AIDS relief, in which he promoted abstinence and a policy requiring grant recipients to swear they oppose prostitution." (source)

The list doesn't just contain the names of prominent men that were looking to ease their loneliness, but prominent women that worked for the D.C. Madame. Lawyers’ phones are ringing off the hook in D.C. --ABC will have an exclusive with palfrey on May 4th.

I found it a bit odd that a website has been established to collect donations for her defense fund?

Monday Question...

After some of the *ahem* quite chauvinistic responses to the "Women are smarter and make less money" post, I thought it would be interesting to pick this question from The Book of Questions:

"Which sex do you think has it easier in our culture? Have you ever wished you were the opposite sex?"

...And I think "why" and examples should back up the "easier in our culture part" ;)

My answer? Men only have it harder when they have a stay-at-home-wife and kids. Carrying the entire burden of a family's survival must be a daunting task...

Opinions Needed...

I have wanted to do a "Blonde Sagacity" t-shirt forever --even if I'm the only that ever wears one... BUT, how can I make a gender-neutral tee with the blog name "Blonde Sagacity"? What could I do to sum up the spirit of the site and have one that's guy-friendly...

I wish I could ask Cox & Forkum to come up with something for me...how cool would that be...?

But do I really need professional cartoonists...? There are so many witty people right here (as evidenced time and time again by the 'Caption It' posts), so youse guys (<--Phillyism) need to help me think of the perfect shirt(s)! Ideas, slogans, pictures....let's have it!

How Homophobic Are You?

You Are 19% Homophobic

You're open minded, tolerant, and accepting. And you're not homophobic in the least :-)

Are You Homophobic?

Memorial to a Terrorist in Oklahoma

Remember Joel Henry Hinrichs III's, the recent Muslim convert that "committed suicide" by blowing himself up right outside OU's Football stadium? The kid that had already been under investigation (before blowing himself up) for attempting to purchase ammonium nitrate?

"...The father of a University of Oklahoma student who died after a homemade explosive he was carrying detonated near a packed football stadium said the placement of a memorial to the young man on campus wasn't his idea.

A football fan attending OU's Red-White game on April 7 spotted a stone paver outside the student union with Joel Henry Hinrichs III's name on it.

"I was just kind of horrified," Jenny Clemons told The Oklahoman. "I don't think he has any business being out here."

The school's student affairs division arranged to have the stone placed, an OU alumni affairs employee said. Families pay for such memorials, which cost about $150, officials said, but Hinrichs' father told the newspaper the school offered to place the stone and never billed him..." (source)

"There are about 30,000 suicides in America, unfortunately, every year. And you can go back a decade, and you will not find a single one of those suicides who blew themselves up in proximity, close proximity, to 84,000 people at a football game." -Mark Tapscott, The Heritage Foundation.

What possible reason would the University even allow the memorial, let alone foot the bill for it...?

Veterans Shunned by the Philly PD...?

I'm not sure if this has made it to the national news, but due to the demand for police officers and the fact that we have had more homicides in 2007 than there has been days of the year...the brass has been hitting the streets. Pretty scary if you ask me --a bunch of out-of-shape desk jockeys putting their partners at risk...

Anyway, you'd think that a city such as this...where the Brotherly Love has been less than forthcoming...they'd welcome back the OIF and OEF veterans with open arms. Philly seems to be a combat zone lately and what better training than dealing with the religion of peace over in the Sandbox(es)? Well, you'd be wrong:

"Policemen and women called to serve in the US military as reservists or guardsman, often find they can’t return to full duty as police officers in this city.

They return to work in their department, but they are actually prevented from carrying a gun and returning to street patrols.

The city, in most cases, carries them at their regular police rate, though some awaiting re-certification have had their pays reduced. They are all relegated to desk and other clerical duty. All worry they could be de-certified and forced out.

There are approximately 60 who now fall in that category, the majority of whom have returned from reserve or national guard duty in Iraq or Afghanistan." (source)

(Big H/T to AlexC over at PA Water Cooler)

First Debate for the Dems...

I have to admit that I didn't watch...and it sounds more like it was a "Who can bash Bush the hardest" instead of a proper debate. I did however get the highlights from the Freepers:

Sen. Dodd: Statement opposing drug testing for welfare recipients was utterly stupid. He said that drug addiction was an illness and a person should not have to give up their welfare because they are ill.

Hillary: Saying she supported military force in Afghanistan then realizing she supported the use of military force in Iraq also. It was clear she had nowhere to go with her comment.

Richardson: Said that his first day in office he would have us out of Iraq by means of diplomacy.

If this president does not get us out of Iraq, when I am president, I will," said Sen. Hillary Clinton"

"We are one signature away from ending this war," said Sen. Barack Obama

"I would withdraw all of our troops by the end of our calendar year," and invite Iran and Syria to a regional security conference, said Bill Richardson.

The best reaction after the debate was Chris Matthews, a paraphrase here:
(Hillary Clinton) didn't say anything to make herself more unlikeable.

(source1, source2)

I'll have to look for it on YouTube, but I still have to watch the last two episodes of "24" first...

The 12 Year Old ALa

Somehow I got sucked into buying a table at my kids' schools' fund raising flea market this weekend... As I was rifling through the basement looking for things I no longer want but others may see as a good way to waste their money, I came across an old scrapbook. In it I found the rough draft (I told you I was anal) of the very first letter I ever wrote to a boy. I was 12. I met him at a skating party. Despite the embarrassing nature of the contents (elucidating just how dorky I really was) I will print it here...for nostalgia's sake:

April 21, 1983
"Dear Stuart:
Hi.
How are You? I'm Fine. I guess. B___ said she gave Danny my number to give you. 555-1212. Did you get it?
Well what kind of things do you like? Do you like rock? What groups? Van Halen is number 1 on my list! Other groups I like are: Journey, Asia, Survivor, Duran Duran, Pink Floyd, Def Leppard, Loverboy and many others.
What school do you go to? I go to ____ ____ (same as Danny). Is he your best friend? B___ is one of mine. In what area do you live? I live in the _____ _____. I might go to _____ next year. Are you good at school? I'm ok, but I'm lousy at math!!!
Do you like sports? I like basketball. Does Danny really like B___, that seems hard for me to believe a 16 year old liking a 12 1/2 r. old! How old are you? I'm 12 and 1/2. When is your birthday? Mine is July 26.
Do you go to the skate every month? H___? Do you always go in the ____ ____ bus? It was OK, but I can't stand organ music! I was gonna bring a Sony Walkman but the batteries were dead! Well if you have time write back and answer my questions.
See ya soon,
A______

Do you like rock? LOL Well, I hope my kids are still this geeky at almost-13...

Caption It...

Peter Franklin Paul has a video tape that he claims catches Hillary in the commission of a felony --which he has now released to the public (you can see/hear it on the link above).

Hunter Calls for Reid's Resignation...

"...WASHINGTON — The ranking Republican in the House Armed Services Committee called on House Majority Leader Harry Reid to resign Wednesday over his declaration that the Iraq war is "lost."

Rep. Duncan Hunter — a 2008 presidential candidate — wrote in a letter that Reid's comments "can have no effect but to demoralize the brave men and women, who are honorably fulfilling their mission in Iraq, and to encourage our adversaries."

"Even if you sincerely believe it to be true, your pronouncement of failure will undoubtedly be used by terrorist leaders to rally their followers — inevitably leading to increased attacks on U.S. and coalition forces," Hunter wrote..." (source)

I know it's impossible to do, but putting politics aside...It seems very, very wrong to have someone at this level of power and influence proclaiming a loss when there are still so many men and women in theater. I can't decide if he really feels this way or if this is gearing up political support for '08. Everyone is definitely entitled to their own opinion, but to publicize that opinion as a spokesperson of the people to be broadcast on al Jezerra ad naseum seems quite counterproductive and sort of like creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. Obviously he will never acquiesce to stepping down, but he should be required to make a trip to Iraq (outside the Green Zone) to speak candidly with the boots on the ground and tell them they are failing to their faces...

"Global Warming" RX

What can we do to save ourselves from the impending doom of Global Warming? Don't fret...there's a list...

Cheryl Crow wants the amount of toilet paper squares you use limited. Really. How many squares?

Crow says, "...one square per restroom visit — except, of course, on those pesky occasions where two to three could be required." (source) Oh yeah, that should be a pleasant smelling Earth.

What else can we do besides walking around with nasty underpants you ask?

Well, Time Magazine just published the list and here are 12 of the 51 proposed cures for 'Surviving Global Warming":

• Building bamboo fences.

• Wear Green eyeshadow.

• Turning thermostats to 82.4 degrees in the summer.

• Making only right turns to save idling in left-turn bays.

• Taking fewer trips on "carbon-spewing" jetliners.

• Wearing clothes from the thrift store.

• Raking instead of blowing leaves.

• Bringing your own cup to Starbucks.

• Bringing a cloth bag to the check-out to tote your groceries.

• Collecting rainwater.

Live in a 100-square-foot home.

• Have a Green wedding.

The Global Warming Survival Guide: 51 Things We Can Do to Save the Environment

Okay, I know some of those are pretty kooky, but I'm still hung up on the one square of toilet paper thing...

And getting far less press is Newt's take on Conservatives and Environmentalism.

(Photo Credit: Ridiculopathy.com)

More on the Haditha Incident...

Call me cynical, but even if this case crumbles and the Marines' accounts of an "insurgent" attack is proven to be the reason they fired...I don’t expect any apologies from all those on the left that have called them murderers (including Murtha) to be forthcoming. Kind of like the Duke Lacrosse case... Aspirations have been cast and much of the damage has been done.

That being said, it seems the case against the Pendleton 8 is indeed beginning to crumble...

"...Convincing evidence that corroborates NewsMax.com's accounts of the Haditha insurgent ambush has compelled the prosecution to take extraordinary steps to bolster their crumbling case.

The stunning announcement that all charges are being dropped against Sgt. Sanick P. Dela Cruz, formerly accused of murder in the Haditha incident where 24 Iraqis were killed during an insurgent ambush against the Marines, is indication that the prosecutors have a very weak case against all the defendants, lawyers for the some of the accused say.

Much of that evidence remains classified, but it includes videos of the entire day's action, including airstrikes against insurgent safe houses. Also included was all of the radio traffic describing the ongoing action between the men on the ground and battalion headquarters, and proof that the Marines were aware that the insurgents conducting the ambush of the Kilo Company troops were videotaping the action — the same video that after editing ended up in the hands of a gullible anti-war correspondent for Time magazine...." (Read the entire article)

The Neighbor From Hell Outer Space?

We've read stories about lots of people that would qualify as "worst neighbor", but I think Barney Vincelette of Houston has many of them beat.

His autism makes him extremely sensitive to music...so he's compared it to "being raped" and declared war against it.

Aside from the fact that he lives in a UFO (nice way to bring down his neighbors' property value) he "develop[ed] a makeshift device that uses electromagnetic waves to temporarily jam the circuitry of his neighbors' stereos."

"Vincelette is so sensitive to noise that he's gone as far as shooting and killing a dog that barked nonstop outside his apartment. He paid a $100 fine and was evicted."

His thoughts on music:

"It is the same way someone would feel if they were sprinkled with urine in their face," he said. "It's a feeling of rage from being violated."

"The fanaticism of the junk culture and its forms is so extremist in its music that it forces everyone to live and hear their music," he said. "It makes al-Qaida look like the Unitarian Church." (source)

Lucky for everyone that would be involved this man doesn't live next door to us... Last summer The Man installed an outdoor sound system and has a propensity for laying in the hammock with the music loud. If some dude, genius or not, disabled his system with microwaves --there would be a full-on world-class feud.

(That is the actual picture...)

Calls For Further Haditha Investigations...

"...Attorneys for the highest-ranking man charged with wrongdoing arising out of the slaying of 24 Iraqi civilians in 2005 are asking Navy Secretary Donald Winter to conduct an investigation of how his agents treated Marine witnesses and suspects.

"There are disturbing reports that American servicemen were treated like POWs by their own government," said Richard Thompson, president of the Thomas More Law Center, a Michigan group defending Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani. "This entire investigation has been nothing but a political witch hunt instigated by insurgent propaganda operatives, anti-war media and anti-war politicians."

Brian Rooney, an attorney for Chessani, said a letter was sent to Winter today asking for the investigation.

The way the civilian law enforcement agents conducted the probe was like "having the verdict first and the trial second," Rooney said during a telephone interview Tuesday morning.

Leaks and investigative documents throughout the Haditha probe combined with the tactics of investigators pose significant hurdles for attorneys, he added.

"The defense of any of the clients is very difficult and it doesn't help when the interrogation techniques used by NCIS are not proper," Rooney said during a telephone interview. "I was always told by NCIS that they didn't take sides but that's not what happened in this case."

Chessani's attorneys, they say that many of the witnesses said the questioning was accusatorial, confrontational and insulting.

"One officer stated that agents yelled and threw things at him during his questioning," a release from the Thomas More Law Center states. "Witnesses believed that the agents had already concluded that there was wrongdoing and were not interested in information that would tend to exonerate the Marines." (Read the entire story)

It really bugs me that people that have never been in a combat situation with bullets whizzing by them have any inclination to judge the instinctual reactions of those that are...

You can hear a live interview with three of the Pendelton 8 families tonight at 10pm EST at Blog Talk Radio.

(Hadith Marines t-shirt available at: MetroSpy)

A Hate Crime Called HAM...

I can barely bring myself to write about this...I.Can't.Take.Much.More.

"A middle school student in Lewiston, Maine is being investigated by the police for a possible hate crime after he placed a bag containing a ham sandwich on a table where Somali students eat lunch. According to the school's superintendent, Leon Levesque, the student has been suspended, and more disciplinary action could follow pending the outcome of the investigation.

Muslims, who believe pork to be unclean and highly offensive, were reminded of a man who threw a pig's head into a mosque located in Lewiston last summer. "That ham sandwich in a bag where we couldn't even see might as well have been that pig's head," said one of the traumatized Somali students, "and that cafeteria might as well have been the most religious building for Muslims in the state of Maine."

According to Superintendent Levesque, "the school incident is being treated seriously as a hate incident." Police are currently investigating the matter alongside the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence, who is also working with the school to create an anti-ham "response plan."

"We've got some work to do to turn this around and bring the school community back together again." Said Levesque, "These children have got to learn that ham is not a toy, and that there are consequences for being nonchalant about where you put your sandwich." (Read the whole ridiculous tale)

An ANTI-HAM RESPONSE PLAN?! "Ham is not a toy"?! For the love of Allah, when are we going to make this stop?

Did you know that there is even legislation pertaining to Isamic halal meat (In Il & NJ)?

The Study the ACLU Doesn't Want You To See...

"Kids with religious parents are better behaved and adjusted than other children, according to a new study that is the first to look at the effects of religion on young child development.

The conflict that arises when parents regularly argue over their faith at home, however, has the opposite effect.

John Bartkowski, a Mississippi State University sociologist and his colleagues asked the parents and teachers of more than 16,000 kids, most of them first-graders, to rate how much self control they believed the kids had, how often they exhibited poor or unhappy behavior and how well they respected and worked with their peers.

The researchers compared these scores to how frequently the children’s parents said they attended worship services, talked about religion with their child and argued abut religion in the home.

The kids whose parents regularly attended religious services—especially when both parents did so frequently—and talked with their kids about religion were rated by both parents and teachers as having better self-control, social skills and approaches to learning than kids with non-religious parents.

But when parents argued frequently about religion, the children were more likely to have problems. “Religion can hurt if faith is a source of conflict or tension in the family,” Bartkowski noted." (source)

This doesn't really bode well for my kids as The Man and I are "unequally yoked" --though, to his credit, he doesn't argue with me about what I teach the kids... And, no, I don't take them to church --but we do read Bible stories and discuss God/Jesus at length.

Why I Listen to Talk Radio...

People are always complaining that I only listen to talk radio (and not music) when I'm driving...and that I have to have the TV on (with the sleep timer set) to fall asleep. The thing is I am a total type-A personality. My brain jumps from one thing to the next with no rhyme or reason, which means I will expect you to read my mind and understand when I go from topic to topic with no set pattern. I will probably interrupt you if your story lasts more than 3.5 seconds (not to be rude, but because I have to tell you my pertinent thought before I'm on to something else and forget my brilliant pearl of wisdom). I know, it's annoying.

If I am listening to someone on the radio or TV, when I'm driving or attempting to conquer my insomnia, I can usually tune out my own thoughts. If there's music or silence, it's the same as being in a crowded room. Someone once told me to picture a blank wall. The I start seeing grafitti on the wall -and pictures, and the kid's grafitting --and wondering why they aren't in school...etc. Wow, I'm making myself sound like a schizophrenic... Don't fret, there are up-sides. The type-A tendencies allow me to be super-mom, super-wife, super-friend and super-daughter without breaking a sweat.

Oh yeah, my point... yesterday while I was driving to my subbing assignment, I decided to put my own safety aside and jot down the random thoughts as they came...

"Good lord, Hillary is actually running for President. She's talking about walking into the oval office as if it's really going to happen. Could we really end up with Billary '08?"

"Why didn't I use some play on Don Quixote with Teddy Kennedy's name in the Earth day post... That rules, why didn't I think of that before? Note to self, remember to work in some man of La mancha reference when next talking about the bloated Senator. Or is that another obscure reference that I think is brilliant and no one will get?"

"Why doesn't London get admonished for their part in Global Warming? I have never had to put a hankie over my nose in Philly like you do in London. I wonder if these people always saying how evil America is have ever been to London. You're on the street for 10 minutes, blow your nose and your snot is completely black. It's disgusting."

"Did anyone but Rose, Liz and I notice that the Cho guy from Virginia tech sounded just like Napoleon Dynamite? Did it escape them or did it just seem too much like a joke about a bad situation to make the comparison? Like the kid that died in the car accident after escaping the engineering building. I wanted to say it was like "Final Destination", but I self-censored."

"I think I'm close enough that I can go home at lunch today. I think I forgot to shut the powder room door and the damn dog is going to get into the trash again."

"Hey, a "W" sticker. "W Then and Now" I haven't seen that one before."

Okay, so you get the idea...

Caption It...

The American Woman's Plight: Higher Grades, Lower Pay...

"Women do two-thirds of the world's work. Yet they earn only one-tenth of the world's income and own less than one percent of the world's property. They are among the poorest of the world's poor." -Barber B. Conable Jr., former president of World Bank.

This is when I turn into a feminazi... How is it that in 2007 women who outscored men in college in the same major, took the same job, worked the same hours, and put in the same overtime get paid 20% - 40% less?!

"...If a woman and a man make the same choices, will they receive the same pay?" the study asked. "The answer is no.

"These unexplained gaps are evidence of discrimination, which remains a serious problem for women in the work force."

Specifically, about one-quarter of the pay gap is attributable to gender - 5 percent one year after graduation and 12 percent 10 years after graduation, it said.

One year out of college, men and women should arguably be the least likely to show a gender pay gap, the study said, since neither tend to be parents yet and they enter the work force without significant experience.

In education, women earn 95 percent as much as their male colleagues earn, while in math, women earn 76 percent as much as men earn, the study showed.
While in college, the study showed, women outperformed men academically, and their grade point averages were higher in every college major.

The study, entitled "Behind the Pay Gap," used data from the U.S. Department of Education. It analyzed some 9,000 college graduates from 1992-93 and more than 10,000 from 1999-2000." (source)

I have a bad feeling some men are going to try to justify this somehow... There is no justification. Women aren't asking for quotas, for money or jobs they don't deserve and haven't earned, for special breaks because they have boobs. We just want a level playing field. If our resume is better, we should get paid more. If we can't cut it, we shouldn't be hired. But, the thought there is a man out there -that had a lower GPA -and less experience- doing the same job as a woman and getting paid more because he knows how to pick a football pool is enough to send me over the edge.

Gore's "Shadow" Campaign Team

I know I may regret saying this, but I really want the 2008 presidential race to be Alpocrisy Gore VS. Fred D. Thompson. What an exciting race...! Someone once said to me that when it comes to political thinking in the American, "once a loser always a loser" --if that's true, that covers both Gore and McCain.

The Telegraph is reporting that Gore's "people", hoping to capitalize on those that think he really is the President and his recent Academy Award, is putting together a "shadow" campaign. Gorinators believe that Hillary is a lock for the nomination, but won't be able to pull of the general election and hope Al can save the day.

"...One of his former campaign team said: "I was asked whether I would be available towards the end of the year if I am needed. They know he has not ruled out running and if he decides to jump in, he will have to move very fast.

"He hasn't asked them to do this, but nor has he told them not to."

In an interview on Thursday, which touched on the prospects for next year's presidential election, Mr Clinton commented: "You've got the prospect that Vice-President Gore might run."

Many of [Kerry's] leading advisers have yet to align themselves with any of the other candidates. They were expected to join the campaign of Sen Edwards, who was Sen Kerry's running mate last time.

The former aide, who has himself signed up with Sen Edwards, said: "The question is: where have all the Kerry people gone? The answer for most of them is nowhere. Now ask yourself why." (source)

Gore definitely provides me with the most PhotoShop fun for '08...

Representin' for Philly...

Following the precedent of Sharpton and Snoop Dogg, *I* can talk trash about Philly...but out-of-staters may not. It's just how it works. Sure, we might have mind-boggling homicide rates, but unless you're in NYC or LA...we definitely have better shopping and restaurants than you (and, truth be told, I think our restaurants are better than New York's). And unless you're from DC, we have way more history...

I recognize that Philly has some problems (it's been under Democrat/Labor Union rule for some 35+ years -what can you expect?), but we have some great revitalization programs going on and there are tons of great things to see/do here.

Why do I bring this up? Because ungrateful Big Easy Mayor Ray Nagin had some nasty things to say after his recent visit to Philly to ask for our help:

"...Let me tell you something. You ought to go to Philly and you will appreciate how clean New Orleans is. Just go and walk around Philly a little bit and you will appreciate. Am I lying? You will appreciate New Orleans. We still have some work to do but we definitely beat them by a long shot," Nagin said Saturday to a crowd of New Orleans residents concerned about the city's recovery after Hurricane Katrina.

Laughter and applause broke out and then he continued:

" . . . We still have some work to do but we definitely beat them by a long shot."

Nagin made the controversial remarks following his visit Philadelphia to learn about the city's efforts to demolish blighted buildings, replacing them with new developments. During his stay he thanked the city for helping house displaced New Orleans residents.

"To all the people of Philadelphia, we thank you; we applaud you, Thank you for all you have done," Nagin said last Thursday." (source1, source2)

Little two-faced weasel.

I guess Nagin has never been to NYC, which I love but makes Philly look spotless... Of course now he's trying to apologize...saying "he didn't mean any disrespect."

I'd like to believe that even our terrible Mayor Street would have put people on those school buses...

(H/T: Liz)

Pentacle Approved for Arlington Burials

This one is for Army Girl --one small victory, right?

Though I am not Wiccan, nor am I an advocate or spokesperson for Wicca...I found it disturbing that casualties of the (formerly known as) GWOT could be buried in Arlington under the Crescent of Islam, but Wiccans couldn't have their Pentacle on a stone. (You can read about all the other "accepted" religions HERE)

So I was glad to hear that Army Girl, and other self proclaimed military Wiccans, can now have their symbol (that still looks Satanic to me) on their gravestones (hopefully many, many years from now).

"...The Wiccan pentacle has been added to the list of emblems allowed in national cemeteries and on government-issued headstones of fallen soldiers, according to a settlement announced Monday.

A settlement between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Wiccans adds the five-pointed star to the list of "emblems of belief" allowed on VA grave markers.

Eleven families nationwide are waiting for grave markers with the pentacle, said Selena Fox, a Wiccan high priestess with Circle Sanctuary in Barneveld, Wisconsin, a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

The settlement calls for the pentacle, whose five points represent earth, air, fire, water and spirit, to be placed on grave markers within 14 days for those who have pending requests with the VA.

"I am glad this has ended in success in time to get markers for Memorial Day," Fox said." (source)

Strangest Photo You've Seen in a While?

This is why you gotta love Ann...she walked the Red Carpet (5th Annual TV Land Awards) with Good Times' Jimmie JJ Walker. How wonderfully random and insane is that?! (source)



Feel free to 'Caption It' if you can... ;)

Pakistan Says Osama is Off Limits?

"The US military does not have permission to conduct operations inside Pakistan’s tribal territory even if it is tipped that Osama bin Laden is hiding in that area, says the commander of the US Central Command (Centcom).

Admiral William Fallon told a congressional hearing that the arrangement they had with Islamabad did not allow them to take direct military actions against targets inside Pakistan.

Admiral Fallon conceded that President Musharraf and Afghan President Hamid Karzai “have differing opinion, to put it mildly,” on how to deal with the “complex issue” of the Taliban activities in the tribal belt.

He said President Musharraf was “pretty eloquent” in taking him through a long list of things that people had “suggested, requested or demanded” that the Pakistanis do and he “met with different reactions from him.”

The Centcom chief said that while discussing “the big picture” with President Musharraf to see “what the level of commitment seems to be from him,” he noted “a couple of significant things.” (source)

I realize that Musharraf's Presidency is precarious, but this isn't some low level operative we're talking about... I say Islamabad gives us carte blanche in our efforts to "capture or kill” bin Laden or every penny of aid and military equipment is rescinded immediately.

Chavez: Delusions of Grandeur

Hugo Chavez plans a 21st century "social revolution" by arming civilian groups against the coming attack by the United States...?

"...Gen Alberto Mueller, an advisor to Mr Chávez, told The Sunday Telegraph: "Some communal groups have already received military training. They'll train in their own neighbourhoods and will be equipped with any arms - guns, grenades, knifes - the community can provide. We have a right to defend ourselves, like the UK has, and be sure we'll do it."

The move has caused alarm among Mr Chávez's critics, who claim the groups will be used to repress internal dissent. They point out that, unlike Venezuela's military reservists, the communal councils come under Mr Chávez's direct control, including the appointments of their oversight committees and allocation of funding.

By the time they have been trained and armed, they will also be ready to defend Venezuela against outside interference, including the US invasion that Mr Chávez says he expects..." (source)

I honestly believe this dude is bipolar. A bipolar Communist dictator. Now there's a case study I'd like to read.

Smerconish Fills in for Imus...

I have posted quite a few times here about a local Philly talk show host, Michael Smerconish...and have wondered why he hasn't been syndicated yet. He has broad appeal as a show host because, though he leans to the right, he is level headed and a centrist for the most part (IMO).

Some of you may have seen him when he subbed for O'Reilly, but the rest of you can get your chance this week... It seems he's going to be trying on Imus' shoes and filling that slot (both on radio and TV) for the next few days. Smerconish is WAY better than Imus (though I guess that's not saying much).

"The Big Talker 1210 AM morning show of Daily News columnist Michael Smerconish is to be simulcast Monday through Wednesday on MSNBC, the network confirmed Friday.

The show will air on MSNBC from 6 to 9 a.m Monday through Wednesday." (source)

Glenn Beck is from Philly too...and Dom Giordano (who has also filled in for O'Reilly) Obviously, cheesesteaks aren't the only thing we can produce!

And considering far-left MediaMatters.com isn't pleased, I'm just giddy about it. So check out the Philly talent for the next three days...

Two Sad Stories...

One of the Virginia Tech students that escaped the engineering building during Cho's rampage, was killed in a car crash Friday night.

"A Virginia Tech freshman who returned home with his family after last week's campus massacre was killed in a car crash, his father said Sunday.

Jeff Soriano died from his injuries Friday in Senatara Norfolk General Hospital after he was pulled from the wreckage of his burning vehicle, police said." (source)

His poor parents...

The picture is from his MySpace page (atl east I'm pretty sure it's his) -posted after the events in Blacksburg and labeled "VT...". very sad.



"The Navy has identified the pilot of the number six Blue Angels jet who died in Saturday's crash as 32 year old Lieutenant Commander Kevin Davis from Pittsfield, Massachusetts. This was Commander Davis' second year on the team and his first year as a demonstration pilot. He was a decorated Navy pilot with more than 2,500 flight hours. He was also a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom." (source)

Virtual Obama Paper Doll

Remember paper dolls? Justrose, Liz and I lived for those things. Looking back I have no idea why...what fun is it dressing something in 2D?

There is a "Dress Up Obama" game that reminded me of playing paper dolls. I put Barack in all the outfit combos and this was the one I liked best...rocking the Juicy and the Gucci shades. (I guess this is where that 29% kid comes into play)

Don't worry, you can play too!

(H/T: Wyatt Earp: Who has a great blog BTW)

Happy Earth Day...

I thought on this Earth Day 2007 I would address the much-touted hatred of the Earth and environment by the maniacal, and yet somehow still stupid, George W. Bush. The left is always saying how Bush turns his back on anything Green because he's an oil man from an oil state with lots of oil-rich donors, but is that really the case? Let's look to historical facts and an article written by a Bush-hater for the answer...

We already know that Bush's home in Crawford, Texas is WAY more earth-friendly than Al Gore's mansion, but what we may not know is that Bush was the brains behind the WIND ENERGY success in Texas...in 1996. YEARS before AL Gore decided to tell us his Inconvenient Truths.

Would this be the same Wind Energy that Teddy Kennedy didn't want near his home because saving the environment wasn't aesthetically pleasing enough for him?

An oil-rich state that produces more wind-energy than other state...and initiated by none other than, enemy of the left, George W. Bush. Hmmm, why haven't we read about this over at HuffPo?

"...Pat Wood, a friend of the president, was chairman of Texas’s Public Utility Commission when the push for wind energy started.

“At the end of a meeting on transmission policy in mid-1996,” he recalled, “I was on my way out the door of the governor’s office, when Governor Bush said to me, ‘Pat, we like wind.’ He was at his desk. I said, ‘We what?’ He said: ‘You heard me. Go get smart on wind.’ ”

Mr. Wood, his fellow commissioners and the Texasutilities did just that. They conducted polls and were stunned by the results: Texas electricity customers were ready to pay a little extra to get more clean renewable energy. So Mr. Bush instructed Mr. Wood to work on wind with the utilities and the environmentalists. Together, they created the Texas Renewable Portfolio Mandate, which Mr. Bush got passed by the Texas Legislature in 1999, as part of a power competition bill. The mandate stipulated that Texas power companies had to produce 2,000 new megawatts of electricity from renewables, mostly wind, by 2009.

What happened? A dozen new companies jumped into the Texas market and built wind turbines to meet the mandate — so many that the 2,000-megawatt goal was reached in 2005. So now the Texas Legislature has upped the mandate to 5,000 megawatts by 2015. Everyone knows they’ll beat that, too, because all this investment has driven
down the costs and made wind power in Texas competitive with clean coal, nuclear and natural gas, even without the temporary tax break. Mr. Wood says he thinks Texas could be producing 15 percent of all its energy from renewables by 2015." (source)

Couple this with the news that Wal-mart is leading the way "going green" in big business and what will the Kucinich-ites do this Earth Day...maybe they should head down to Nashville and ask Gore why the "evil Republican" is using reclaimed water and geothermal heating and cooling...while he is using 20 times more than the average American...

Ponder that this Earth Day...Bush's ACTIONS as opposed to Gore's WORDS. I realize Gore is a windbag, but that doesn't count...he's releasing carbon dioxide every time he bloviates.

Moment Beep of Silence Remembrance?

The strangest thing happened yesterday... I was subbing for a 6th grade class at Hoity-Toity Elementary and sometime after the kids came back from lunch the secretary came on the intercom system and announced that "the governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell, had requested that there be a bell of remembrance for the people of Virginia." Then the "change classes", horrible, annoying buzzer came over the speaker for a second and the woman said, "thank you, you can all return to what you were doing."

I understand that "say a prayer for" was changed to "a moment of silence", but when did "a moment of silence" devolve into "a buzz of remembrance"?!

Needless to say, the kids all looked to me with their puzzled little faces. "Why wasn't it a moment of silence," one girl asked,” couldn’t we just have a moment...that was weird" --to which there was mass agreement.

I started to explain that some people probably complained that the moment of silence was too close to prayer...then said, "You know what, let's not even get into this...ask your parents when you get home. Quite frankly, I'm as confused as you."

When I got home I looked up what Rendell had said --and I think the school may have gotten it wrong...

"...Pennsylvanians are being encouraged by Gov. Ed Rendell to observe a day of mourning tomorrow to honor the victims of Monday's mass shooting at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va...

Rendell also urged churches, cathedrals and other institutions across Pennsylvania to ring bells at noon on Friday in a special tribute to the victims." (source)

I think he meant pretty church bells, not loud school buzzers. My kids' school had the moment...

Found this over at Wiki: "...the notion of an official moment of silence is clearly derived from prayer, and critics often view it as publicly endorsed prayer "in disguise." This issue has been especially raised by atheists, who argue that no non-religious purpose is served by designating an official moment of silence. They point out, for example, that many schools have entire class periods dedicated to silent study, which can equally be used for silent prayer or meditation." (source)

Then, as the epitome of bad timing, the school decided it would be a good idea to have a fire drill (yesterday of all days). When the deafening bell went off I literally jumped (which the kids found hilarious) and then said, "That scared the crap out of me!" (which they found even funnier…)

Got Emotional Maturity?

You Are 71% Grown Up, 29% Kid

Congratulations, you are definitely quite emotionally mature. Although you have your moments of moodiness, you're usually stable and level headed.

How Emotionally Mature Are You?

Hmmm...pretty good. I'll take that mix.

The Majority of Americans Dislike Hillary

"It's like watching a rerun and remembering what you didn't like about the show in the first place," one Democratic campaign veteran said.

According to Gallup, Hillary's poll numbers have climbed 13 points. Good news? No, it's the people that dislike her --taking her to the 52% mark in the unfavorable rating.

"Clinton's skyrocketing negatives have wiped out her 19-point Democratic primary lead in a similar survey from earlier this month. Obama is now tight on her tail, 31 percent to 26 percent - within the poll's 5-point error margin.

Her team is spinning it as normal primary poll tightening, saying that the favorability dip is typical for front-runners.

But some pros say her increased public profile is reminding voters of her negative image during her husband's presidency." (source)

And this is more than a little disconcerting:

"Democratic presidential contenders are scrambling for support in what's being dubbed the Al Sharpton primary. The civil rights leader livened up the 2004 Democratic primary with his pompadour hairdo and sharp, witty oratory. This election, the high-profile Sharpton, fresh from the fight over Don Imus' derogatory remarks, is attracting all the party's major candidates this week for his annual National Action Network convention.

The solid attendance -- starting with John Edwards on Wednesday and continuing with Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama later this week -- reflects Sharpton's prominence in the party, concern that he might run again and the Democrats' effort to appeal to the base, particularly black voters.

No wonder the event was being called the Sharpton primary..." (source)

Oh, and go vote for your favorite Presidential Candidate on HorseRace.com --you don't have to register--and it looks like the Dems got the jump on getting the word out.

The Liviu Librescu Controversy?

The American public has the unique ability to make a controversy out of anything...

The only truly uplifting story to come from this whole tragedy at VA Tech (well, uplifting and heartbreaking at the same time) is the retelling of the heroic actions of visiting Israeli Professor, Liviu Librescu. A Holocaust survivor that used his body to block bullets while his students escaped through a classroom window.

"...Librescu headed for the door, blocking the gunman from entering. As shots rang out, he stood there.

That act of courage gave his class priceless seconds to escape, saving them from Cho Seung-Hui's deadly rampage. But not himself.

"He was able to teach his last lesson of bravery in the face of hatred," said Joe Librescu on Thursday, moments before leaving to meet his father's coffin at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. Professor Librescu will be laid to rest Friday morning in a cemetery in Raanana, a suburb of Tel Aviv..." (source)

I am not ashamed to say that when I first heard/read about this man A few tears were shed. For someone to survive the Holocaust, survive being a Jew in your own country and then to knowing sacrifice yourself on a rural college campus...

What I was surprised to hear is that a mini-controversy is brewing over this. People are mad that the students accepted this sacrifice and allowed an ageing Holocaust survivor to give his life for them. That they should have protected him.

Given that in a high pressure situation, altruism was his innate instinct… I doubt he would have allowed it to go down any other way. And I can’t help but think of the glaring divide between the fundamentalist Muslim that will blow himself up taking numerous innocents with him --and the Holocaust surviving Jew that will be killed to save the innocents... What a wonderful legacy.

Response to the Renewed DNC calls for Anti-Gun Laws...

"A notable anniversary passed last month in a Georgia town that witnessed a dramatic plunge in crime and violence after mandating residents to own firearms.

In March 1982, 25 years ago, the small town of Kennesaw – responding to a handgun ban in Morton Grove, Ill. – unanimously passed an ordinance requiring each head of household to own and maintain a gun. Since then, despite dire predictions of "Wild West" showdowns and increased violence and accidents, not a single resident has been involved in a fatal shooting – as a victim, attacker or defender.

The crime rate initially plummeted for several years after the passage of the ordinance, with the 2005 per capita crime rate actually significantly lower than it was in 1981, the year before passage of the law..." (source)

Add that to the off-duty police officer carrying his gun in the mall that stopped a massacre from happening...

I personally wouldn't have a gun in the house with my two little ones, but I would never think of limiting the "good guys" from getting them when the 'bad guys" will whether they're legal or not...

(Photo H/T: The Castle)

Hollywood Family Values...

Listen to the voicemail message Hollywood actor and Democratic, far-left activist left for his 11 year old daughter...

Alec Baldwin: Parenting 101

That's gotta be good for a little girl's self esteem to have daddy call her a "rude little pig"...

"TMZ’s learned that on Wednesday, Los Angeles County Superior Court commissioner Maren Nelson heard the tape and temporarily suspended Baldwin’s visitation rights. A hearing is set for May 4, where the judge could permanently deny Baldwin visitation or contact with Ireland." (source)

Caption It...

Partial Birth Ban Upheld by SCOTUS

"Beyond the pale of barbarism" is how Britt Hume described the practice of crushing a baby's skull and sucking out its brains.

It's definitely a "procedure" that we would expect to read about in some third world country and not in these United States of America...a country chock-full of self-proclaimed humanitarians.

First, I want to say that no matter how disappointed you are with President Bush...THIS is what Presidential elections are really about. Supreme Court nominees. The next President will most likely get to monimate one or two --making 2008 just as important as 2004 --and adding another reason to the growing list against Giuliani.

But don't make the mistake of putting this solidly in the "Win" column for the unborn child...this only passed because there are still other ways an almost-term baby can be terminated. Unfortunately for the fetuses, these methods are almost as barbaric, but are done on the inside instead of partially out.

I've said it a thousand times, but I don't understand how even the most feral of abortion advocates could fight for this method of "termination". The American Medical Society has concluded there isn't an instance were this is necessary and Planned Parenthood validities that assessment by failing to produce one case were this saved the life of the mother. The morning after pill is now available OTC --leaving no excuse for this.

Even though this isn't an across the board victory, it's a step in the right direction. Hopefully this will put George Tiller out of business. Who are we as a society if we can't even protect the most innocent and helpless among us?

**Some reactions to the ruling: Hillary, Obama, Brownback, etc.

(Photo credit: NRLC.org)

Muslim Cabbies Must Transport Unclean Dogs and Evil Alcohol

"...Muslim cab drivers at Minnesota's biggest airport will face new penalties including a two-year revocation of their taxi permits if they refuse to give rides to travelers carrying liquor or accompanied by dogs, the board overseeing operations ruled Monday.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission, responding to complaints about the liquor issue, voted unanimously to impose the new penalties beginning in May.

A large number of taxi drivers in the area of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport are Muslim Somali immigrants. Many say they feel the faith's ban on alcohol consumption includes transporting anyone carrying it.

Some also have refused to transport dogs, both pets and guide dogs, saying they are unclean..." (source)

Finally, someone was willing to stand their ground and not make ridiculous PC concessions.

Of course CAIR doing damage control:
"...The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today announced that Muslim employees of the Twin Cities Airport Taxi, Viking Airport Taxi and Bloomington City Taxi will offer free cab rides to blind individuals (and their guide dogs) attending a one-day semiannual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota..." (source)

Though the above article claims Muslim cab drivers have been "misrepresented in the media" there have been "about 4,800 instances" of potential passengers being turned away. If Muslims were being turned away by Infidel cabbies...do you think CAIR would have waited until the almost-5,000 mark to do something about it?

Direct TV Hires Charlie Sheen

I've posted a few times about Charlie Sheen's Bush-Orchestrated-9/11 antics. I didn't even realize he was still a working actor (aside from collaborating with Rosie O'Donnell on the upcoming Blame-Bush-Cheney-Haliburton-for-9/11 "documentary"). It seems he does have a sitcom right now (and according to a settlement he recently made, one that he stole the idea from a former friend to "create").

"Hotshots!" was one of only two movies where I actually left the theater (Sorry to all the many fans but "Chariots of Fire" was the other --I opted to play Centipede in the lobby).

Apparently Charlie's new the-government-did-it philosophy didn't hinder Direct TV from hiring Sheen for their new ad. The ad has him in his "Major League" costume. I guess that's pretty satisfying to me that he had to play a character from 1989 to get a little cash...

Even Bill Maher thinks Charlie is a nutbag... And here's a little insight into the Sheen/Estevez brother's personal emails to journalists that don't like them...

I would link the ad but I can't find it online. I just saw it for the first time yesterday morning.

I would say ditch Direct TV and let them know what you think of them hiring this loser, but does anyone even have Direct TV? I'm wondering myself if I have a point here... I guess, once again, that we see the disparity in the media. Can you imagine the uproar and outrage if AOL or Comcast had Ann Coulter, Michael Savage or even Michelle Malkin do an ad for them? Yet, no a word about kooky Sheen being hired by a major company... Libs got tons of Ann’s advertising pulled after her Edwards’ remark…Despite the stereotypes; obviously Conservatives are way too laid back. We complain about inequality, but do nothing about it.

Thursday Question...

"If you were at a friend's house for Thanksgiving dinner and you found a dead cockroach in your salad, what would you do?"

Something a bit like this happened to me in high school. I was sleeping over a fellow cheerleader's house (she lived in a bad section of Philly) and using a sleeping bag on the floor. Sometime in the wee hours of the morning I got up to use the bathroom...when I turned on the light, black tile moved like a wave and turned into white tile. There were SO MANY roaches it looked like black tile. I AM NOT a prissy girl by any means, but I can't handle roaches. I was sleeping on the floor! I immediately woke her up, told her I had a stomach virus and that she had to drive me home ASAP (I think it was 2am). I felt bad because she lived almost 35 minutes from my parent's house...but there was no way in hell I was laying on that floor again...God only knows what parties were happening on my person before I woke up...

So, I would do the same thing. Feign a stomach virus and leave...never to eat anything they prepared again...

Thompson Makes the Tonight Show...

And this was a great article from J.B. Williams at The Chattanoogan.com:

"...Imagine for a moment that the national committee (RNC) does not have the $892 million dollars that they raised during the 2004 Presidential election. That instead, this money remained in the grasp and control of individual conservatives to be used to promote a specific candidate instead of a national committee operating at odds with those constituents.

Imagine that these conservatives did their own homework and based upon the historical track records of the candidates available, chose a truly conservative Republican candidate that would otherwise be sidelined and ignored by the national committee.

Imagine that those same conservatives took just half of the money raised in 2004, some $450 million dollars and placed it all behind one truly conservative Republican leader who had a proven track record of standing firmly on the principles at the core of the once conservative Republican Party. A billion dollars for a single political campaign season is obscene to begin with… There’s the first clue of just how screwed up we have allowed it all to become.

Impossible? How hard is it? It takes only 4.5 million conservatives willing to invest $100 a piece, or 2.25 million willing to invest $200 a piece, or 1 million willing to invest $450 a piece. Doable? You bet! How much is saving your nation worth?

...93% of the conservative base of the Republican Party seems united. Not behind any of the committee anointed, press supported, partisan temporary RNC front-runners, but rather behind a candidate not yet officially in the race. A candidate being drafted by the people, of the people, for the people…. The people do still have the power…!" (Read the entire article)

And the news that Edwards pays $400 for a haircut allows us to re-visit this classic video:

RINO Rudy, WRONG Candidate...

The Virginia Tech events may keep this out of the 24-hour news cycle...

"...Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani warned GOP activists in Des Moines on Saturday that if they insist on a nominee who always agrees with them, it will spell defeat in 2008.

“Our party is going to grow, and we are going to win in 2008 if we are a party characterized by what we’re for, not if we’re a party that’s known for what we’re against,” the former New York mayor said at a midday campaign stop.

Republicans can win, he said, if they nominate a candidate committed to the fight against terrorism and high taxes, rather than a pure social conservative.

“Our party has to get beyond issues like that,” Giuliani said, a reference to abortion rights, which he supports..." (source)

Where do I even start with all the problems I have with this...? He's basically telling conservatives to stop being conservative. He's saying we have to be known for being "for" things instead of against things. If you are FOR anything...doesn't that always mean you'll be AGAINST something else? Is it just me or is that the most inane statement of the campaign season. We don't need a candidate that always agrees with us, but one that has our back more than 30% of the time would be nice...

Rudy doesn't get it that it isn't just the social issues at play here (for me anyway). It's his own life and the flap with the NYFD didn't help what was already an iffy candidacy.

There was a comment under this article that stood out:

"The Democrats won last year because we put expediency in the form of governing by poll numbers ahead of sticking to our beliefs."

I did that once (Arlen Specter) and I won't do it again...

Jury Selection Begins for Jose Padilla Abdullah al-Muhajir

The jury selection for the trial of al Qaeda operative Abdullah al-Muhajir, formerly known as Jose Padilla, will be an interesting test case in how PC our courts have become post-9/11. The judge wants to weed out anyone with a bias toward Islam.

"Altaf Ali, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Florida, called it a "travesty" that a defendant's religion would take center stage in the courtroom" and said, "When you put someone on trial, it's not their religion on trial."

But when you are talking about the level of Islamic fundamentalism that would drive someone to join and train with al Qaeda and to commit to murdering thousand in the name of their god...then how can that be separated? The crime (terrorism) is a central tenet in al Qaeda's "religion". Their god is the reason they are willing to commit the acts on trial. How can the two be mutually exclusive?

"...The hearing gave a rare glimpse into the candid views of Americans on religion and terror in the wake of the 9-11 attacks and the ongoing Iraq war.

"I do think for their god, they would give their lives," said one man. "That is not 100 percent of them I'm sure, but I have heard that said."

Another said he believed only an extremist element of the Islamic faith advocates violence.

"I respect the good Muslim as much as I do the good Christian or good Jew," he said.

By day's end, Cooke had screened 17 possible jurors, whose identities will remain under wraps via court order. Eight were dismissed because of biases or scheduling conflicts. The painstaking process is expected to last more than two weeks..." (source)

(Photo Credit: AP Photo/Alan Diaz --Only in the US can someone gain weight in prison...)