Sums it up nicely :)
Tags:
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Termites
The Orkin man came by yesterday and I have termites :(
Seems there's an infestation under my laundry room and it'll cost about $1600 or so to fix it. So feel free to hit the donate button :)
OT: Had a little global warming yesterday, had to wear a jacket most of the day and the economy grew another .6% as this 'recession' continues to go the wrong way.
Seems there's an infestation under my laundry room and it'll cost about $1600 or so to fix it. So feel free to hit the donate button :)
OT: Had a little global warming yesterday, had to wear a jacket most of the day and the economy grew another .6% as this 'recession' continues to go the wrong way.
Tags:
Monday, April 28, 2008
Soccer
A couple of videos from this weekends soccer game. We lost 5-2, but lil bit played well.
Thought she had that one, she broke away smooth but was blocked at the goal.
Payback! :) Her 4th goal of the year. I missed goals 2 & 3 :(
Thought she had that one, she broke away smooth but was blocked at the goal.
Payback! :) Her 4th goal of the year. I missed goals 2 & 3 :(
Tags:
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Rights (repost)
Reposting this while at work to get people to read it :)
As I sit here thinking (yes I know, what am I doing thinking being a 'close-minded wingnut') about life and people's rights in general, I keep going back to something that I've yet to figure out.
Why do you never see women's rights groups protest the treatment of women in the middle east? Why is there never a gay march to protest the way Islam treats gay people? And why do moonbats generally just not give a damn about people's rights in the middle east at all?
These are serious questions. You can't read the paper or watch the news without seeing someone protesting the treatment of someone in this country (or any other non-muslim country) and yet not a whimper about the plight of people in Islamic countries. I realize that the left is totally sold on the idea that 23 million or so Iraqis have no rights and should be abadoned post-haste to the tender mercies of their private little spat, but you'd think the treatment of said people would at least get them to write a petition or something.
Just to be fair, let's compare the plights of women and gays here and there:
Ok, let's see how the gays fair:
Seems on the same basis that these groups are fighting the wrong fight also. Maybe they just tag along to the women's groups parties?
After thinking about this, I finally came up with a hypothesis. Moonbats don't protest these people's plights simply because: They.Do.Not.Care.
A moonbat will protest anything that happens in a place they would like to live. Don't believe me? Find a protest about the 'religious right' or Christian fanatacs when you could only find them in rural Kentucky or the backwoods of Wyoming. There weren't any. Now that the 'rr' and the cf's are EVERYWHERE you see the protests and mock alarm. Moonbats don't want to live in the middle east, so they don't care what happens to the people there. Moonbats love to protest about the environment, yet most moonbats live in big cities, wierd huh?
Of course, alot of people simply won't believe me and that's ok, since this is my opinion anyway. But when the moonbats start actually caring about people then I'll start listening to them.
__________
Reason to seethe
Filed:
As I sit here thinking (yes I know, what am I doing thinking being a 'close-minded wingnut') about life and people's rights in general, I keep going back to something that I've yet to figure out.
Why do you never see women's rights groups protest the treatment of women in the middle east? Why is there never a gay march to protest the way Islam treats gay people? And why do moonbats generally just not give a damn about people's rights in the middle east at all?
These are serious questions. You can't read the paper or watch the news without seeing someone protesting the treatment of someone in this country (or any other non-muslim country) and yet not a whimper about the plight of people in Islamic countries. I realize that the left is totally sold on the idea that 23 million or so Iraqis have no rights and should be abadoned post-haste to the tender mercies of their private little spat, but you'd think the treatment of said people would at least get them to write a petition or something.
Just to be fair, let's compare the plights of women and gays here and there:
So on just a rough comparison we see that the women's groups are protesting the wrong party. But maybe they just don't know?
In the U.S. women have to endure violence (sometimes), have to endure lower pay (research shows that most women are paid less than men in similar positions), have to endure sterotypical treatment (mother, homemaker, etc.) and have to endure degrading treatment by artists (rap music especially, but also magazines, et al.). Whew, that's rough. Let's see where they stand in Islam: Women can't work (homemaker), can't goto school, can't drive, can't be in public with a non-relative male, can be beaten (yes women are beaten in all societies, but in this one, it's actually illegal to do it, in Islam not only is it legal, they have guidelines on HOW to do it).
Ok, let's see how the gays fair:
In the U.S.: 'Steve' and 'Adam' cannot marry, might not be able to adopt... must live with insensitive remarks and the threat of physical violence if they happen to run into an ignorant group of people (this is a legitimate threat as ignorance doesn't seem to be abating).
In Islam: Really only one downside, they would be killed.
Seems on the same basis that these groups are fighting the wrong fight also. Maybe they just tag along to the women's groups parties?
After thinking about this, I finally came up with a hypothesis. Moonbats don't protest these people's plights simply because: They.Do.Not.Care.
A moonbat will protest anything that happens in a place they would like to live. Don't believe me? Find a protest about the 'religious right' or Christian fanatacs when you could only find them in rural Kentucky or the backwoods of Wyoming. There weren't any. Now that the 'rr' and the cf's are EVERYWHERE you see the protests and mock alarm. Moonbats don't want to live in the middle east, so they don't care what happens to the people there. Moonbats love to protest about the environment, yet most moonbats live in big cities, wierd huh?
Of course, alot of people simply won't believe me and that's ok, since this is my opinion anyway. But when the moonbats start actually caring about people then I'll start listening to them.
__________
Reason to seethe
Filed:
Fissile Missile
No fair! Great Satan's 30 years in the future military is using magical weaponry to annihilate Mahdi Army in their own pocket caliphate of Sadr City.Mookie's political fanboy Liqaa Al Yassin in the 'Sadrist Party' complains that sustaining cadres and minions in a hoped for future of rocket rich rejects is being rendered inert.
"Cogent evidence were shown by the criminal investigations and forensics'
reports that the occupation forces have used fissile arms during the bombardment
of Sadr City. When diffused, fissile bombs hit a large number of targets and
spread on the body, which was evidently clear on the bodies of the dead and
wounded in Sadr City."
Heck yeah! Where can we get more of these wonderful devices?
This is totally like the kiss of death for Mahdi Army - after all - how can MA accurately recreate Hiz'B'Allah's model of usurping a sovereign, legit gov and impose despotic designs when Great Satan is in their face and peeling it off?
Exactly, replys the MNF (Multi Nat'l Force for the unallied) spokescat Abdul-Latif Rayan - and so what?
This is significant - since Mookie's threat last WE to launch an open war - the only thing that has been launched has been hundreds of intolerants and their own magical journey of a non corporeal haj to the perfumed gardens of Paradise."We only targeted armed groups in Sadr City that fired missiles at the Green
Zone in central Baghdad"
Which also brings up the quiz on why any lawmakers would mourn the loss of rebellious law breaking constits who openly bemoan their failure to fire up an intolerant, non egalitarian regime backed up by the fashion posse, the religious police and militias in black.
Like newly militia free Basra. Caliphating totally sucks, it's illegitimate and provides nothing except empowerment for intolerant time traveling creeps and tormented misery for innocents.
Like 22yo hottie Nadyia Ahmed. She's been there, done that and got the T shirt - it's like a nightmare.
Mookie has had to announce a do over on his communique before last. A week ago Mookie mentioned miltarizing the conflict under Mahdi Army until he ruled all of Iraq.“All these men in black who imposed the laws just vanished from the university
after this operation. Things have completely changed over the past week. I now
have the university life that I heard of at high school before the war and
always dreamt about.It was a nightmare because of these militiamen. I only attended class three days a week but now I look forward to going every day.”
Issued from his comfy safe as milk lair somewhere far way from fissile missiles, new Iraqi army guys, surging up armored sons of Great Satan and his own constits who are being taken down in Sadr City, the soon to be jumped up Ayatollah reduxed his script for his newly discovered fissile missile magnets"So I am giving my final warning ... to the Iraqi government ... to take
the path of peace and abandon violence against its people. If the government
does not refrain...we will declare an open war until liberation."
"When we threatened to declare an open war until the liberation, we
meant war against the occupier. There is no war between us and our Iraqi
brothers -- no matter what their nationality, race or sect. The blood of Iraqis
are forbidden on you."
Hold up. Recent defecting Mahdi Army cats laugh that one off
"Al-Sadr called for a ban on the killing of Iraqis before. That was only a few
days after the Samaraa crime. And yet the sectarian violence continued.
Thousands of Sunnis were killed and their mosques were burned. And the evidence
all pointed to the Mahdi Army. The killing spree continued until operation
imposing law (Arabic for Surge) started."
Intolerant, illegitimate weaponized enemies of free choice are being marginalized and annihilated - fissie weaponry aside - by a baby democracy and her legit army guys under the protective watchful eye of Great Satan.
This op may actually be the last chance to avoid a regional war - with Iran and her mullahs, IRRGC's and al Quds duds being the target.
A case could be made that security in Iraq has tranformed about as much as it can - unless the progenitors of Iraqi destability in Tehran are engaged in a really cool mix of asymmetrical, overt covert regime killing regime change.
"Launch a massive blitz on the top 20% of Iran's ruling clerics and IRRGC using cruise and conventional missiles, attack aircraft and old school special ops.
While Iran's rulers have some redundancy in their command and control posts, these are actually quite few in number as are the few calling the shots. Any wanna be successor 'Supreme Leader' could get his guts stomped out in the streets by the Iranians themselves."
From the Email
There are less than eight months until the election, an election that will decide the next President of the United States. The person elected will be the president of all Americans, not just the Democrats or the Republicans. To show our solidarity as Americans, let's all get together and show each other our support for the candidate of our choice. It's time that we all came together, Democrats and Republicans alike.
If you support the policies and character of John McCain, please drive with your headlights on during the day.
If you support Obama or Hillary, please drive with your headlights off at night.
(thanks JS)
CIANA
The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA) will make it a federal offense to transport a minor girl across state lines for the purpose of obtaining an abortion if done to evade a parental notification or parental consent law that is in effect in the girl’s home state. In addition, the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act will require, in a state without parental consent laws, that before an abortion provider performs an abortion on a minor girl who is the resident of a different state, that provider must notify a parent. The abortion provider does not have to notify a parent if the minor has already received authorization from a judge in her home state (judicial bypass), or unless she falls into carefully drafted exceptions to cover cases of abuse or medical emergencies.Via Ironic Surrealism, go here to sign.
Tags:
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Whine
BBCWinehouse cautioned over assault
Winehouse arrived in a people-carrier and was surrounded by paparazzi
Troubled pop singer Amy Winehouse has been cautioned for common assault, police have confirmed.
The star, whose battle against drug addiction has overshadowed her recording success, spent the night in the cells at Holborn Station in London.
The 24-year-old singer was questioned by police about an alleged assault in north London on Wednesday.
She agreed to attend the station voluntarily but has now left the police building.
Winehouse's spokesman said in statement: "Amy Winehouse was questioned this morning at a London police station in connection to an incident in Camden in the early hours of 23 April, 2008.
This woman is the only person I know of that is more screwed up than Brittney Spears, and yet she continues to be admired and loved by many. Instead of getting help and turning her life around, she simply continues on because her 'fans' continue to justify her destructive existence.
The only way she will ever get it turned around and maybe live past 30 is if the people who claim to love her actually start acting like it.
Tags:
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Softball
Game 2 was tonight and we won 16-1 in 4 innings (15 run rule, game 1 was 13-3 in 5 and 10 run rule). The team we played wasn't that good, a lot of first timers, but they seemed to have fun and they (should) will get better. (link to scores we're S&S Electric)
Probably won't be here for fall league or next year, but I'm glad my sis-n-law talked me into playing this year. I've missed the games and the people.
800
800th post here on tDR ... (yes I'm at work, tired and have a ball-game tonight). I'll get more later :)
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
25Peeps
Someone put me on 25peeps again. I lasted about a week last time :) so get over there and click my pic to get me votes.
Click this pic to get me votes too :)
Seems I'm gone already from the front page ><
Click this pic to get me votes too :)
Seems I'm gone already from the front page ><
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Thoughts
Seems every time I sit down to put in a post, I draw a blank. I end up hitting a news story, putting some pithy comment at the end and letting it go.
I'm a very talkative and friendly person and yet I can't write for sh!t it seems. Occasionally I'll get out what I want to say and it looks good, but usually it's all type--delete--curse, news. I just don't have what most others have it seems.
A Comment or Two doesn't update a bunch (and was 'dead' for quite awhile) but his posts are usually thought provoking. A Trainwreck in Maxwell updates mostly daily and while his posts are generally short; he has the ability to keep me interested even in the ones that I don't like (heh). Then there's Ace... he has 'open blog' posters and other helpers, but you can always tell one of his posts. No matter what the news he's writing on, he is able to make a story out of his take on it and make it funny (to me anyway, not sure what that says about me). He is a mean one when he wants to be and I'd imagine people go out of their way to not be blogged about by him.
Acute Politics is by a serviceman in Iraq, he doesn't update a lot anymore (not sure if he's back in Iraq right now or not) but his writing is great when he does post. America's Interests is a new blog (to me) and a 'every-other' day kind of blog. The posts are generally longer than my comment or two about the news, but they also tackle what's going on in the world. Aubrey deals with NASA, the military and other news mostly, but tackles politics and immigration in the occasional post.
Autone is a Hollywood writer and doesn't post too much, but generally worth reading when he does. Bel is thinking is a British woman and she posts on happenings in the Isles. She had been on a long break, but she's back now and putting paid to the MP's that want to ruin England. Buffalo... the enigma of my blogroll. He and I agree on almost nothing, but the man has a gift for putting his thoughts into words. If I could write as good (or half as good) as he does, tDR would be a big hit in the blogosphere.
Club For Growth is a conservative 'watchdog' group who makes it their business to advance conservative principles and candidates. They run white papers on candidates (R or D) and will tell it like it is. They are very anti-'pork' and aren't shy about it. Confederate Yankee focuses mainly on the war on terror, the fronts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the politicians that want to lose there. Conservatism with Heart is a general all-around conservative blog (with a radio show) and touches on all points conservative, generally every day.
Crushed by Ingsoc is another Brit on the roll. He generally is concerned with himself and his journey to enlightenment(TM), he writes long posts that are sometimes hard to follow, but usually entertaining. DD2 abhors Obama, but hates Clinton and you can tell in his writing. He covers politics and is having a field day with the Democratic Primary season. Don Surber is the greatest MSM blogger I know :) Short 'quippy' posts about anything and everything. He generally lets the media have it and started(*) the 'Name that Party' game that everyone seems to play.
Flopping Aces is generally military blogging, some politics and a good read whenever you go that way. GSGF is Courtney's home (our favorite blogger here at tDR) and is anything and everything Middle East. A well researched blogger, she intersperses her posts with witty comments backed up by links and takes on all-comers. Honeysmack is the lovely Aussie with a flair for the NSFW postings. Gets your blood going and makes you want to visit again and again.
Those are just some of the bloggers on my read list. I don't have the time to put everyone up here today, but I'll try to finish the list later on. Give them all a visit and see what you like. I'm sure you'll find something that you want to read and re-visit later.
* I assume that Don started this game, if anyone knows that he didn't, I'd be happy to retract
I'm a very talkative and friendly person and yet I can't write for sh!t it seems. Occasionally I'll get out what I want to say and it looks good, but usually it's all type--delete--curse, news. I just don't have what most others have it seems.
A Comment or Two doesn't update a bunch (and was 'dead' for quite awhile) but his posts are usually thought provoking. A Trainwreck in Maxwell updates mostly daily and while his posts are generally short; he has the ability to keep me interested even in the ones that I don't like (heh). Then there's Ace... he has 'open blog' posters and other helpers, but you can always tell one of his posts. No matter what the news he's writing on, he is able to make a story out of his take on it and make it funny (to me anyway, not sure what that says about me). He is a mean one when he wants to be and I'd imagine people go out of their way to not be blogged about by him.
Acute Politics is by a serviceman in Iraq, he doesn't update a lot anymore (not sure if he's back in Iraq right now or not) but his writing is great when he does post. America's Interests is a new blog (to me) and a 'every-other' day kind of blog. The posts are generally longer than my comment or two about the news, but they also tackle what's going on in the world. Aubrey deals with NASA, the military and other news mostly, but tackles politics and immigration in the occasional post.
Autone is a Hollywood writer and doesn't post too much, but generally worth reading when he does. Bel is thinking is a British woman and she posts on happenings in the Isles. She had been on a long break, but she's back now and putting paid to the MP's that want to ruin England. Buffalo... the enigma of my blogroll. He and I agree on almost nothing, but the man has a gift for putting his thoughts into words. If I could write as good (or half as good) as he does, tDR would be a big hit in the blogosphere.
Club For Growth is a conservative 'watchdog' group who makes it their business to advance conservative principles and candidates. They run white papers on candidates (R or D) and will tell it like it is. They are very anti-'pork' and aren't shy about it. Confederate Yankee focuses mainly on the war on terror, the fronts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the politicians that want to lose there. Conservatism with Heart is a general all-around conservative blog (with a radio show) and touches on all points conservative, generally every day.
Crushed by Ingsoc is another Brit on the roll. He generally is concerned with himself and his journey to enlightenment(TM), he writes long posts that are sometimes hard to follow, but usually entertaining. DD2 abhors Obama, but hates Clinton and you can tell in his writing. He covers politics and is having a field day with the Democratic Primary season. Don Surber is the greatest MSM blogger I know :) Short 'quippy' posts about anything and everything. He generally lets the media have it and started(*) the 'Name that Party' game that everyone seems to play.
Flopping Aces is generally military blogging, some politics and a good read whenever you go that way. GSGF is Courtney's home (our favorite blogger here at tDR) and is anything and everything Middle East. A well researched blogger, she intersperses her posts with witty comments backed up by links and takes on all-comers. Honeysmack is the lovely Aussie with a flair for the NSFW postings. Gets your blood going and makes you want to visit again and again.
Those are just some of the bloggers on my read list. I don't have the time to put everyone up here today, but I'll try to finish the list later on. Give them all a visit and see what you like. I'm sure you'll find something that you want to read and re-visit later.
* I assume that Don started this game, if anyone knows that he didn't, I'd be happy to retract
Tags:
Thoughts
Seems every time I sit down to put in a post, I draw a blank. I end up hitting a news story, putting some pithy comment at the end and letting it go.
I'm a very talkative and friendly person and yet I can't write for sh!t it seems. Occasionally I'll get out what I want to say and it looks good, but usually it's all type--delete--curse, news. I just don't have what most others have it seems.
A Comment or Two doesn't update a bunch (and was 'dead' for quite awhile) but his posts are usually thought provoking. A Trainwreck in Maxwell updates mostly daily and while his posts are generally short; he has the ability to keep me interested even in the ones that I don't like (heh). Then there's Ace... he has 'open blog' posters and other helpers, but you can always tell one of his posts. No matter what the news he's writing on, he is able to make a story out of his take on it and make it funny (to me anyway, not sure what that says about me). He is a mean one when he wants to be and I'd imagine people go out of their way to not be blogged about by him.
Acute Politics is by a serviceman in Iraq, he doesn't update a lot anymore (not sure if he's back in Iraq right now or not) but his writing is great when he does post. America's Interests is a new blog (to me) and a 'every-other' day kind of blog. The posts are generally longer than my comment or two about the news, but they also tackle what's going on in the world. Aubrey deals with NASA, the military and other news mostly, but tackles politics and immigration in the occasional post.
Autone is a Hollywood writer and doesn't post too much, but generally worth reading when he does. Bel is thinking is a British woman and she posts on happenings in the Isles. She had been on a long break, but she's back now and putting paid to the MP's that want to ruin England. Buffalo... the enigma of my blogroll. He and I agree on almost nothing, but the man has a gift for putting his thoughts into words. If I could write as good (or half as good) as he does, tDR would be a big hit in the blogosphere.
Club For Growth is a conservative 'watchdog' group who makes it their business to advance conservative principles and candidates. They run white papers on candidates (R or D) and will tell it like it is. They are very anti-'pork' and aren't shy about it. Confederate Yankee focuses mainly on the war on terror, the fronts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the politicians that want to lose there. Conservatism with Heart is a general all-around conservative blog (with a radio show) and touches on all points conservative, generally every day.
Crushed by Ingsoc is another Brit on the roll. He generally is concerned with himself and his journey to enlightenment(TM), he writes long posts that are sometimes hard to follow, but usually entertaining. DD2 abhors Obama, but hates Clinton and you can tell in his writing. He covers politics and is having a field day with the Democratic Primary season. Don Surber is the greatest MSM blogger I know :) Short 'quippy' posts about anything and everything. He generally lets the media have it and started(*) the 'Name that Party' game that everyone seems to play.
Flopping Aces is generally military blogging, some politics and a good read whenever you go that way. GSGF is Courtney's home (our favorite blogger here at tDR) and is anything and everything Middle East. A well researched blogger, she intersperses her posts with witty comments backed up by links and takes on all-comers. Honeysmack is the lovely Aussie with a flair for the NSFW postings. Gets your blood going and makes you want to visit again and again.
Those are just some of the bloggers on my read list. I don't have the time to put everyone up here today, but I'll try to finish the list later on. Give them all a visit and see what you like. I'm sure you'll find something that you want to read and re-visit later.
* I assume that Don started this game, if anyone knows that he didn't, I'd be happy to retract
I'm a very talkative and friendly person and yet I can't write for sh!t it seems. Occasionally I'll get out what I want to say and it looks good, but usually it's all type--delete--curse, news. I just don't have what most others have it seems.
A Comment or Two doesn't update a bunch (and was 'dead' for quite awhile) but his posts are usually thought provoking. A Trainwreck in Maxwell updates mostly daily and while his posts are generally short; he has the ability to keep me interested even in the ones that I don't like (heh). Then there's Ace... he has 'open blog' posters and other helpers, but you can always tell one of his posts. No matter what the news he's writing on, he is able to make a story out of his take on it and make it funny (to me anyway, not sure what that says about me). He is a mean one when he wants to be and I'd imagine people go out of their way to not be blogged about by him.
Acute Politics is by a serviceman in Iraq, he doesn't update a lot anymore (not sure if he's back in Iraq right now or not) but his writing is great when he does post. America's Interests is a new blog (to me) and a 'every-other' day kind of blog. The posts are generally longer than my comment or two about the news, but they also tackle what's going on in the world. Aubrey deals with NASA, the military and other news mostly, but tackles politics and immigration in the occasional post.
Autone is a Hollywood writer and doesn't post too much, but generally worth reading when he does. Bel is thinking is a British woman and she posts on happenings in the Isles. She had been on a long break, but she's back now and putting paid to the MP's that want to ruin England. Buffalo... the enigma of my blogroll. He and I agree on almost nothing, but the man has a gift for putting his thoughts into words. If I could write as good (or half as good) as he does, tDR would be a big hit in the blogosphere.
Club For Growth is a conservative 'watchdog' group who makes it their business to advance conservative principles and candidates. They run white papers on candidates (R or D) and will tell it like it is. They are very anti-'pork' and aren't shy about it. Confederate Yankee focuses mainly on the war on terror, the fronts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the politicians that want to lose there. Conservatism with Heart is a general all-around conservative blog (with a radio show) and touches on all points conservative, generally every day.
Crushed by Ingsoc is another Brit on the roll. He generally is concerned with himself and his journey to enlightenment(TM), he writes long posts that are sometimes hard to follow, but usually entertaining. DD2 abhors Obama, but hates Clinton and you can tell in his writing. He covers politics and is having a field day with the Democratic Primary season. Don Surber is the greatest MSM blogger I know :) Short 'quippy' posts about anything and everything. He generally lets the media have it and started(*) the 'Name that Party' game that everyone seems to play.
Flopping Aces is generally military blogging, some politics and a good read whenever you go that way. GSGF is Courtney's home (our favorite blogger here at tDR) and is anything and everything Middle East. A well researched blogger, she intersperses her posts with witty comments backed up by links and takes on all-comers. Honeysmack is the lovely Aussie with a flair for the NSFW postings. Gets your blood going and makes you want to visit again and again.
Those are just some of the bloggers on my read list. I don't have the time to put everyone up here today, but I'll try to finish the list later on. Give them all a visit and see what you like. I'm sure you'll find something that you want to read and re-visit later.
* I assume that Don started this game, if anyone knows that he didn't, I'd be happy to retract
Tags:
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Danica
She can finally stop being called the Anna Kournikova of the racing world:
She was so close before this and could never quite get there. Now she'll always have at least the one win to show for her time in the IRL. Winning is an amazing thing.
MOTEGI, Japan (AP)—Danica Patrick became the first female winner in IndyCar history Sunday, taking the Indy Japan 300 after the top contenders were forced to pit for fuel in the final laps.YahooPatrick finished 5.8594 seconds ahead of pole-sitter Helio Castroneves on the 1.5-mile Twin Ring Motegi oval after leader Scott Dixon pitted with five laps left and Dan Wheldon and Tony Kanaan came in a lap later.
“It’s a long time coming. Finally,” Patrick said. “It was a fuel strategy race, but my team called it perfectly for me. I knew I was on the same strategy as Helio and when I passed him for the lead, I couldn’t believe it. This is fabulous.”
The 26-year-old Patrick won in her 50th career IndyCar start, taking the lead from Castroneves on the 198th lap in the 200-lap race.
“I think Danica is such a fantastic person and I’m thrilled for her that the monkey is finally off of her back,” said Michael Andretti, co-owner of Andretti Green Racing. “We have all believed in her and she proved today that she is a winner. Frankly, I think this is the first of many.”
She was so close before this and could never quite get there. Now she'll always have at least the one win to show for her time in the IRL. Winning is an amazing thing.
Tags:
Danica
She can finally stop being called the Anna Kournikova of the racing world:
She was so close before this and could never quite get there. Now she'll always have at least the one win to show for her time in the IRL. Winning is an amazing thing.
MOTEGI, Japan (AP)—Danica Patrick became the first female winner in IndyCar history Sunday, taking the Indy Japan 300 after the top contenders were forced to pit for fuel in the final laps.YahooPatrick finished 5.8594 seconds ahead of pole-sitter Helio Castroneves on the 1.5-mile Twin Ring Motegi oval after leader Scott Dixon pitted with five laps left and Dan Wheldon and Tony Kanaan came in a lap later.
“It’s a long time coming. Finally,” Patrick said. “It was a fuel strategy race, but my team called it perfectly for me. I knew I was on the same strategy as Helio and when I passed him for the lead, I couldn’t believe it. This is fabulous.”
The 26-year-old Patrick won in her 50th career IndyCar start, taking the lead from Castroneves on the 198th lap in the 200-lap race.
“I think Danica is such a fantastic person and I’m thrilled for her that the monkey is finally off of her back,” said Michael Andretti, co-owner of Andretti Green Racing. “We have all believed in her and she proved today that she is a winner. Frankly, I think this is the first of many.”
She was so close before this and could never quite get there. Now she'll always have at least the one win to show for her time in the IRL. Winning is an amazing thing.
Tags:
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Sports for the week(end)
Had a softball game this week and we won 13-3 in 5 innings. Lil bit was on the camera so the clips were spotty, but there's one of me coaching 3rd just as we change innings:(#69 [yes it probably was perverted once upon a time, now it's simply tradition that I have that number])
After that, lil bit took the training wheels of her bike (sniffle) and tried to learn to ride. She hasn't gotten it yet, but she will (best vid I have of it, not her best ride though)
Finally we had soccer this morning. I didn't get to stay but until half time so I didn't get any good vids. I got one of her making a good block. We left and it was 3-2 (them) just after the half. Lil bit called and told me she scored 2 goals!!! and had 2 more blocks and got defensive player of the game!
Next week I have to work on soccer day, so hopefully someone else can film. We do play ball again this week, so maybe something from that too.
After that, lil bit took the training wheels of her bike (sniffle) and tried to learn to ride. She hasn't gotten it yet, but she will (best vid I have of it, not her best ride though)
Finally we had soccer this morning. I didn't get to stay but until half time so I didn't get any good vids. I got one of her making a good block. We left and it was 3-2 (them) just after the half. Lil bit called and told me she scored 2 goals!!! and had 2 more blocks and got defensive player of the game!
Next week I have to work on soccer day, so hopefully someone else can film. We do play ball again this week, so maybe something from that too.
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In G-d We Trust Licencse
There has been a lot of controversy over the 'In G-d We Trust' license plates that some states issue. The ACLU and various left organizations contend that the plates are unconstitutional because they violate either preferential treatment to one group or another or church-state 'barrier' concerns.
The biggest legal argument going is the fact that the tags are not a 'specialty' tag (thus costing more) and that makes them more likely to be chosen by the motorist [which is what the offended orgs do not want]. However, no matter what happened, if they charged a small fee for the tag; then these same 'victims' would be using the same arguments because of the money collected for a religious tag. It's a classic catch-22 being played out in many a court system.
One small battle in this ongoing saga has been played out and it seems the good guys have won (this time). In Indiana a judge ruled that the tag did not provide preferential treatment and dismissed the ACLU lawsuit. Of course the ACLU will appeal and continue it's very best at eroding the morals and rights of all the US citizens it can.
With willing help from most left-leaning individuals, the ACLU is happily making this a generic, clean place to live where the only offended people will be the dead; who, unfortunately, will be the only people able to do anything.
The biggest legal argument going is the fact that the tags are not a 'specialty' tag (thus costing more) and that makes them more likely to be chosen by the motorist [which is what the offended orgs do not want]. However, no matter what happened, if they charged a small fee for the tag; then these same 'victims' would be using the same arguments because of the money collected for a religious tag. It's a classic catch-22 being played out in many a court system.
One small battle in this ongoing saga has been played out and it seems the good guys have won (this time). In Indiana a judge ruled that the tag did not provide preferential treatment and dismissed the ACLU lawsuit. Of course the ACLU will appeal and continue it's very best at eroding the morals and rights of all the US citizens it can.
With willing help from most left-leaning individuals, the ACLU is happily making this a generic, clean place to live where the only offended people will be the dead; who, unfortunately, will be the only people able to do anything.
INDIANAPOLIS — A judge has upheld the issuance of Indiana license plates bearing the message "In God We Trust," dismissing a constitutional challenge by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana.
Marion Superior Court Judge Gary L. Miller wrote in a 13-page opinion that the plates were comparable to standard plates issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and were created specifically as such by the Legislature.
"Courts are not to second-guess the Indiana General Assembly when it comes to calculations of this sort," Miller wrote, contrasting the `In God We Trust' plates with other specialty plates that require the payment of administrative fees.
Miller said the issuance of the plates did not violate the section of the Indiana Constitution that forbids the Legislature from granting special privileges or immunities not available to all citizens.
The ruling, issued April 10, denies a motion for summary judgment in the suit by the ACLU on behalf of Mark E. Studler, an Allen County resident who has an Environmental Trust plate for which he had to pay extra fees.
Fox
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Friday, April 18, 2008
Earthquake
This morning at around 5:37 am EST an earthquake occurred near West Salem, Illinois. According to the USGS it was a 5.4 magnitude. That is 124 miles (straight line) from where I live. No injuries have been reported anywhere as far as I know.
This is only the second earthquake I have ever experienced. The first was just a few years ago and it was just a little shiver. This one was definitely the strongest that I've experienced. It woke me and the wife. The house was shaking a bit. I heard creaking and a little popping. Basically the same sounds we hear if there are high winds outside. I got up and looked outside to see if it was wind or a storm. Of course, there was no storm. It didn't take too long before I realized what it was. I'll have to admit, it was a bit unsettling. But still kinda cool!
I'll post more if anything develops. Especially if we experience any aftershocks.
EDIT/UPDATE:
Just about 10-15 minutes before 8 am EST, the USGS downgraded the quake from 5.4 to 5.2
UPDATE: 11:15am EST
I felt an aftershock here in KY. According to the USGS Website it was a magnitude of 4.5. It only lasted a second or two here. Causing the walls to shake slightly and a slight rumble. Just thought I would pass that along.
This is only the second earthquake I have ever experienced. The first was just a few years ago and it was just a little shiver. This one was definitely the strongest that I've experienced. It woke me and the wife. The house was shaking a bit. I heard creaking and a little popping. Basically the same sounds we hear if there are high winds outside. I got up and looked outside to see if it was wind or a storm. Of course, there was no storm. It didn't take too long before I realized what it was. I'll have to admit, it was a bit unsettling. But still kinda cool!
I'll post more if anything develops. Especially if we experience any aftershocks.
EDIT/UPDATE:
Just about 10-15 minutes before 8 am EST, the USGS downgraded the quake from 5.4 to 5.2
UPDATE: 11:15am EST
I felt an aftershock here in KY. According to the USGS Website it was a magnitude of 4.5. It only lasted a second or two here. Causing the walls to shake slightly and a slight rumble. Just thought I would pass that along.
Married with children. Lovely wife, son and daughter. Two dogs and a pile of bills.
Guns Of August
"On July 29th 2008 Iran successfully launches a Shahab rocket and orbiting
satellite, proving it has a formidable functioning delivery vehicle, then
announces it has produced sufficient fissionable material at its Natanz
facility to build two nuclear bombs in 2009 and begins work on underground
test facilities in the basalt formations beneath the great salt desert of Dacht-e-Kavir.
Supreme Leader Ali Khameini announces baldly that his nation has manufactured weapons-grade fissionable material enriched to nearly 100% (in lieu of 5% enrichment for peaceful nuclear reactors)."
Two days later Great Satan launches the most audacious regional series of regime changes ever implemented in history, Officially dubbed 'Operation Boundless Freedom" Allies and enemies alike refer to it as 'Operation Great Satan"
3 Iranian submarines are destroyed - 1 in the Med, 1 in the Atlantic and 1 in the Indian Ocean. Another surrenders and defects near Barcelona.
Naval and air force assets at Bandar Abbas are hit with a combination of missiles and a French- Saudi Amphibious assault from Qatar and the UAE. Waves of Tomahawk cruise missiles streak through Persian aerospace from ships and subs - effectively targetting the Iranian air force - air fields, missile sites and air defense systems are struck down within hours.
Communications are totally co opted or overwhelmed cybernetically. Nearly 50 B2 Stealth bombers sortee to to strike IRRGC command and control HQ's.
"American warplanes and missiles carefully avoid striking research reactors
in Teheran and Ispahan as well as the nuclear reactor at Bousher--less than 100
kilometers from Kuwait--as well as the centrifuges themselves at Natanz in an
effort to prevent the spread of radioactive material to nearby population
centers.
However, other missiles producing electromagnetic pulses do knock out
virtually all of Iran's electric grid and computer systems"
Airborne troops from Great Britain and Great Satan sieze all passes through the Zagros mountains - effectively cutting Iran in half.
Special Forces strike and hold especial clerical compounds in Tehran and Qom right before Friday prayers. Nearly 20% of Iran's ruling praetorian guards and mullahs are captured, killed or missing by breakfast time.
Armed insurgencies break out across Iran as ex and au currant MEK groups strike, sieze and hold towns and cities.
At the same moment, Little Satan launches a panzer blitz straight up the Bekah Valley. Key turf captured and held by paratroopers and commandos. Syrian missile batteries are captured or annihilated by waves of attack aircraft and Syrian armor fights a desperate retreating battle - outmatched and over whelmed by a new school combo of vertical envelopment as armor surges and chops through an immense junkyard of wrecked, smoldering Russian built tanks and a flood of broken Syrian conscripts.
Great Satan' s seaborne regime changing Marines hit the surf just north of the Litani river in Lebanon and methodically grind and leap frog straight through the heart of Hiz'B'AllahLand.
Known missile batteries and weapons caches (many in innocent civilian rich areas) are captured by chopper borne marines and French commandos or trashed.
HBA's command complex in Beirut is clamped shut by heavily armed Marines after precision cruise missile strikes.
Al Manar - HBA's 'suicide channel' seems to be co opted - running a marathon of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" in Arabic overdubs. All communications in the ME are totally wacked - from Bashar's Al Sana network to Al Jazeera - regular programming has been replaced with the most outrageous cable quality programming the Great Satan can jam like "Playboys Girls Next Door" and choice selections from 'Girls Gone Wild'
The IAF incinerates the power grid in Damascus and by the 3rd day - Littles Satan's self propelled artillery is shelling the Presidential Palace. Downtown Damascus is cut off and resistence crumbles.
Within 5 days, Iran is reduced to a state of near paralysis, unable in any sense to retaliate militarily, its entire economic infrastructure in shambles. By this time the largest armored division in history has left Iraq and "Old Ironsides" is within striking distance of a thunder run into downtown Tehran.
Riots wreck the regime and a caretaker gov is installed by the Iranians themselves. Syria is occupied and Hiz'B'Allah is history.
Lebanon starts to rebuild the ME's riviera. HAMAS is suddenly confronted by a host of alternate, well armed. tolerant, egalitarian political movements (funny too - the Strips pop magically increases by nearly 40K) and has a real fight - politically - on it's hands to maintain a bizarro land where death is precious, praised and preferred.
Sound crazy? Hold up - Check out the tease and inspiration for this all original scenerio in "Iran, Le Choix des Armes" by Francois Heisbourg.
Alas, unavailable in English yet, the PR looks interesting.
"For there are some extraordinary surprises in this consummate, if brief, but
brilliantly conceived work by the man who is perhaps Europe's leading global
thinker--chairman of the London-based International Institute for Strategic
Studies, adviser to French presidents and ministers of defense and foreign
affairs going back to Valery Giscard d'Estaing and top adviser to French arms
makers from Thompson to Matra."
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Tension
Back around St. Valentine's Day - Great Satan decided to crank up the Strategic Petrol Reserves. It was already at like 96.2 % (which could be argued as being 'full'). Wheee - didn't really matter - the Energy Dept ordered a straight up fill up.Usually when oil prices become pocket book piercing - considerable pressure is political - and is all about unleashing a bit of that super sweet Strat Reserves to relieve purse pressure - not to bling for even more.
Many reasons why this happened (war for oil anyone?) - including fear of oil flow disruption? Like an earthquake, revolution or - war?
A lovingly recv'd hot and sticky early St Valentine's Day gift, when vexed vengence vaporized a 'dear' psychopathic 'brother commander' of the IRRGC, a founder of Hiz'B'Allah, a mentor of the Mahdi Army and the world's most prolific serial tormentor of Americans in history til 911 time.
Rich - sweet and totally delish is the happy fact that Imad was annihilated in the heart of a computerized, secret police state. Syria - ran by Pres for Life Bashar has a wicked penchant for feeding and funding a sworn enemy of Great Satan - the HBA.
Risible retarded too is the fact that since the eid of mourning hath past, Hiz'B'Allah - despite happy talk of revenge and resistence on Little Satan - instead act out by resisting their very own legit semi functional democracy - tiny terrorized Lebanon.
Little Satan has denied the hit and Great Satan said nothing. Difficult to say. Being the most wanted cat in the world (by 42 diff nations - no less - Imad's anti fan league was due to catch up with him sooner or later.)
Whatever. HBA cried 'foul' and everyone been patiently waiting for HBA to act out in revenge mode.
Then in March - a significant threat magically appeared just out of sight of Lebanon's and Syria's coast. This unengaged regime changing naval amphib Marine toting posse (Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group in regime killing speak) is still unengaged and sweetly loitering somewhere in the Med.
The exact mission statement of these potential potentate pulverizers presence off the coast of Syria and Lebanon.— never really made clear. Great Satan's 6th Fleet is not the only globe prowling, globe stomping regime changing platforms sending some kind of signal.
HBA cats being granted instant easy access to the perfumed halls of Paradise, or Great Satan's missiles and Marines off shore in the Med and Petrol reserve stocking may be innocently unrelated.
Except, wacking Imad was a wicked thong like tease to HBA and by definition Iran and Syria. Who ever killed him WANTS someone to act out.
It gets better. Before Imad's eid of mourning passed - Little Satan publically shouted out about a Civil Defense - Military Op combo exercise with the optimistic nom de voyage "Turning Point II" to get crunk up in April. Nothing major?
Except Syria was semi hot about it - deploying 3 divisions (2 Panzer and 1 mechanized Inf) at their side of BeKahh Valley. Hiz'B'Allah's home hood is the western part. To be fair, unverified sources claim
"The Syrians didn’t appear to be aggressive. Rather, they deployed these
forcesin a defensive posture, in a way walling off their part of the valley. "
In a real war (conventional for purists) with Little Satan - Syria would enjoy a 'short - but very exciting life.' Like all despotries with an armored fist up their sleeve, Bashar needs those 500 old school tanks. And their deployment is significant. It could be interpeted something like this:
"Syrian ground forces deployed near the Lebanese border would be fair targets. By eliminating 500 Syrian tanks--tanks that Syrian President Bashar Al Assadneeds to preserve his regime and presented with a choice between saving Hezbollah and staying alive, Syria's dictator will choose the latter."
Syria doesn't want a conventional war with Little Satan (or anyone else - true that!) This deployment is hardly threatening - it is defensive.
Little Satan and Suriya al Kubra both dissed any designs for a fight."The deployment therefore seemed intended to keep the Israelis on the
Lebaneseside of the border — on the apparent assumption the Israelis were going
into theBekaa Valley. "
Turning Point II is the the largest exercise in Little Satan's history.
" It involved the entire country, and was designed to test civil defensesand the
ability of the national command authority to continue to function inthe event of
an attack with unconventional weapons — chemical and nuclear.
This was a costly exercise. It also involved calling up reserves, some of them
for the exercise, and, by some reports, others for deploymentto the north
against Syria. Israel does not call up reserves casually.Reserve call-ups
are expensive and disrupt the civilian economy.
The Syrians already were deeply concerned by the Israeli exercise.
Eventually, the Lebanese government got worried, too, and started to
evacuate some civilians from the South. Saudi Arabia told everybody to leave.
Hezbollah, which still hadn’t retaliated for the Mughniyah assassination, also
claimed the Israelis were about to attack it, and reportedly went on alert and
mobilized its forces.The Americans, who normally issue warnings and cautions to everyone, said nothing to try to calm the situation. They just sat off shore on their ships."
Then, Little Satan's Defense Cat - Ehud Barak - ditched a trek to Deutschland at the last minute. This may be significant - as "TP II" had been planned for over a month. Why bail at the last sec?
Will HBA act with a retaliate attack? Will Little Satan pre empt?
Also, Great Satan's fave Vulcan Regime Changer - the avuncular (and nigh indestructable cardiac wise)VP Cheney hit the ME during the Arab League's Lo Down Ho Down in Damascus - and hung out with Oman."Ignoring all rhetoric — and the Israelis have gone out of their way to say that
they are not looking for a fight — it would seem that each side, but particularly
the Americans and Israelis, have gone out of their way to signalthat they are
expecting conflict. The Syrians have also signaled that they expect conflict,
and Hezbollah always claims there is about to be conflict.What is missing is this: who will fight whom, and why, and why now. Thesimple explanation is that Israel wants a do over with Hiz'B'Allah. But while that might be true, it doesn’t explain everything else that has happened.
Most important, it doesn’t explain the simultaneous revelations about the bombing of Syria. It also doesn’t explain the U.S. naval deployment.
Is the United States about to get involved in a war with Hezbollah, a war that the Israelis should handle themselves?Are the Israelis going to topple Syrian President Bashar al Assad — and then wind up with a Sunni government, or worse, an Israeli occupation of Syria? None of that makes a lot of sense."
Oman is alledgedly a fave of the Persians. Big biz - legit and shady are conducted a lot between Iran and Oman. Next up, Sec Def Gates hits the hood in of all places - Oman.
Why the sudden interest in Oman? Like right now?
It may go all the way back to 'Syria Bombing Day' on 6 Sept '07.
Little Satan annihilated something in northern Syria - taking a Turkish U Turn to do it.
The UK leaked a Little Satan commando raid seized wickedly incriminating nukey stuff and may have pulled a snatch and grab on key cats.
The Axis of Evil was awful quiet about it.
While Syria may very well desire a nuclear reactor - the locale was awful funny. A super sensitive site like that so close to the border with Turkey? The reactor story may be a smokescreen.
Other theories include Iraqi WMD (though to be fair - WMD stashed in the same locale brings up the same quiz)."Why would Syria want a nuclear reactor and why put it on the border of Turkey,
a country the Syrians aren’t particularly friendly with? If the Syrians had a
nuclear reactor, why would the Israelis becoy about it? Why would the Americans?
Having said nothing for months apart from careful leaks, why are the Israelis
going to speak publicly now? And if what they are going to say is simply that the
North Koreans provided the equipment,what’s the big deal?That was leaked months ago."
Zooming out of the Holy Land and taking Persia into account with the Nuke Free since '03 NIE, the eclipse of the Mullahs by their own Praetorian fan boys in the IRRGC in the recent Majiles election and the Basra blitz - the conclusion may be incredible.
Like a real regional war with the short term military goal of knocking out more than one enemy - a multi hit ala Corleone family.
Hang on boys and girls - it's going to be a wild ride.
Spying on the Dark City by rsconnett
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
Art?
Art or exploitation? That's the question for this picture. It seems that some money ($91,000) was paid for this portrait (not sure who holds the copyright for the photo, but if you click it you will goto the site I got it from) and was supposed to help CHILDREN in Cambodia. The doctor who administers the fund turned the money down 'out of respect for our patients and their mothers' because of the cultural differences in the country and the west.I don't know about you, but letting someone potentially die (healthcare isn't that good in Cambodia or the good Swedish doctor wouldn't be needing money to run a clinic) because of 'respect' isn't my idea of a good thing. Morals are what keep us sailing the straight and narrow or whatever floats your boat, but personal morals shouldn't get in the way of healing kids. There are people who I admire that would argue with me on that point and to them I'd like to say, show me. Show me the child that has to die to assuage your morals. Show me the family that gets told no because you feel that a painting of a woman (who knew she was being painted and got PAID to do it) is not acceptable to raise money for them.
When you can show me, and still feel good about your morals, I will acknowledge you as being better than I am. Until then, heal the damn kids.
couriermail.com.auA DOCTOR running hospitals in Cambodia has refused a donation raised from the sale of a nude photo of France's first lady.
Swiss paediatrician Beat Richner, head of a children's medical care group, said he had turned down an offer of $US91,000 ($97,700) raised at a New York auction last week of the 1993 picture of Italian ex-model Carla Bruni, now married to President Nicolas Sarkozy.
"My decision was taken out of respect for our patients and their mothers," he said in an interview with Le Matin Dimanche.
"Accepting money obtained from exploitation of the female body would be perceived as an insult."
In Cambodia "use of nudity is not understood in the way it is in the West".
He did not wish his institution, the Kantha Bopha Children's Hospital Association, "to be involved in the media exploitation of Madame Bruni".
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Saturday, April 12, 2008
Obama in the Movies
From Ace (of course):
Of course the fact that I like SouthPark probably says something about me (and my redneck ways).
Of course the fact that I like SouthPark probably says something about me (and my redneck ways).
Bad Bad Basra
After recent claims of vacuuming (and in an ironically funny way - because they truly SUCK), the Basra battle may have indeed been the IRRGC's attempt to snag an oil rich (shia) provincial capital, landlock Iraq in a sea of Shia pockets and begin regional realization RE: the infamous crescent from Persia to the Med.Basra has always been a fave of the Mullahs. Iran had besieged Basra for nearly 6 years during the horrible Iran Iraq war with nothing to show for it but metric tonnes of martyrs. 100's of K's of casualities and failed assaults (many times using kids ducktaped together armed with plastic keys to the gates of Paradise) against fixed machine gun and blister agent kill zones. These teenage voltiguers (Besijis in Persian) were horrifically exploited for 'Karbala' Offensives essentially for naught.
Despite being Shia heavy - Basra never really swung the Ayatollah way back in the day and resisted the Iranians.
All that is so last year (millenium actually). In the last 5 years, Iran really makes the most of her natural assets like meddling and mayhem - on a regional semi hegemonic scale.
Super saavy historian, author and all around smart guy Michael Oren says
Flush and hot with victory in recent Majiles run offs - Iran's Praetorian Guard - the Revo Guards and their co dependent fanboys (Mahdi Army, JAM, 'Special Groups') most likely had an urge to surge of their own."In the eyes of many Middle Easterners, Iran today seems to be on a roll.
While other regimes (the Syrians, the Saudis, the Egyptians) are perceived
throughout the area as inextricably mired in corruption, Islamic heterodoxy, or
political impotence, Iran’s Shiite mullahs have maintained an image of
integrity, piety—and power.There is much to sustain that image. From Damascus, which increasingly takes its directions from Tehran, to Bahrain and the eastern province of Saudi Arabia, where Shiite majorities seethe, Iranian influence is growing.
Through its Lebanese proxy, Hizballah, the Islamic Republic has placed
some 10,000 Katyusha rockets along Israel’s northern border and (according to
Israeli intelligence) has orchestrated almost two-thirds of all recent terrorist
attacks from the West Bank and Gaza.Finally, over the past two years, Iranian leaders have leaned back and watched as the United States—the Great Satan—has eliminated two of their most pernicious rivals, the Taliban and Saddam Hussein."
Amer Taheri lays it out - the Mullahs were going to stage a 'Basra Awakening' of their own. And got their assets handed to them. Despite loser loving press, (like this) the mullahs reached out - to stick bloody fingers into sweetly oiled pies - and drew back a nub.
"Tehran's decision to make the gamble was based on three assumptions:
* Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki wouldn't have the courage to defend Basra
at the risk of burning his bridges with the Islamic Republic in Iran.* The international force would be in no position to intervene in the Basra battle.
The British, who controlled Basra until last December, had no desire to return,
especially if this meant getting involved in fighting. The Americans, meanwhile,
never had enough troops to finish off al-Qaeda-in-Iraq, let alone fight Iran and
its local militias on a new front.* The Shiite clerical leadership in Najaf would oppose intervention by the new Iraqi security forces in a battle that could lead to heavy Shiite casualties. "
"The Iranian plan - developed by Revolutionary Guard's Quds (Jerusalem) unit, which is in charge of "exporting the Islamic Revolution" - aimed at a quick victory. To achieve that, Tehran spent vast sums persuading local Iraqi security personnel to switch sides or to remain neutral.
The hoped-for victory was to be achieved as part of a massive Shiite uprising spreading from Baghdad to the south via heartland cities such as Karbala, Kut and al-Amarah. A barrage of rockets and missiles against the "Green Zone" in Baghdad and armed attacks on a dozen police stations and Iraqi army barracks in the Shiite heartland were designed to keep the Maliki government under pressure.
To seize control of Basra, Quds commanders used units known as Special Groups. These consist of individuals recruited from among the estimated 1.8 million Iraqi refugees who spent more than two decades in Iran during Saddam Hussein's reign.
They returned to Iraq shortly after Saddam's fall and started to act as liaisons between Quds and local Shiite militias.
In last month's operation, Quds commanders used the name and insignia of the Mahdi Army, a militia originally created by the maverick cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, as a cover for the Special Groups.
Initially, Quds commanders appeared to have won their bet. Their Special Groups and Mahdi Army allies easily seized control of key areas of Basra when more than 500 Iraqi security personnel abandoned their positions and disappeared into the woodwork.
Soon, however, the tide turned. Maliki proved that he had the courage to lead the new Iraqi Security Force (ISF) into battle, even if that meant confronting Iran. The ISF showed that it had the capacity and the will to fight.
Only a year ago, the ISF had been unable to provide three brigades (some 9,000 men) to help the US-led "surge" restore security in Baghdad. This time, the ISF had no difficulty deploying 15 brigades (30,000 men) for the battle of Basra.
Led by Gen. Mohan al-Freiji, the Iraqi force sent to Basra was the largest that the ISF had put together since its creation five years ago. This was the first time that the ISF was in charge of a major operation from start to finish and was fighting a large, well-armed adversary without US advisers.
During the Basra battles, the ISF did call on British and US forces to provide some firepower, especially via air strikes against enemy positions. But, in another first, the ISF used its own aircraft to transport troops and materiel and relied on its own communication system.
The expected call from the Najaf ayatollahs to stop "Shiite fratricide" failed to materialize. Grand Ayatollah Ali-Muhammad Sistani, the top cleric in Iraq, gave his blessings to the Maliki-launched operation. More broadly, the Shiite uprisings in Baghdad, Karbala, Najaf and other cities that Quds commanders had counted upon didn't happen. The "Green Zone" wasn't evacuated in panic under a barrage of rockets and missiles.
After more than a week of fighting, the Iraqis forced the Quds commanders to call for a cease-fire through Sadr. The Iraqi commander agreed - provided that the Quds force directly guaranteed it. To highlight Iran's role in the episode, he insisted that the Quds force dispatch a senior commander to finalize the accord.
The Iran-backed side lost more than 600 men, with more than 1,000 injured. The ISF lost 88 dead and 122 wounded.
Some analysts suggest this was the first war between new Iraq and the Islamic Republic. If so, the Iraqis won.
To be sure, the Iranian-backed side lost partly because Iran couldn't use its full might, especially its air force. (That almost certainly would've led to war between Iran and the US-led coalition in Iraq.)
The battle for Basra showed that Iraq has a new army that's willing and able to fight. If the 15 brigades that fought are a sample, the new Iraq may have an effective army of more than 300,000 before year's end.
But the battle also showed that the ISF still lacks the weapons systems, including attack aircraft and longer-range missiles, needed to transform tactical victories into strategic ones. The Iranian-sponsored Special Groups and their Mahdi Army allies simply disappeared from the scene, taking their weapons with them, waiting for another fight.
Tehran tried to test the waters in Basra and, as an opportunist power, would've annexed southern Iraq under a quisling administration had that been attainable at a low cost. Once it became clear that the cost might be higher than the Quds force expected, Tehran opted to back down.
Yet this was just the first round. The struggle for Iraq isn't over."
Indeed, Mookie's chief adjuctant magically cashed in his very own all season pass to the perfumed gardens of Paradise. Riyahd al- Nouri was literally shot to pieces in Najaf on Friday.
Mere metres away from a secure checkpoint - no less - in the 'heart' of Mahdiarmyland.
Great Britain, Great Satan and the new Iraqi army guys are still fighting - in a semi asymmetrical way - and so is Iran and their myriad minions.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Update
Went by the house today and mowed, bad storms in the area so not much on the blog front. I'll try to post some later.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
The $15 Million Bust
After paying this woman $15 million per year to get to the bottom of the rankings, CBS is (rumor) going to cut its' losses.
After two years of record-low ratings, both CBS News executives and people close to Katie Couric say that the "CBS Evening News" anchor is likely to leave the network well before her contract expires in 2011 -- possibly soon after the presidential inauguration early next year.I could have gotten them to the bottom much cheaper. Heck I may not have even dropped them quite as far.
Ms. Couric isn't even halfway through her five-year contract with CBS, which began in June 2006 and pays an annual salary of around $15 million. But CBS executives are under pressure to cut costs and improve ratings for the broadcast, which trails rival newscasts on ABC and NBC by wide margins.'Discredited report', gotta love that terminology. More like 'bald-faced' lie. But what can you expect from a network that pays this much money to lag behind everyone else.
Her departure would cap a difficult episode for CBS, which brought Ms. Couric to the network with considerable fanfare in a bid to catapult "Evening News" back into first place. Excluding several weeks of her tenure, Ms. Couric never bested the ratings of interim anchor Bob Schieffer, who was named to host the broadcast temporarily after "Evening News" anchor Dan Rather left the newscast in the wake of a discredited report on George W. Bush's National Guard service.
WSJ
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The $15 Million Bust
After paying this woman $15 million per year to get to the bottom of the rankings, CBS is (rumor) going to cut its' losses.
After two years of record-low ratings, both CBS News executives and people close to Katie Couric say that the "CBS Evening News" anchor is likely to leave the network well before her contract expires in 2011 -- possibly soon after the presidential inauguration early next year.I could have gotten them to the bottom much cheaper. Heck I may not have even dropped them quite as far.
Ms. Couric isn't even halfway through her five-year contract with CBS, which began in June 2006 and pays an annual salary of around $15 million. But CBS executives are under pressure to cut costs and improve ratings for the broadcast, which trails rival newscasts on ABC and NBC by wide margins.'Discredited report', gotta love that terminology. More like 'bald-faced' lie. But what can you expect from a network that pays this much money to lag behind everyone else.
Her departure would cap a difficult episode for CBS, which brought Ms. Couric to the network with considerable fanfare in a bid to catapult "Evening News" back into first place. Excluding several weeks of her tenure, Ms. Couric never bested the ratings of interim anchor Bob Schieffer, who was named to host the broadcast temporarily after "Evening News" anchor Dan Rather left the newscast in the wake of a discredited report on George W. Bush's National Guard service.
WSJ
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Wednesday, April 9, 2008
D trumps R (reporting)
On the economy, make sure to follow the link to the good part of the post:
The Corner
Via Flopping Aces; You can bet your last dollar that if BO or HC wins the next election, the economy will be turning around (in the media) no matter what the numbers say. Likewise if JM wins, the economy will slip into depression (with the same numbers). This is not a new phenomena, just one that people don't seem to believe; and unlike man-made global warming, this one is actually proveable heh
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It’s the Politics, Stupid:
Comparing Labor Market Data in 1996 and 2008
Democrats on the Economy in 1996:
“Our economy is the healthiest it has been in three decades.” (President Bill Clinton, State of the Union Address, January 23, 1996)
Democrats on the Economy in 2008:
“The bottom line is that this administration is the owner of the worst jobs record since Herbert Hoover." (Senator Charles Schumer, Press Release, March 7, 2008)
The Corner
Via Flopping Aces; You can bet your last dollar that if BO or HC wins the next election, the economy will be turning around (in the media) no matter what the numbers say. Likewise if JM wins, the economy will slip into depression (with the same numbers). This is not a new phenomena, just one that people don't seem to believe; and unlike man-made global warming, this one is actually proveable heh
[Main]
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D trumps R (reporting)
On the economy, make sure to follow the link to the good part of the post:
The Corner
Via Flopping Aces; You can bet your last dollar that if BO or HC wins the next election, the economy will be turning around (in the media) no matter what the numbers say. Likewise if JM wins, the economy will slip into depression (with the same numbers). This is not a new phenomena, just one that people don't seem to believe; and unlike man-made global warming, this one is actually proveable heh
It’s the Politics, Stupid:
Comparing Labor Market Data in 1996 and 2008
Democrats on the Economy in 1996:
“Our economy is the healthiest it has been in three decades.” (President Bill Clinton, State of the Union Address, January 23, 1996)
Democrats on the Economy in 2008:
“The bottom line is that this administration is the owner of the worst jobs record since Herbert Hoover." (Senator Charles Schumer, Press Release, March 7, 2008)
The Corner
Via Flopping Aces; You can bet your last dollar that if BO or HC wins the next election, the economy will be turning around (in the media) no matter what the numbers say. Likewise if JM wins, the economy will slip into depression (with the same numbers). This is not a new phenomena, just one that people don't seem to believe; and unlike man-made global warming, this one is actually proveable heh
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Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Your tree or mine?
I saw this story in the local paper and nearly spit my drink out (yes it was that funny to me). It seems that the left (Obama) has no problem with the good Rev's denuciations of this country and roughly half it's people, yet he is very quick to 'persuade' a woman who has pledged to vote for him to step down because she had the nerve (!!!!) to tell kids to quit acting like monkeys.
Here's the headline on a story in the Chicago Sun-Times: "Suburban Obama delegate quits over 'divisive' remark." Here's the subhead: "Says when she called black kids 'monkeys,' she was asking them to get out of tree."
Being a newspaperman of many years, I know a thing or two about headlines. They are supposed to accurately convey the essence of the story. Now, any reasonable person would have a problem with a woman, whether an Obama delegate or not, calling little black children monkeys. If she did. Check out what she really said (emphasis added):
Click over and see what the rest of the story entails. It's a horror piece of PC'ness in a poor Chicago world.
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Your tree or mine?
I saw this story in the local paper and nearly spit my drink out (yes it was that funny to me). It seems that the left (Obama) has no problem with the good Rev's denuciations of this country and roughly half it's people, yet he is very quick to 'persuade' a woman who has pledged to vote for him to step down because she had the nerve (!!!!) to tell kids to quit acting like monkeys.
Here's the headline on a story in the Chicago Sun-Times: "Suburban Obama delegate quits over 'divisive' remark." Here's the subhead: "Says when she called black kids 'monkeys,' she was asking them to get out of tree."
Being a newspaperman of many years, I know a thing or two about headlines. They are supposed to accurately convey the essence of the story. Now, any reasonable person would have a problem with a woman, whether an Obama delegate or not, calling little black children monkeys. If she did. Check out what she really said (emphasis added):
Click over and see what the rest of the story entails. It's a horror piece of PC'ness in a poor Chicago world.
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Monday, April 7, 2008
Plates
Jennifer Muir of The Orange County Register reports on the California Department of Motor Vehicles' "Confidential Records Program," which was created 30 years ago to keep DMV records of police officers private from criminals. The program has since expanded to cover "hundreds of thousands of public employees – from police dispatchers to museum guards – who face little threat from the public. Their spouses and children can get the plates, too."BoingBoing
Click through and read why it is important that people have the license plates. Since I work (nominally) for the government, I wonder if i can get them :)
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Di
TimesOnlineIt has taken more than 90 days, 270 witnesses and a bill of £10 million to slay the obsessive conspiracy theories of one man. And in the end yesterday, a jury discarded the soft option of accidental death and placed much of the blame for the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Dodi Fayed on the shoulders of one of Mohamed Al Fayed’s own employees.
The Princess and Dodi were unlawfully killed by a combination of their drunk driver, Henri Paul, and the paparazzi who were chasing their car, the jury at their inquests decided.
It was a disastrous outcome for the owner of Harrods, whose allegations of a murder plot masterminded by the Duke of Edinburgh were rejected decisively by the coroner for complete lack of evidence. It was a damning indictment, too, of the pursuing photographers who must accept an equal share of the blame. Even the dead do not escape censure. The couple might have been alive today, the jury decided unanimously, had they been wearing their seatbelts.
Now maybe this poor woman can finally rest. The obsession over her death (and life) rivals that of Elvis at times over here (in the south especially) and I doubt this inquest will change the minds of some who continue to look for conspiracies wherever they can.
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