The Glass Half Spilled

A Question

2010-05-07T10:12:00.001-04:00

If Cinco de Mayo - which is not celebrated in Mexico - is a holiday only because Americans made it one, then isn't it really an American holiday? In that case, US flags should be just fine.

www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Flag-T-shirt-Controversy-Day-Two-92988244.html

Mayor Bloomberg

2010-05-04T14:39:00.001-04:00

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg warns foks against bias now that the Time Square Bomber has turned out to be Muslim.

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/04/AR2010050402091.html

I guess bias wasn't a problem when Hizzoner was opining that the bomber was probably someone who opposed ObamaCare.

I mean, some folks, you just gotta expect the worst, right?

Foiled Again

2010-05-04T13:17:00.000-04:00

Janet Napolitano makes fun of the Times Square bomber, calling his efforts "amateurish".

Silly little terrorist...

Remember the "Panty Bomber"? FAIL!

The Shoe Bomber? FAIL!

The guys who wanted to hit the military base in New Jersey? FAIL!

You start to wonder how these guys ever managed 9/11.

Hmmm. could it be...George W. Bush?

I mean, before W - crack terrorists who fly planes into buildings. After W - slapstick terrorists who can't seem to get anything right.

Just a thought...
Sent from my HTC Tilt 2

Core Values

2010-04-30T10:23:00.000-04:00

Barack Obama says the new Arizona immigration law allows police to demand proof of citizenship and threatens the "core values that we all care about".

He doesn't specify what does values are, but I'm guessing he's not talking about the preservation of our national sovereignty, secure borders, or the sanctity of American citizenship.

http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_14989399

The Nerve of Some People

2010-04-27T15:12:00.001-04:00

So, the President of a country with the strictest immigration laws in the hemisphere - a country that has delighted in making their impoverished, unemployed citizens our problem - is upset that Arizona passed an immigration law.

Amazing.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100426/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_mexico_us_immigration

Question of the Day

2010-04-26T10:59:00.002-04:00

Why is it wrong for the U.S. to be the only industrialized nation not to have universal healthcare, but it's not wrong for the U.S. to be the only industrialized nation without adequate control of it's borders?

Surprise! Healthcare Costs Going Up!

2010-04-23T16:36:00.001-04:00

At what point will those last remaining Obama supporters finally go "wait...what?"

www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/22/health-care-law-increase-costs-experts-conclude-new-report/

Sent from my HTC Tilt 2

2010-04-22T14:51:00.001-04:00

Mexican Govt. opposes AZ immigration law

It must be a good thing:

finance.yahoo.com/news/Mexican-govt-slams-Arizona-apf-3656534841.html?x=0&.v=1

2010-04-21T14:06:00.002-04:00

Scott Baio Brings Teh Twitter Crazy.

jezebel.com/5520775/scott-baios-online-meltdown-a-complete-timeline?skyline=true&s=i

Just A Random Thought...

2010-04-21T13:35:00.002-04:00

If the Tea Partiers are so rascist, why do so many Lefties need to infiltrate Tea Party gatherings to deliberately do things to make them look "rascist"?

The Myth of Obama

2010-01-20T01:07:00.007-05:00

An excellent article at Commentary which describes, in as plain an english as I've yet found, exactly why Barack Obama is not - and never was - even 1/10 the giant his supporters insisted he was. Obama was supposed to be the leader of a new age of Democrat rule, as well as the transformer of a tarnished, broken America into something more perfect, more glorious than anything we could have imagined.

Alas, it was all a dream that ended far sooner than anyone could have imagined:

2010 is shaping up to be a perfectly awful year for Democrats. It’s a safe bet that in response they and their allies will lash out in rage, angry at the perceived injustice of it all, furious at the fate that has befallen them. They will blame Obama’s predecessor, Republicans in Congress, the conservative movement, angry white males, Fox News, Sarah Palin’s tweets, and the wrong alignment of the stars. It won’t work.

Having created a myth, they must now live with its unmasking.

The Massachusetts Miracle

2010-01-19T22:31:00.004-05:00

Ladies and gentleman, the next Senator from Massachusetts.

An amazing night, an amazing win. For the first time since last year's election, I finally feel a sense of hope. Hope that we will finally start to turn away from the reckless and ruinous path that this country has been on since January 2009.

Tonight was a big step. I trust it will be in the right direction.

Barack Obama: Most Attentive President EVER!

2009-09-20T19:28:00.002-04:00

From The Chosen One's interview with George Stephanopoulos:

STEPHANOPOULOS: How about the funding for ACORN?
OBAMA: You know, if -- frankly, it's not really something I've followed closely. I
didn't even know that ACORN was getting a whole lot of federal money.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Both the Senate and the House have voted to cut it off.
OBAMA: You know, what I know is, is that what I saw on that
video was certainly inappropriate and deserves to be investigated.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So you're not committing to -- to cut off
the federal funding?
OBAMA: George, this is not the biggest issue facing the country. It's not something I'm paying a lot of attention to.

So, let me see if I have this straight. The smartest, most capable President ever elected has a long-standing association with ACORN, but wasn't aware they were receiving any federal funds?

He was aware of the videos showing "inappropriate" conduct at ACORN offices, and felt that conduct deserved investigation, but wasn't aware that Congress had voted to cut ACORN's funding?

So, since this isn't "the biggest issue facing the country", he's just going to vote "present" yet again?

You're telling me that Obama can take the time to form an opinion on Kanye West's treatment of Taylor Swift at the VMAs, but ACORN is just not worth the effort? Really? Really?

America has never been so fortunate...

Getting Healthier Under ObamaCare

2009-09-20T16:38:00.004-04:00

While everyone's talking about healthcare reform - the public option, mandates, medicare cuts, co-ops - no one seems to spotlight Obama's constant refrain of let's make people healthier. So, other than taxing sodas and juice drinks, has anyone considered exactly what Obama will do to ensure a healthier America?

We at The Glass Half Spilled believe the answer lies in this stunning dramatization of life in the future under ObamaCare:

We can hardly wait.

Movie Posters We'd Like To See

2009-05-18T00:47:00.003-04:00

Mexican Legislators Complain About Immigration Laws

2008-01-16T16:10:00.001-05:00

...at a press conference in freaking Arizona:

A delegation of nine state legislators from Sonora was in Tucson on Tuesday to
say Arizona's new employer sanctions law will have a devastating effect on the
Mexican state.

I am so blown away by this I can scarcely form the fucking words. Although I find the illegal aliens' sense of entitlement here in the U.S. galling as hell, for members of the Mexican government to openly display the same mindset is just appalling.

Here's my favorite quote:

"Mexico is not prepared for this, for the tremendous problems" it will face as more and more Mexicans working in Arizona and sending money to their families return to hometowns in Sonora without jobs, [Representative Leticia Amparano Gomez] said.

Boo hoo, Ms. Gomez.

Boo hoo.

A Small Observation

2007-06-30T17:54:00.000-04:00

Back in March of this year, actress Vivica A. Fox was arrested for DUI:

It happened last night on the 101 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley at 10:57 PM. We're told Fox passed a marked black and white while going approximately 80 mph. Sources say the officers went after the 2007 Cadillac Escalade she was driving.

The officers administered a field sobriety test -- which Fox was unable to perform.

Oh, those wacky celebs. Always causing a ruckus. Well, surely there's nothing more to see here.

Oops...maybe there is. Fast forward to late June, 2007:

The officer says in the report, after she was stopped, "Fox began to walk away, yelling at my partner, 'Brother help a sister -- are you going to let this racist white cop do this ... well are you?'"

In the section of the report in which the officers are asked to describe the demeanor of the person they're arresting, the officer wrote "demeaning." We're told things got volatile enough that a patrol sergeant was called to the scene.

Now here's the interesting thing - Ms. Fox was pulled over back in March, and yet it's practically July before we're hearing about her little attitude problem.

Contrast that with another celebrity DUI arrest:

Mel Gibson was charged with misdemeanor drunken driving Wednesday, five days after he was stopped on Malibu’s Pacific Coast Highway for speeding and made anti-Semitic comments that have stained his public image.

Now I'm not defending Mel Gibson, but I do wonder why his admittedly uncouth statements were reported everywhere almost immediately while Ms. Fox's rants were kept quiet for months. What's more, every sylable which Mel uttered that night was dutifully reported, while most of what Vivica had to say was simply described as "demeaning".

I suppose it's possible that Mel Gibson, as a bigger star with a much higher profile, could be considered more newsworthy than Vivica A. Fox. That would be why his outbursts have a much more immediate impact that hers.

Of course, it could also be that, as a white male conservative Catholic, Mel Gibson's behavior is a much more delicious contradiction of his wholesome public image and is therefore more deserving of attention.

Is it possible that Ms. Fox's behavior, while disappointing and sad, is perhaps not as surprising? I mean, of course pulling someone over for driving 80 miles per hour and weaving all over the road while drunk is a "rascist" act. After all, what's a little drunk driving and potential for loss of life compared to true equality and social justice?

A picture's worth a thousand words

Here's Mel Gibson's mugshot, which boozily stared out at America from countless websites, newspapers and T.V. screens:

Vivica's mugshot hasn't made it into the public eye yet (not yet?), so I guess we'll have to make due with something else:

Yes, I think that will do.

The Amnesty Bill Lives On

2007-06-15T01:49:00.000-04:00

Here we go again.

Key senators tentatively agreed on a plan to revive a stalled immigration bill on Thursday, aided by President Bush's support for a quick $4.4 billion aimed at "securing our borders and enforcing our laws at the work site."

Most opponents of the bill view this latest move as a last ditch attempt to prove their enforcement chops. But Senator Jim DeMint points out the elephant in the room (and it sure ain't a Republican!):

"I appreciate the effort to fund border security, but there's simply no reason why we should be forced to tie amnesty to it. If the administration was serious about fulfilling the border security promises, then this funding should have been supported all along, not offered at the last minute to attract votes to a bad bill."

It's hard to argue with that. Besides, it seems we've been down this road before.

Angelina Jolie, Hypocrite

2007-06-15T01:05:00.000-04:00

While at the premiere of her new movie "A Mighty Heart", Saint Angelina saw fit to censor interviews and even banned Fox News from the red carpet.

Reporters were asked to sign contracts which laid out specific rules for all interviews. Several of the reporters refused to sign the contract, causing Jolie to cancel all interviews.

Jolie told Paramount Pictures publicists to ban FOX News Channel and all FOX News affiliates from covering the "Mighty Heart" premiere on the red carpet. It was only with the intervention of mortified Paramount staff that an FNC camera crew was allowed to be present.
Apparently, no one told Jolie of the highly positive review FOX News had given "A Mighty Heart" from Cannes.

Ironically, the premiere benefitted Reporters Without Borders, an international organization which champions freedom of the press.

Democrats Seek To Ease AMT Hit For Millions

2007-06-08T16:54:00.000-04:00

You'll never guess how they plan on doing that.

House Democrats looking to spare millions of middle-class families from the expensive bite of the alternative minimum tax are considering adding a surcharge of 4 percent or more to the tax bills of the nation's wealthiest households.

For those of you who don't know, the Alternative Medical Tax, created in 1969, was designed to ensure that a small number of super-wealthy citizens weren't able to deduct and loophole their way out of paying any taxes. Unfortunately, Congress neglected to index the AMT for inflation. So, as incomes have increased over the years, more and more "non-wealthy" people are falling under the AMT's reach. Back in 1969, the AMT was designed to nab 155 filers. But today

the tax is projected to strike more than 23 million households next spring, many of them earning as little as $50,000 a year.

The trick here is to provide relief for those who shouldn't be caught up in the AMT, while at the same time not denying the Government too much revenue. Under the proposal discussed in the article, a 4.3% surcharge would be imposed on incomes over $500,000 per year. This would allow the Government to eliminate the AMT for those earning $250,000 or less. Representative Richard Neal (D-MA), chariman of the House subcommittee with responsibility over the AMT, claims this proposal has broad support with key Democrats. However,

Some Democrats say Neal's plan stretches the definition of the middle class too far, providing AMT relief to too many wealthy households. They argue that the cutoff for families to be spared from the AMT should be lower, at $200,000, $150,000 or even $75,000.

So, some Democrats define "wealthy" as $75,000? No wonder they're always shrieking aboout the shrinking middle class! Not to brag, but I myself make somewhere north of $75,000 per year, and believe me, I would not call myself "wealthy".

See, this is what gets me about the Left's take on wealth. They're so determined to demonize everyone who manages to live comfortably, with cries of "paying their fair share" and redistributions of wealth. Why don't they just get it over with, tax the wealthy at 80%, and give the proceeds directly to the vaunted underclass. At least that way, we'll only need to provide public assistance to the top 10% of the population (since they'll no longer be able to afford a living) instead of the current 30% or 35%.

Paris Goes Back To Jail

2007-06-08T13:10:00.000-04:00

Judge Michael Sauer ordered Hilton back to jail to serve the rest of her 45 day sentence.

Screaming and crying, Paris Hilton was escorted from a courtroom and sent back to jail Friday after a judge ruled that she must serve out her entire 45-day sentence behind bars rather than in her Hollywood Hills home.

Although there had been some rumblings about holding Sheriff Lee Baca in contempt of court for releasing Hilton early, Judge Sauer took no action on that issue.

Hilton's attorneys also asked the judge to hear testimony about her medical condition; Sauer also took no action on this request.

The judge interrupted several times to say that he had received a call last Wednesday from an undersheriff informing him that Hilton had a medical condition and that he would submit papers to the judge to consider. He said the papers never arrived.

Every few minutes, the judge would interrupt proceedings, state the time on the clock, and note that the papers still had not arrived.

Hilton's family are currently preparing an appeal to the decision, which should be filed either today or Monday.

For now, though, Paris Hilton is now back in her cell.

Not So Fast, Paris Hilton!

2007-06-08T00:51:00.000-04:00

I know I said I was through posting about Paris, but this is huge! If she didn't have a breakdown before, our girl probably will now!

Paris may be headed back to jail after only being out less than a day!

Hours after Paris Hilton was sent home under house arrest Thursday, the judge who put her in jail ordered her into court to determine whether she should be put back behind bars. Hilton must report to court at 9 a.m. Friday, Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini told The Associated Press.

So, I guess outrage wasn't limited only to the unwashed masses who could never score similar leniency in a million years. I am, however, honestly surprised that someone is doing something about it.

Kathy Hilton must be apoplectic over this latest abuse of taxpayer funds.

If that wasn't enough, the city attorney is also talking about having Sheriff Lee Baca, the one who authorized Paris' release, held in contempt.

UPDATE: TMZ.com is reporting that L.A. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo has filed a motion requesting that Paris Hilton be returned to jail to serve her full sentence. In addition,

City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo is also asking Judge Michael Sauer to hold a hearing, demanding that the Sheriff's Department show why it should not be held in contempt of court for violating Judge Sauer's May 4, 2007 order, which expressly stated "no electronic monitoring."

One question - by "full sentence" is Delgadillo refering to the 23 days or to the full 45 days she was originally sentenced to? Since he's appealing to the judge that sentenced Paris and has jurisdiction over her case, I'm guessing it's the 23 days.

The Unintended Consequences Of Diversity

2007-06-08T00:31:00.000-04:00

After years of insisting that the key to a better world is diversity, the City of Atlanta is learning that a more diverse population may lead to some unintended consequences:

There are fears in Atlanta's black community that its declining presence in the population could shrink its political influence and endanger social policies that support diversity, Mayor Shirley Franklin said Friday.

It seems that all of those wonderful "social policies that support diversity" have led to an increase in the Hispanic and Asian populations. Unfortunately, the city also saw a decline in the black population as more and more of these residents are moving to the suburbs to take advantage of better real estate values and (as Mayor Franklin calls them) "so-called better schools". Overall, the Black population in Atlanta has declined from 70% to 60% during the '70s and '80s.

So, the lesson for today is diversity is desirable only until one's political influence is threatened.

How delightfully progressive...

Absolutely The Last Paris Hilton Post!

2007-06-07T17:28:00.000-04:00

Barring any more monumental outrages on her part.

I just saw this posted on Perez Hilton's website. Face it America, Paris is laughing at you...

"I want to thank the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and staff of the Century Regional Detention Center for treating me fairly and professionally. I am going to serve the remaining 40 days of my sentence. I have learned a great deal from this ordeal and hope that others have learned from my mistakes."

To quote one commenter on Perez's site: "What a pile of shit!"

According to Michael Ventre at MSNBC, Paris' early release sets a horrible precedent. Gee, ya think?

Ok, so TMZ.com is ground central for all things Paris. Among other things:

L.A. City Attorney "extremely troubled" by Paris' early release:

My office was not advised of this action. We learned of it this morning through news reports, just like everyone else. Had we been provided with the proper notification, we would have opposed the decision on legal grounds.

Hey, better late than never, right?

L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe uses the words "Paris" and "load of crap" in the same sentence.

And finally, Paris' "medical condition" is revealed to be mental, not physical:

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Paris Hilton's medical condition was purely psychological and that she was in peril of having a nervous breakdown, and that's why she was released early this morning.

So the bad news is, it was all in Paris' head. The good news, I guess, is at least she's got something floating around in there.

Famous Last Words

2007-06-07T13:41:00.000-04:00

"...I feel like the media portrays me in a way that I'm not and that's why I wanted to go to county, to show that I can do it and I'm going to be treated like everyone else. I'm going to do the time, I'm going to do it the right way."

Paris Hilton
Formerly Inmate #9818783

Yeah, that worked out real well!

Paris Hilton Jail Watch - Day 3

2007-06-07T10:33:00.000-04:00

Well, that didn't take long.

After serving only three days behind bars, Paris Hilton was released from jail early Thursday, partly due to "medical" reasons — but she has been fitted with an ankle bracelet and must remain confined to her home for 40 days, according to sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore.

The spokesman wouldn't say what the medical reasons were, citing privacy issues. However,

there have been reports of Paris crying after visits by her therapist and her refusal to eat most of the prison food.

I suppose a potential emotional breakdown might be considered a reason to get out of jail early...if, you know, you throw that whole "jail-as-punishment" thing out the window. But refusing to eat? This is California - I thought starvation was "in" with all the Hollywood It Girls.

So, as a result of her undisclosed medical issues, Paris' "punishment" will now be a whopping 40 days of house confinement. Ah, but what house? Perhaps some crack house on the southside? Nope, her multi-million dollar Beverly Hills mansion. She will have to wear an ankle bracelet for the duration of the confinement, but don't worry - the bracelet will be mink-lined to prevent chafing, and Paris' people are already working on releasing a faux monitoring device as part of her new "Prison Chic" fashion line. It's Hot!

Oh yeah, and those three days she spent in jail? Well, seems like she'll be credited for five days served. Nice.

Hell, is there really any point in being outraged? We all knew there was never going to be any justice in this case. Frankly, I don't know why they even bothered to try Paris, or for that matter charge her in the first place. The whole thing has been a waste of time. All we have done is reinforce in Paris' mind that she literally can get away with anything. Unfortunately, the bar of accountability has been raised so high for her that, in order to see real jail time, she'll probably have to kill someone.

In broad daylight.

On national television.

I was watching Bill O'Reilly the other night. Michelle Malkin was on, and she said that, while Paris deserved to be punished, she didn't deserve the extreme negativity people were pouring on her. Michelle chalked it up to class envy. Now, while I dearly love our Mz. Malkin, I have to disagree with her on that point, at least in my case. I have no problem with the fact Paris is rich. I also have no problem with the fact that she was born into a life of wealth, privilege and opportunity. My problem is that Paris has been able to improve her already favorable situation despite the fact she has absolutely no appreciable talents whatsoever. She can't sing. She can't act. She's uneducated. She's not that attractive. She's condescending and dismissive. And yet, she enjoys a tremendous amount of fame and notoriety because people can't seem to get enough of her. So that's when it hits me. Maybe it's not Paris I hate; maybe it's the society that props her up that's deserving of my scorn.

Has our society become so diminished and jaded the only things that amuse us anymore are these human trainwrecks? How much of what is popular today achieved that popularity because we "love to hate" things? Instead of championing excellence and achievement, we make heroes out of those who suck the most.

When did that get fun?

Ryan Reynolds Blogging At HuffPo

2007-06-06T16:16:00.001-04:00

I saw this on Perez Hilton's site earlier today. Ryan Reynolds has started blogging at the Huffington Post.

I'm not sure how I feel about that. On the one hand, I like Reynolds as an actor and have enjoyed most of his movies. However, in his first post, he shows that HuffPo is his kind of place. How? By perpetrating one of my biggest pet peeves about the Left - that whole "wringing of hands, gnashing of teeth, oh how can we enjoy one iota of our lives while there are others who have nothing" thing they always do.

In his post, Reynolds compares a celebrated contestant in an annual July 4th eating contest with a young, starving child in Sudan:

Young Mustafat, who maintains a strict diet of inner turmoil and bleached hope, looks forward to watching the ESPN-televised event to better understand what gigantically wasteful, fucking super-retards we all are.

Okay, so food eating contests are pretty silly and more than a little disgusting, but come on - "gigantically wasteful, fucking super-retards"? That's a bit harsh, isn't it? I mean, let's be honest. You'd probably have the same attitude if it was some guy filling up at a McDonalds. Surely you would shed bitter tears for little Mustafat, who will never know the joys of super-sizing or having it his way. In closing, Reynolds says:

While it may be impossible to understand the mental temerity and physical excellence it takes to master these dazzling sports, we can expect great things in the future from exciting athletes like Don Lerman and Mustafat Osmana. And although oceans and even the most basic human rights may separate these two great peoples, we are ALL bound together by the vibrant spirit of competition and grotesque displays of boundless, unapologetic shitheadery.

Okay, I'll admit, it's tough to argue against feeling sympathy for millions of people who are starving. It's also natural and right that those who can (and are so inclined) should do what they can to help. Notice I said help. Not "solve the problems for them" (or even better, despite them). Not "make it our personal responsibility". And certainly not going through life feeling guilty or apologizing for living in a country where we can afford to indulge in such "shitheadery" as an eating contest.

In the end, that's one of the things which really causes the Left to lose me - this constant refrain of "if one does without we must all do without".

Besides, as an successful actor, I'm sure Reynolds knows a lot more about boundless, unapologetic and indulgent activities than I ever will.

Although I wouldn't necessarily call dating Scarlett Johansson "shitheadery".

Well Said, Senator Sessions!

2007-06-06T12:00:00.000-04:00

Maybe I should move to Alabama?

"No one has a right to come to America. We get to decide...we allow on our terms and conditions... our immigration system is set up to serve the national interest...No one has a constitutional legal right to demand entry into America. It amazes me the lack of comprehension shown...We set the standards. Se have the most generous set of laws in the world. Se're not going to end immigration or act irrationally. To set reasonable standards, as [Senator] Cornyn is attempting to do, only makes common sense."

From Michelle Malkin, who's live blogging the debate in the Senate on S. 1348.

June 6, 1944

2007-06-06T11:45:00.000-04:00

Here, in this place where the West held together, let us make a vow to our dead. Let us show them by our actions that we understand what they died for. Let our actions say to them the words for which Matthew Ridgway listened: "I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.''

Strengthened by their courage, heartened by their value [valor], and borne by their memory, let us continue to stand for the ideals for which they lived and died.

"The Boys of Pointe du Hoc"

President Ronald Reagan

June 6, 1984

Harry Reid: Illegals Are Americans

2007-06-06T10:40:00.000-04:00

I just saw this on Michelle Malkin's site. She hits the nail on the head with her opening sentence, "The concept of American citiznship is dead."

Sen. Harry Reid drove the final nail in the coffin with his floor statement yesterday, in which he referred to the 12 million illegal aliens currently in the U.S. as "12 million undocumented Americans." I've heard a lot of stupid euphemisms for illegal aliens, but that one takes the cake.

Michelle provides links to a video clip and a transcript on the Senate Democrats' website.

It would really be nice if this were a misspeak on Reid's part. Unfortunately, I don't think it is. I truly believe he and all those who support this travesty of an amnesty bill see those 12 million illegals as "unofficial" Americans, and the amnesty is just the thing to make things official.

I mean, hey they live here, right? They want to be here, they want to stay here. What more do you want?

You unbelievable bastards.

When I was younger mean, ignorant people used to tease me. They called me a foreigner and would tell me to "go back home". It was hurtful, but I always reminded myself that, no matter what they said, this was my home. I was an American citizen; more than that, I was an American. Although my family had moved here (legally), I had been born here. My heart had neither love for or allegiance to any other country save this one. I never questioned the idea that, as an American, I was part of something grander, bigger, and more special than anything else on this Earth.

Until now.

Citizenship is now a bargaining chip, to be cashed in for the sake of votes. Being an "American" will soon mean nothing more that simply being in the country for a specified period of time. And instead of getting better, things will only get worse.

I hate to imagine what things will be like then.

Obama Alludes To "Quiet Riot" During A Speech

2007-06-06T00:59:00.000-04:00

Afterwards, he closes with a rousing rendition of "Cum On Feel The Noize".

Oh, sorry. My mistake.

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Tuesday that the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse a "quiet riot" among blacks that threatens to erupt just as riots in Los Angeles did 15 years ago.

The first-term Illinois senator said that with black people from New Orleans and the Gulf Coast still displaced 20 months after Hurricane Katrina, frustration and resentments are building explosively as they did before the 1992 riots.

Once again, Obama thrills a crowd with platitudes instead of real substance. Is he really saying that, unless he's elected, there will be riots in the streets? How very French of you, Senator. If that's the case, then I'd really love to know what Obama has in mind to prevent this upheaval.

According to him, an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and despair in the black community is threatening to bring things to a boil (I'm assuming the black community. Obama never comes out and says that, but the suggestion is pretty clear).

And now, it's time for another Barack Obama Allegory of Sweetness and Light:

Obama noted that during the [Los Angeles] riots, a bullet pierced the abdomen of a pregnant woman and lodged in the elbow of her fetus. The baby was delivered by caesarian section, the bullet was removed and the child, Jessica Glennis Evers-Jones, has only a small scar on her arm to show for it.

Using the incident as a metaphor, Obama said society's problems are worsening because "in too many places across the country, we have not even bothered to take the bullet out."

For a minute, I thought Obama was going to say that he was the child, and that's why he has such an understanding of the situation. Then I remembered we've already heard his miraculous birth story.

So, what's Obama's solution for diffusing this impending eruption?

Repeatedly, with evangelical zeal, he raised issues that roused the crowd: increasing the minimum wage and teacher pay, funding for public schools and college financial aid for the poor, ending predatory lending and expediting the reconstruction of New Orleans and the Mississippi coast.

God, that's their solution for everything.

20 Loopholes In The Senate Immigration Bill

2007-06-05T21:54:00.000-04:00

I saw this earlier on Michelle Malkin's site. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) has posted 20 loopholes in the Amnesty Bill currently being debated in the Senate. All I can say is, what the hell are these people thinking?

Amnesty benefits do not wait for the “enforcement trigger.” After filing an application and waiting 24 hours, illegal aliens will receive full “probationary benefits,” complete with the ability to legally live and work in the U.S., travel outside of the U.S. and return, and their own social security card. Astonishingly, if the trigger is never met and amnesty applications are therefore never “approved,” the probationary benefits granted to the illegal alien population never expire, and the new social security cards issued to the illegal alien population are not revoked.

Legal status must be granted to illegal aliens 24 hours after they file an application, even if the aliens have not yet “passed all appropriate background checks.”

Instead of ensuring that members of violent gangs such as MS 13 are deported after coming out of the shadows to apply for amnesty, the bill will allow violent gang members to get amnesty as long as they “renounce” their gang membership on their application.

Read the entire list. Unbelievable!

NY Post Slams NY Times For Downplaying JFK Plot

2007-06-05T11:35:00.000-04:00

As I've mentioned before here and here, there are those who have a strong desire to downplay the fact (yes, fact) that certain people want to kill as many of us as they can. Which is why I was glad to read about this in the New York Post:

Terror plot? What terror plot?

That's what The New York Times seems to be asking, even as most news outlets are giving front-page coverage to the recently foiled scheme to blow up JFK Airport's fuel pipeline.

The article outlines how the Times piece completely downplayed the story, how they placed it on Page 37 when every other major newspaper had it on Page 1, as well as highlighting what stories the NYT did think were Page 1 worthy (Brick laying in India, anyone?). The Post calls it an agenda, and I agree. They also point out something that I've been stressing since the weekend:

The point is, an unknown number of ruthless actors around the world - some in
our backyard - continue to emerge and threaten the nation. No doubt the 9/11
plot also once seemed like something no one could pull off.

Whether these plots succeed or not, the potential, the threat of danger, is still there. It simply makes sense to be vigilant, to take these stories seriously. Eventually, one of these plots will succeed.

Paris Hilton Jail Watch - Day 2

2007-06-05T10:27:00.000-04:00

Good news! Paris has survived her first night in jail!

According to her attorney, she's doing well after spending the first night in her cell:

"She's using this time to reflect on her life, to see what she can do to make the world better and hopefully, in my opinion, to change the attitudes that exist about her among many people," attorney Richard A. Hutton told reporters after visiting Hilton.

My goodness, the spin is so strong I'm getting dizzy!

The only thing Paris is reflecting on is how she can turn this indignity into more money and notoriety for herself. As for making the world better, there are many ways she could do that; the most common ones no doubt involve relocating to extremely isolated locations for the remainder of her life. It's okay, though - Paris is cool with that. I mean, does anyone truly think Paris Hilton gives a shit about what people's attitudes of her are? Please. She has only one mission in life - to perpetuate a carefully crafted image of herself that flies in the face of what most people know to be the truth. Case in point:

"If she was an ordinary citizen she would have been placed in the general population. ... She'd be living in a dorm with 30, 40, 50 other women and the time would pass pretty quick," Hutton said. "She is really being punished because of her celebrity."

You've got to hand it to Hutton; it takes a special man to be able to pull these statements off with a straight face.

Experts Doubt JFK Plot's Potential For Disaster

2007-06-04T21:31:00.000-04:00

Apparently, we were all stupid to give it any thought at all.

Once again, nothing to see here.

An alleged plot to blow up fuel tanks and pipelines at New York's JFK airport had little chance of success, according to safety experts, who have questioned whether the plot ever posed a real threat.

According to the experts, the most the plotter could have hoped for was a fire and maybe a contained explosion; certainly not the total destruction of the airport and surrounding areas. The plotters simply didn't have the explosives, the financing or the expertise to pull off anything close to what they had envisioned.

Apparently, that means the story shouldn't have been reported to the extent that it was (wall-to-wall all day coverage).

Neal Sonnett, a former federal prosecutor, told the New York Times there was also a danger in overstating how serious or sophisticated a plot really was.

"There unfortunately has been a tendency to shout too loudly about such cases," he said. "To the extent that you over-hype a case, you create fear and paranoia," he said.

The New York Times on Sunday pointedly avoided giving much coverage to the alleged plot, devoting only a brief on its front page continued on the local section, despite the story breaking in the early afternoon on Saturday.

So, what's the solution? Bury the story on page 37 like the Times did, pooh poohing the whole thing as another exercise in fear-mongering? Were the plotters going to be successful in causing the carnage they desired? Probably not. Should we report that fact honestly? Sure, why not? But, at the same time, let's not overlook the other aspect of the story, which is that certain people are actively trying to think of new and exciting ways to kill a lot of Americans! Just because they didn't succeed doesn't mean they didn't try. More than likely, they will try again. If we're lucky, all we'll ever get are these Keystone Cop jihadists and nothing will ever come to pass. But eventually, one of them is going to come up with a plan that will work. Maybe there will come a time when these homegrown terrorists opt for small, totally doable acts of terrorism rather than shooting for some huge disaster with a high body count.

Reporting on these failed attempts may create fear and/or paranoia in some, but it may also create a heightened state of vigilence, which is certainly a good thing.

All Grown Up!

2007-06-04T16:40:00.000-04:00

The 2007 MTV Movie Awards were held over the weekend. I was perusing some of the red carpet shots when I cam across something that made my jaw drop.

All I want to know is, when did this:

start looking like this:

Damn! Life is turning out pretty swell for Amanda Bynes.

Yeah, yeah, whatever! She's 21, so it's okay.

Lawyer Too Sleepy To Defend His Client

2007-06-04T12:45:00.000-04:00

Charles Curbo is asking for a new trial due to the fact that his sleepiness prevented him from properly representing his client:

"The court constantly rushed defense counsel, who the court knew had little sleep on account of the hours that the court was keeping for no good reason," Curbo wrote.

Actually, the reason the court was keeping such long hours was to accomodate Tony Wolfe's need for dialysis treatments, which would cause the trial to start late on those days.

The best part? Tony Wolfe is Charles Curbo's client.

Mi Casa Es Su Casa

2007-06-04T09:40:00.000-04:00

A great post by James Lewis at The American Thinker perfectly captures the flaw in the administration's thinking on the Amnesty Bill:

So President Bush and Karl Rove have opted for a desperate gamble. They are betting that immigrants can be assimilated, and that the GOP will get its share of their votes. But with the attitude of "Su casa es mi casa," impoverished people from Mexico and elsewhere, indoctrinated in an entitlement mentality, are not likely to become self-sustaining American citizens in large numbers. Why should they, when the welfare state beckons with goodies as long as they vote Democrat?

Read the whole thing - it's spot on.

Paris Hilton Jail Watch - Day 1

2007-06-04T08:43:00.001-04:00

Paris Hilton is officially behind bars. She reported to the Century Regional Detention Center is Lynwood, CA around 10:30 p.m.

Hilton surrendered to sheriff's deputies after making a surprise visit to the MTV Movie Awards in the afternoon.

"I am trying to be strong right now," she told reporters on the red carpet. "I'm ready to face my sentence. Even though this is a really hard time, I have my family, my friends and my fans to support me, and that's really helpful."

Courage, Paris. Courage! But wait, it gets better.

With Paris' "people" on image red alert, we get what has to be the quote of the century from Hilton (and she's said a lot of stupid things over the years):

"I did have a choice to go to a pay jail," Hilton said Sunday, without giving details. "But I declined because I feel like the media portrays me in a way that I'm not and that's why I wanted to go to county, to show that I can do it and I'm going to be treated like everyone else. I'm going to do the time, I'm going to do it the right way."

You know, Paris should really think about going into politics; she's positively "Hillaryesque" in her belief that people will believe anything that comes spewing out of her mouth. How do the words "I'm going to be treated like everyone else" come out of Paris Hilton's mouth without her tongue bursting into flame? We already know the judge in her case ruled out the option of a pay jail (Paris must assume we pay as little attention to the details as she does). As for doing the time and doing it the right way - well, I don't know too many people who get half their sentence dropped for "good behavior" before they've had an opportunity to demonstrate any good behavior.

Being housed in a special needs wing and getting the celebrity treatment makes a three-week stint in county jail about as grueling as a camping trip. If incarceration was like that for everybody, it's value as a deterrent would be about 0%.

As for the media portraying Paris as some spoiled, empty-headed, amoral snob with no sense of right or wrong? Well, there's a difference between the media portraying Paris' behavior and the media reporting Paris' behavior. Since I'm sure that subtle distinction would be lost on her, allow me to put it another way: Paris, you are a spoiled, empty-headed, amoral snob with no sense of right or wrong. And no amount of time in "celebrity jail camp" will convince me otherwise.

Considering that Paris will be trying mightily to cash in on this and make it pay off for her, I hope the rest of America stays just as resolute.

Divisive

2007-06-03T22:26:00.000-04:00

So, there was another Democratic debate tonight. No big surprises, mainly just more handwringing over Iraq. There was one particular question which interested me:

To a question on whether English should be the official language in the United States, only former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel raised his hand in the affirmative.

But Obama protested the question itself, calling it “the kind of question that was designed precisely to divide us.” He said such questions “do a disservice to the American people.”

Sure, because it's always so divisive to mention any attempt to promote even a semblance of national identity. For Obama, the question isn't whether immigrants will learn English - he takes it on faith that they will. For him, the question is about coming up with a "legal, sensible immigration policy".

For someone who's supposed to be so smart, Obama's clueless when it comes to this issue. First of all, we've made it too easy in this country to get by without a strong grasp of English. Press "1" for English, anyone?. Believe me, there's a difference between being able to get by in an English environment and knowing the language well enough to get ahead. Without strong incentives to gain real competence with the language, future immigrants will never be able to prosper in a society as competitive as ours. Unless, of course, the most we ever want for these people is to cut our lawns and paint our houses. If anything, a language competency requirement should be alogical part of a "sensible immigration policy".

I hate to say it, but at least Hillary had a reasonable argument against English as our official language - it would preclude accomodating non-English speakers by mandating translators in hospitals and government offices and printing voting ballots in multiple languages.

Yeah, I said it was reasonable, I didn't say I agreed with it. In order to vote, one has to be a citizen (at least for now). So, how does someone become a U.S. citizen without learning enough English to read a ballot? How the hell do they even understand the issues they're voting on if they don't speak the language?

Hell yeah, that's exactly the kind of "informed" electorate I want helping to shape the course of this country.

The Paris Hilton Jail Watch

2007-06-02T21:40:00.000-04:00

The countdown has begun. Famous layabout Paris Hilton reports to jail next Tuesday to begin serving her 23 day sentence.

They have her cell ready and selected a cellmate. All that's left to do is see if she'll become even more popular after this. If she does, America, you're dead to me!

Thousands Rally In Support Of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela

2007-06-02T16:42:00.001-04:00

Only after they were paid and/or forced to attend by the government.

I guess Hugo was bummed about all of his citizens protesting his decision to shut down a popular independent TV station. See, that's the good thing about being ruled by a dictator - you've just got to love him...or else! From Fox News' Adam Housley, who's in Caracas covering the protests:

I see all sorts of government vans and trucks, with paintings on the side with sayings like "Socialism or Die." There are pictures of Chavez and Che everywhere. Most people are wearing red shirts with the logo of their government employer.

There are busses everywhere and some have been taken to a place across the city, as if to hide the fact that most people here were bussed and given a free shirt, hat and lunch. I am also told by several here that they were paid 50,000 bolívar's to attend. That's roughly 25 dollars plus a free lunch, not a bad day for many that were brought here free from the countryside.

EXTRA: Hot Air has video of Adam Housley calling former Black Panther and current NY City Councilman Charles Barron a "son of a bitch". As a good little liberal, Barron dismisses Adam's reporting for Fox News as one-sided. He accuses Housley of cherrypicking a single anti-Chavez protestor when there are thousands of pro-Chavez protestors he could interview. Housley angrily defends his reportage, saying they've covered all of the protests, including the pro-Chavez one's (he also claims they were threatened at those) and accuses Barron of not being informed on the issue. He goes on to encourage Barron to watch Fox News and see the whole story for himself. Barron then gives us the quote of the day, "I don't have time to sit at home and watch T.V., I'm an activist."

Whatever.

Shock! DUers Don't Believe The Plot Was Real

2007-06-02T14:54:00.000-04:00

As sure as day follows night, you can always count on the "reality-based" community to refuse to believe...well, reality.

"...after all the administration needs some positive press! I'm sorry but I don't believe most of this stuff anymore. When they have the proof I'll listen."

That's right. It's a publicity stunt.

"I smell more Rethuglikkkan bullshit. There was no plot. These are dupes."

Ah, the name calling, and the absolute certainty that there was no plot. Of course, there's never a plot.

"Four guys with CRIMINAL aspirations were foiled before they could do anything. not really much news there, IMO."

Whatever, dude. Call me when they actually blow something up!

"This plan was more inspirational than operational meaning, they didn't have the resources, skills, manpower, etc. to carry out their acts....But I'm sure the Republican spin bull-shit machine will act like they just prevented WW III."

That's right, the Republicans don't deserve any credit for foiling the plot. But God knows they'll surely deserve the blame if a plot is ever carried out.

The Left's slavish refusal to accept these threats are real never ceases to amaze me. And yet, we should have no problem allowing them to be responsible for the country's security.

I wonder what it must be like to actually be one of those Muslim extremists; to pour your heart and soul into striking at your infidel enemy, only to realize that a sizeable segment of population you wish to destroy thinks you're a figment of some Republican scaremonger's imagination!

Of course, we already know what the Left will say if a plot is ever successfully carried out.

UPDATE: Newsbusters asks "How long before they question the timing?"

Little Green Footballs points out the deafening silence on the Left side of the Blogosphere:

Maybe they’re still trying to settle on the spin. “Question the timing?” or “blame Bush?” Choices, choices...

Not so fast! Daily Kos is on it. Someone posted a diary about the "alleged plot":

Sounds to me like another wanna-be plot, but we'll see.

Once again, nothing to see here. These people simply will not be satisfied until blood is actually spilled. Of course, then it's "Bush's fault". Oh, and make sure you read the comments. otherwise, you won' learn that infiltration by FBI informants = entrapment.

Terror Plot Foiled At JFK Airport

2007-06-02T12:59:00.000-04:00

Scroll down for updates.

Pardon me. Alleged terror plot. This is from Fox News, by the way.

Three people arrested and one still being sought in a plot to explode a fuel line that feeds the airport and runs through residential neighborhoods. It seems that, once again, the plot was foiled while still in the planning stages. It also seems that, if executed, the plan had the potential to kill a lot of people:

The New York suspect was identified as Russell Afreitas, a former JFK employee who allegedly planned to attack the airport's fuel supply because he thought he could do more damage than attacking a passenger terminal. Afreitas is a Muslim U.S. citizen from Guyana.

I'm sure that's just a coincidence. Not worth mentioning, really.

Interesting. Here's CNN's report on the arrest. Note how they handle the ethnicity of the suspects:

An official described the suspects as "al Qaeda wannabes."

One suspect, a U.S. citizen who is a native of Guyana and who once worked at the airport, was described by a source as "a very angry Muslim extremist."

Wannabes. Just a bunch of silly little terror poseurs, really. And of course, the suspect is a very angry Muslim extremist.

Also note how the story handles the question of the danger posed by the plot:

Rep. Peter King, R-New York, said law enforcement had had the plot "under control" for some time.

Another law enforcement official said the plot was never "fully operational."

Hey, I'm glad the authorities were on the ball with this, but let's not forget that there was in fact a plot to, you know, kill a lot of people.

But wait, it get's better. Here's the incident as reported by the venerable AP:

The plot, which never got past the planning stages, did not involve airplanes or passenger terminals, according to the two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the arrests had not yet been announced.

The plot posed no threat to air safety or the public, the FBI said Saturday.

We keep hearing the plot didn't target airplanes or passenger terminals, but we already know from the Fox report that's because Mr. Afreitas felt targeting the fuel line would cause more damage, so that's not all that reassuring. Speaking of Mr. Afreitas, the only things AP tells us about him is that he's Guyanese and a former airport employee. There is, of course, one glaring omission.

Again, we're told the plot posed no threat to the public except that, until the plot was busted, it did. If anything, the AP report lists several recent "home-grown" terrorist plots that have been foiled. With this many plots being hatched, isn't it reasonable to assume at least one will make it past the "planning stages"? And if it does, I'd say the threat posed becomes considerable.

UPDATE: A press conference was scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The suspects are named.

According to sources, the suspects have been identified as: Russell Defreitas, Abdul Nur, Kareem Ibrihim and Abdul Kadir.

Sources said a cargo worker at JFK allegedly began to plot attacking the US last July or August. The cargo worker sought help in carrying out a plan and went to an FBI informant, who gathered information about the plot.

It looks like the authorities were on top of this for about a year, which is great. I'm genuinely happy that law enforcement agencies are doing their jobs as far as keeping us safe. And as far as earlier reports stressing that plot posed no threat to public safety? Well according to U.S. Attorney Roslynn R. Mauskopf it was in fact "one of the most chilling plots imaginable." At the 1:00 p.m. news conference, she said "the devastation that would be caused had this plot succeeded is just unthinkable."

So much for that.

MORE: As always, Hot Air has lots more on this developing story. Possible Al Qaeda connection? Check. Oh look, one of the suspects was an imam. Charming.

Looks like Russell Defreitas was quite the piece of shit:

"Any time you hit Kennedy, it is the most hurtful thing to the United States. To hit John F. Kennedy, wow ... they love John F. Kennedy like he's the man ... if you hit that, this whole country will be mourning. You can kill the man twice," Defreitas said in another conversation, it said.

"Even the twin towers can't touch it," referring to the September 11 attacks in another comment that the law enforcement authorities said was recorded last month. "This can destroy the economy of America for some time."

Yeah, nothing at all to see here.

15 Minutes Over For The Sex Blogger

2007-06-02T12:14:00.000-04:00

Jessica Cutler, aka The Washingtonienne, is broke and filing for bankruptcy. It appears things didn't work out as planned for the person who ignited a million bloggers' fevered dreams of book deals, fame, and mad blogging money.

In court documents filed in the case Thursday, however, Cutler says she can't even pay her American Express bill, legal fees and student loans. She submitted to the judge a copy of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition filed in New York dated Wednesday.

For those of you who missed the fun the first time around, you can read the Washingtonienne blog archive over at Wonkette. Eh, it seemed better in original blog form. You can also keep up with Cutler's ongoing adventures at her new blog. Kind of sad, really. It's a shame that someone who is as obviously bright as she is just isn't that interesting unless she's kissing and telling.

Blast from the Past! Inspired by her heroic exploits, Ace of Spades decides to get in on the fun. Hilarious!

Finally, what would a post about a notorious sex blogger be without a picture of what all the fuss is about:

Meh.

All Hail Fred Thompson

2007-06-02T00:31:00.000-04:00

Just the thing to wash the taste of Betrayer-In-Chief Bush out of my mouth! Fred Thompson formed a Presidential Campaign Committee, bringing himself one step closer to officially entering the race.

The "testing the waters" committee allows Thompson—a former Tennessee senator and actor best known for his film and television roles, including as a prosecutor on NBC's "Law & Order"—to raise money, hire staff and gauge support without officially committing to a White House bid and without having to publicly disclose donations or expenditures.

Frankly, I'm loving this. McCain and Romney just don't excite me, and Giuliani has lost a lot of his appeal with me. I've long thought Thompson would be the ideal "Reaganesque" candidate, which is something the party could use right now. I'll explore his positions on the issues more closely once (if) he officially enters, but I like what I'm hearing so far:

I'm cool with Fred's positions on gun control, immigration, and Iraq (in general). I'm pro-choice, but I agree that Roe v. Wade was bad law. I disagree with his gay marriage position; I'm sorry, but I can't condone denying certain American citizens a basic right like marriage.

I hate to be one of those "single issue" voters, but for me, the deciding factor for any candidate will be his stand on illegal immigration. Like I said, I like what Fred's saying so far:

Unless something major happens (like fred deciding not to run), I think I've found my candidate.

The Backlash Begins

2007-06-01T15:43:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, I announced that, after 6 loooong years, George W. Bush is dead to me. The final straw - Bush's turning on Republicans over their criticism of the Amnesty Bill.

Seems like I'm not alone.

LaShawn Barber say's "It's Official - Bush is an idiot":

And I voted for him. Twice. I voted for Clinton twice, too, but I’m more ashamed of voting for Bush.

Ouch.

Peggy Noonan has a great piece at WSJ Online. She's telling the truth, and the truth sucks:

Leading Democrats often think their base is slightly mad but at least their heart is in the right place. This White House thinks its base is stupid and that its heart is in the wrong place.

Hot Air is encouraging people to express their opposition to the Amnesty bill through some very special "donations":

Enough is enough. You can help stop amnesty in its tracks. Send cero pesos to the RNC and DNC headquarters. Include a note protesting both parties’ pandering. Note that open borders create an unacceptable national security problem. Be civil, but firm. Tell them to pare amnistia ahora–stop amnesty now.

Speaking of donations, it seems the RNC is seeing a drop in small-donor donations.

Gee guys, if that's the case, why not hit up you new "base"? I'm sure they'll do the donating Americans don't want to do!

Immigration Reform: This Time, It's Personal

2007-06-01T11:09:00.000-04:00

At least it is for George Bush, writes Julie Mason in the Houston Chronicle:

"I feel passionate about the issue. It's something I have felt strongly about ever since I was the governor of Texas," he said.

"Texas is a very diverse state, Houston is a very diverse city, and through that diversity, if you're open-minded, you get a great sense of how it invigorates the society," said Bush, a Houston resident in the 1960s and '70s.

Growing up in Texas, Bush said, "you recognize the decency and hard work and humanity of Hispanics. And the truth of the matter is a lot of this immigration debate is driven as a result of Latinos being in our country."

Or to be more specific, an unhappiness about Latinos being in the country. Bush, for the first time, is putting opponents on notice that he's going to call them out on their xenophobia if he needs to. In last year's failed effort at passing immigration reform, he never went that far.

Again with the name calling! George, can I make it any simpler for you? It's not immigration we're opposed to, it's illegal immigration! It's about hating the idea of rewarding lawbreakers with one of the greatest privileges of all - U.S. citizenship, and all that includes.

Speaking as someone who wouldn't even be in this country if not for immigration, I can assure you I am neither xenophobic or anti-immigrant. What I am is American, and I'm sicked at how easy it is for some to just...give that away.

"People shouldn't fear our capacity to uphold our motto, E Pluribus Unum," Bush said.

Screw you, George! You'll never convince me that all these "manys" will somehow assimilate into one cohesive "one".

Immigra-ting on My Nerves

2007-05-31T12:55:00.000-04:00

I never thought I'd ever say this. I never thought it would come to this, but it has.

George W. Bush, you are dead to me.

I voted for you twice. I've supported you in the Iraq War, even after it became apparent you weren't doing what you needed to do to win. I held my tongue during Harriet Miers and Dubai Ports; I turned a blind eye to all of the shitty little missteps your administration for which your administration has become famous.

The immigration bill, however, is the last straw. Your reckless and ill-conceived support for what is nothing less than amnesty cannot be tolerated.

To make matters worse, you would dare to turn on those who disagree with you on this issue, after everything else we've gone through for you?

FYI George, it's not about "racism" or "bigotry" or "xenaphobia" or "fear". It's about having some regard for what makes this country unique, special...the kind of place that millions of people want to come to. It's about doing what we need to do to preserve our inherent "Americaness", and not see that destroyed by a bunch of people who don't give a shit about what this country is, but only for what they can get from it.

It's about protecting our way of life. You know, that way of life you're always going on about whenever the Islamos get twitchy. Some of us still care about that. It'd be nice if you still did.

No more. I'm done with you. I'm sorry to say your administration may result in our party having to wander the wilderness for a while. Hopefully, our exile will not be too long.

Trainwrecks Are Fun!

2007-05-30T15:27:00.000-04:00

First, Lindsay Lohan gets into a wreck and is busted for DUI. Hey, what's that white powdery stuff in your car?

Then, she goes out and gets 'faced for all the world to see.

Now, she's in rehab, again!

Wow, Hollywood sure is glamorous!

A Favor, If you Please

2007-02-14T17:12:00.000-05:00

I know that unpleasant things can happen in bathrooms, due to their designated function in life. Very unpleasant.

However, when it comes to public bathrooms, is it too much to ask that you save the more...explosive bowel movements for the comfort and privacy of your own home?

It's not that I'm a prude, or that I question the simple wisdom of "when you gotta go, you gotta go". It's just that I find it difficult to focus on my relatively mild use of the facilities when it sounds like a rip in the space/time continuum is opening IN YOUR ASS and the very hordes of Hell are spewing forth to lay waste to the Earth (and my olfactory sense).

Seriously Dude, are you shitting blood in there? Cause it sounds like your colon just plopped out!

One more thing. Do you really think that now is the best time answer your cellphone? I know it's ringing and all, but I'm sure they'll leave a message if it's important. I mean, you do seem kind of busy right now.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Who's More Stupid?

2007-02-13T10:24:00.000-05:00

From MSN, the headline reads: Nicky Hilton Sued Over Hotel Project.

Interesting...Nicky so rarely makes the news these days. I read on:

In a lawsuit filed Monday in federal court, Robert Falor Investments and Grand USA Hotel Supply & Restaurant allege Hilton hasn't kept up her end of an April 2006 agreement in which she promised to promote the redevelopment project known as Nicky O's Chicago, a Nicky Hilton Hotel.

Imagine that, a Hilton sister not following through on her promises. But they seem like such responsible girls. Here's my favorite part:

Hilton also allegedly contracted out interior design work she was supposed to perform and tried to charge it back to the developer, the lawsuit alleges. The development group also claims Hilton misrepresented that she and her associates had experience in hotel design. [emphasis mine]

I've never heard of Robert Falor Investments or USA Hotel Supply and Restaurant. They may be a couple of fly-by-night operators, but I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. They decide to partner with someone in order to open a couple of hip boutique hotels, so who do they pick? Nicky Hilton.

Seemed like a good idea. I mean, it's not like we're talking about Paris. Nicky's the smart one.

So what qualifies Nicky to be a partner in this project? Let's look at her background, as found on Wikipedia:

1. She's 23
2. She's a part-time fashion model
3. She "designs" her own clothing line and handbags
4. She attended both the Fashion Institute of Technology and Parsons School of Design, but failed to graduate from either.
5. She passed on "The Simple Life", which went on to become a big hit. Good call.

To think, Robert Falor Investments and USA Hotel Supply and Restaurant were suprised to learn that Nicky and her associates has misrepresented their hotel design experience. But surely everything in her resume suggested she would be such a pro at it.

So tell me, who's more stupid? Nicky for getting into something she's clearly not qualified for, or some businessmen for picking her to partner with in the first place?

A Soldier Responds

2007-02-01T16:39:00.000-05:00

This is really something. A commenter responding to Andrew Arkin's insulting little diatribe at the Washington Post brings it home with this post. It's long, but defintely worth it.

Mr. Arkin-

I am an officer in the United States Army. I have deployed to Iraq twice, and been wounded once. I have had my soldiers killed and wounded, I have killed and wounded other human beings. I have carried wounded soldiers and civilians in my arms; crying in pain. I myself am permanently physically damaged by my experience.

Through all those events, I never shed a tear. Yet I sit here today crying; reading your original article and your rebuttal to the overwhelming response.

I am proud of what I do, what my soldiers do, the freedoms we defend, and everything we stand for. I proudly defend your right to publish your article, and it actually warms my soul to see free debate and discourse about any topic, because this is the only nation in the world where such completely unbridled discussion and opinion rage on in an organized fashion. That is the United States I am proud of, the one that has given me so much.

I decry and am ashamed of my fellow warriors who have lost their thin veneer of civilization and chosen to engage in the atrocities committed in Iraq. May God have mercy on their souls.
I have chosen to shelve my right to have an opinion on the war in Iraq. I support our effort to help the Iraqi people, depose Saddam, and promote a free(er) Iraq. Are we (or can we) still doing that? I don't know anymore. I have an opinion, but it is too visceral to be truly rational anymore, so I keep it to myself.

Overall, it does not matter. My country, almost unanimously, asked me to refresh the tree with my blood in Iraq/Afghanistan 6 years ago. That was this country, by referendum. As my country comes to terms with what she has done, and possibly chooses a different path, I will soldier on. I will guide and inspire my Soldiers to do the same. But, it saddens me to see so many of my brothers and sisters killed and maimed, only to find out my country either didn't mean it or had no stomach for it.

None of these are the reasons I cry. I cry for the lack of purpose, the apparent lack of caring, the lack of compassion you displayed in your original article and in this subsequent failure to apologize to me, my fellow warriors, and all those who came before me. Here's why.

1. I am not a mercenary. You could make me work two jobs and this would still be one of them, because I am that passionate about defending you and your rights. Many in the National Guard and Reserves do just that. My country needs professional warriors to do her bidding, and he is me, and thousands like me.

2. I have the right to express my opinion within the bounds of the UCMJ, as do my Soldiers. How dare you imply that I do not, or that I should reprimand them? We already accept an abbreviated set of rights willingly. Do not attempt limit my liberties that I have already willingly limited while I defend without complaint the unabridged version you are so rightly entitled to.

3. As an officer, my needs are met. However, in the three months leading up to my first deployment and the entire 13 month adventure, my pay amounted to 173 cents an hour. My friends and I logged our hours as a joke, but $1.73 is the reality. That equates to 19-20 hour days, 7 days a week, for 16 months. That's with the relatively lavish bonuses and benefits we receive while deployed. And I am an officer. Think of our junior enlisted, and find someone else in our great country that is willing to work so hard, day and night, no weekends, under fire, threat of death over their head, for so little? Find me one and I will retract this comment graciously. Of course, even when not deployed, it takes my wife and me quite some time to get through the line at the grocery store. That's because we get in line behind one of my fellow warriors, who with shame in their eyes and faces flush with embarrassment fill out their WIC paperwork because they don't make enough to support their wife and two kids (an average sized family).

4. This response is taking an inordinate amount of time to type, because I have only one functioning hand after being wounded in Iraq. I am trying as quickly as possible to use the medical system your (and my) taxes paid for to recover, so I can go back to Iraq and continue to fight for what you don't believe in, because I believe in you and my Soldiers. Still, I count myself lucky, as I received my Purple Heart next to a 19-year old warrior with both his legs amputated above the knee. No matter how wrong the majority feels the decision was at this juncture, that Soldier gave (I use the word gave deliberately) his legs at his nation's calling. Not for money. Not because he was too stupid to get into college. Not for the great benefits. Just because you asked him to. Please don't imply that this fallen hero is not entitled to the basic medical care he receives.

5. Given the opportunity, I would fight the Germans in 1944. Oh, to have that definition of purpose, that sense of righteousness! But, that is not to be. This is the war that this country has chosen for me, my peers, and my Soldiers. With its vagueness, dirtiness, ambiguity, undefined enemy, amorphous center of gravity, and undefined purpose. The actions of our administration, the decisions higher-echelons of our military, the blunders of the CPA, (I could go on) etc. aside; it comes back to one thing. America chose this fight for me, and I will fight it with all my skill and might until she tells me to stop. The woes and throes of the majority, hawks, doves, liberals, neocons, etc. mean nothing to me or those Soldiers you quoted. What matters to us is that you told us to be there, 3000+ of our brothers and sisters have died there, and we are still there. Change that - in reality, not in the abstract - and we will gladly leave and prepare ourselves for the next challenge and opportunity to defend your freedoms.

I am a Warrior, a Soldier, a Scholar, and a Patriot. This country has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to train and educate me. I am well-versed in our government, our demographics, our history, and our Constitution. Perhaps I am an idealist. To the end of my life or capability I will defend your rights and this country. I am proud that I live in a country where a free-thinker such as you can write an article so critical of current policy. But I am deeply hurt by the insinuations and accusations listed above. I request an apology, on the behalf of all the Armed Forces, for your insensitive and boorish comments. I only wish I could communicate with your entire readership the bitter taste of betrayal that is in my mouth as easily as you communicate your speech and thoughts.

With Respect,

A United States Army Officer
"Army Strong"

Wow. Just...wow.

The New Face of Terror

2007-02-01T15:28:00.000-05:00

Ladies and Gentleman, I give you the new face of terror:

"Mooninites Rule!"

Out of the ten cities in the U.S. where these signs were planted, only Boston saw fit to panic. I find that strange, in as much as your average Bostonian is usually the type who pooh-poohs the color-coded alert levels and swears that a "potential threat" is usually Bush's way of deflecting attention from something else.

In other words, the terror is all in our minds.

UPDATE: From that bastion of rational thought the Daily Kos. See what I mean?

"You are a disgrace to this country. When a plastic bord with lights on it can send a city into a full blown terror alert, I think there is ample evidence that the terrorists are winning. CALM DOWN."

"Whatever they paid for this marketing campaign, it's not nearly enough! I'm going to have to check the show out, myself. Thanks, Boston, for showing us why Security Paranoia is stupid."

"This is what happens when people watch too much Fox News and watch Sean Hannity too much. They start seeing bombs everywhere. Dudes, It was 9/11 in 2001! That was over five years ago! It is time to Calm The F*** Down and not see bombs and terrorists everywhere! Go get a sandwich and take a valium or something! :)"

As much as I hate to admit it, I'm probably in agreement with most of these posters in that no one should be getting in trouble (or getting sued) over this. To be clear - no one did anything illegal, dangerous, or intentionally disruptive. Unlike the Kos Kidz, however, I feel that way mainly because I love ATHF and don't want the show to suffer, not because I believe we shouldn't be mindful of potential security threats.

Are we destined to live through another terrorist attack on U.S soil? Most likely. Will it have anything to do with Adult Swim's line-up? Doubtful.

Happy Anniversary GHS

2007-02-01T13:43:00.000-05:00

Wow. Time flies.

It's been one year since I started GHS.

A year ago, we were in the midst of the Danish Cartoon uproar - today, the uproar is over an entirely different cartoon.

A year ago, Al Gore was jetting around the world warning people about global warming (excuse me, climate change). Today...he's still doing that, only now he's been nominated for the Nobel prize because of it.

A year ago, Republicans controlled the Congress. Today, they don't.

A year ago, we didn't know whether Hillary was going to run for President. Okay, maybe we did, but now she's made it official.

A year ago, Jack Bauer was having the fifth worst day of his life. Today, he's living through the sixth, a nuclear bomb has gone off, and Muslims are still complaining about it!

A year ago, 24 was my favorite show on T.V. Today, it has some serious competition.

A year ago, I was a "thirty-something". Today...I'm not.

Wow. Time flies.

Here's to another year of looking at the world, taking it all in...and just shaking my head in amazement.

Oh, and to those eight folks that chose to leave comments...thanks.

MLK Day Party Goes Awry

2007-01-25T13:38:00.000-05:00

Seems some students at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX planned a little party to celebrate Martin Luther King's birthday.

Good for them!

Oh look, it's a costume party!

Interesting. Looks like fun!

Oooops! Guess not!

Just a Thought...

2007-01-02T12:23:00.000-05:00

As we start a brand new year here at Glass Half Spilled, a question -

is it possible to be successful while at the same time despising those qualities which often make people successful?

Take THAT, Kanye!

2006-12-12T16:36:00.000-05:00

Remember last month when Kanye West made a fool of himself at the MTV Europe's Video Awards? His video, "Touch the Sky" didn't win video of the year, so Kanye crashes the stage when they're handing out the award and starts bitching about why his video should have won:

He then added his reason for why he was most deserving, as he proclaimed Touch The Sky "cost a million dollars, Pamela Anderson was in it. I was jumping across canyons."

Well, it looks like Mr. West's little oevre is getting some attention after all...in the form of a lawsuit:

Evel Knievel has sued Kanye West, taking issue with a music video in which the rapper takes on the persona of "Evel Kanyevel" and tries to jump a rocket-powered motorcycle over a canyon.

Evel is upset because some of the racier parts of the video are not representative of his true personality. Here's the money quote, though:

That video that Kanye West put out is the most worthless piece of crap I've ever seen in my life...

Heh. Viva Knievel, indeed!

Spam of the Month

2006-11-29T13:23:00.000-05:00

And now, the first in a new series here at GHS: Spam of the Month.

There are millions and millions of unsolicited e-mails sent every day. Some manage to rise above the crowd. These are those stories:

From Mrs. Aminatu Abubaka Arikama. [Buba for short]

Dear, [Yes, sweetheart?]

I am Mrs Aminatu Abubaka Arikama, from Sierra Leone republic, residing in Cote d'Ivoire. I am married to Mr Abubaka Arikama, who deals in Cocoa and Gold business in Cote d'Ivoire for twenty five years before he died in the year 2002. We were married for twenty years and God give us a son, his name is Abubaka Usman Arikama Jr who is 22 now, and because of my husband love to me he refused to marry another wife [Huh?!?]. He died after a brief illness
from food poison which lasted for only four days [must have been some of that time release food poison]. Since his death I decided not to remarry or get another child outside my matrimonial home [how noble!], my husband relatives was responsible for his death because they want to inherit the entire legacy, I was ill and my son is still a little boy [Little? I thought he was 22?].

Before the death of my husband he deposited a huge amount in a suspense [Oh, the suspense!]account with a bank here in Cote d Ivoire [Of course he did], Since my Doctor told me that I have a little time left (about Six months) due to cancer problem [Christ, you have cancer too? This has not been your year!]. Having known my condition and I can not survive this cancer illness, and I don't want to lose my only son, I decided to transfer this fund and my son out of this country.

I took this decision because I don't want to lose every thing my husband has worked for, and my husband relatives are not even good at all because they are responsible for the death of my husband in other to have all his properties and I don't want my husband's efforts to be used by those that conspired for his death [Yeah, only non-conspirators and complete strangers on the Internet need aply!] and they will still kill my son if they have the opportunity.

Contact me only on email address; as soon as I receive your reply of accepting to help me I will give you all the details including your percentage for assisting us.

Thanks.

May God be with you.

From Mrs. Aminatu Arikama

I guess the Ethiopians resolved all of their banking issues, since I haven't gotten one of their e-mails in a long time.

Dave Cockrum: 1943 - 2006

2006-11-29T12:05:00.000-05:00

Sad news today. Dave Cockrum, the man who gave the Uncanny X-Men a second chance at life, passed away on November 26 after a long battle with diabetes:

The artist laid the groundwork for an unparalleled comic book success story when, in 1975, he launched the "new" X-Men alongside writer Len Wein and editor Roy Thomas. GIANT-SIZE X-MEN #1 and the reinvigorated UNCANNY X-MEN grew to legendary status, the impact of which is still felt in today's comic world. Cockrum's first tour of duty with the characters was from 1975 to 1977, and he then returned to his creations from 1981 until 1983.

The man created Colossus, Storm, Phoenix, Mystique, and Nightcrawler - featured most prominently in the last X-Men movie. That, my friends, is what we call a legacy.

The AP story adds a couple of nice details, sure to resonate with any true fanboy:

In his Superman pajamas and with his Batman blanket, Cockrum died in his favorite chair at his home in Belton, S.C., early Sunday morning.

The article also mentions that Cockrum will be cremated wearing a Green Lantern t-shirt.

Cockrum's passing also brings attention to a long-standing stain on the comics industry, the issue of creator's rights. For years, creators of a lot of comics most popular characters received little or nothing in the way of recognition or royalties for their work, even though their creations went on to make millions for the publishing companies. Sadly, Dave Cockrum found himself in the same situation. Fortunately for him, writer Clifford Meth and comics legend Neal Adams petitioned Marvel Comics to do the right thing, which they eventually did.

A nice little tribute site can be found here.

Kramer Apologizes

2006-11-22T15:53:00.000-05:00

Following his tirade against some black hecklers at The Laugh Factory the other night, Michael Richards has apologized for his behavior.

On the Letterman Show.

Jerry Seinfeld was a guest on the show, and he asked Richards to appear to discuss the issue (Richards appeared on a screen, not in person). I didn't see the show or watch the apology, but from what I'm reading Richards went off on more than one tangent. His sincerity is entirely dependent on whether you're inclined to give his a break or not.

Kramer.

2006-11-21T15:08:00.000-05:00

TMZ.com has video of Michael Richards - Kramer from Seinfeld fame - losing his mind at some hecklers who interrupted his comedy routine at The Laugh Factory in Los Angeles.

The hecklers were black. Richards make a reference to lynching, after which he called the heckler a "nigger". Seven times. Loudly.

In the video, you can hear someone challenging Richards on his behavior, saying it was "uncalled for". It also shows the majority of the crowd begin to get up and leave, including the hecklers. Richards begins taunting them as they leave.

The entire incident is very surreal, made even more so by the fact that it's Kramer! I didn't see that one coming. Now, of course, the usual suspects will weigh in. Conventional wisdom says that Richards' career is "over".

I'm sure some would argue his career was over when Seinfeld went off the air, but that's another issue.

More on the UCLA Tasering Incident

2006-11-17T15:53:00.000-05:00

Michelle Malkin, Ace, and Allah have weighed in on the tasering story.

Michelle is taking her usual measured, "let's wait and hear the whole story" stance, while Ace and Allah question the cops' decision to taser the student.

Naturally, the tasee has lawyered up - and as Michelle points out, a whole crowd of civil rights groups are siding with him, most noticeably CAIR. Interestingly, Tasee's lawyer has his own baggage, as Patterico points out:

The best part: the “high-profile civil rights lawyer” is Stephen Yagman, currently under indictment for money laundering and tax evasion.

Both Ace and Allah quote witnesses who state that, althought the use of tasers may have been excessive, Tasee was definitely either making trouble or was someone who would not be opposed to making trouble:

Let me start off by saying that the guy DEFINITELY was asking to get his ass kicked. He was being extremely rude with the campus patrol guys (who are college students...this was before the real UCPD got called in). He was not complying with their requests to leave the premises, and he was definitely itching for a fight. I actually know the guy and a few of his friends, and I can tell you that he's the kind of guy that loves to make trouble.
Just as a little backstory, one of the quotes the guy has on his facebook (which he now has taken down) was "I like to find the most difficult solutions to the simplest of problems".
He definitely taunted the UCPD into behaving the way they did with him.

I'm a little disappointed in Ace's moderation. Personally, from what I heard in the video and what I've read online, Tasee is just the kind of little bitch who would try to make a point about his precious "civil liberties" and have it go down this way. Bottom line, if he had just left the library when he was first asked to, therefore aoviding the need to call the campus police, his protesting ass would have remained taser-free. I would have, because for me, rules are rules and legitimate authority is just that. Does that mean Tasee got what he deserved? I suppose that depends on how you define "excessive force". In my opinion, one of the cops shooting Tasee in the leg is excessive; tasering him on drive mode to put an end to his little protest and diffuse a potential escalation by other concerned, socially aware citizens is not.

We live in a very different world than that of just a few years ago. A world where "ordinary" American citizens are capable of...who knows what? Where bizarre and questionable incidents take place on college campuses all of the time. Where the unthinkable can come from out of nowhere and change everything in an instant.

In this kind of world, perhaps the type of excessive force used by these campus police may be the difference between an "incident" and a "tragedy".

The End of an Era

2006-11-17T13:11:00.000-05:00

I'm in mourning today. I just learned of the passing of a very, very old friend.

WKLS FM, 96Rock in Atlanta, GA.

Yes, that's right, a radio station. But not just any radio station. 96Rock was the station for me and my friends during late elementary school, all of high school, and during college. That's a lot of years out of my life, so I suppose I'm also mourning my lost youth, and the memories of happier, simpler times.

96Rock was there for me when I first began to discover and explore my own awareness of music. Remember arguing with your parents over what station would be playing on the car radio? Well, 96Rock was always my choice.

As the name implied, 96Rock was Atlanta's home of rock n roll. In the early 80's, a lot of the heavier stuff got played - Ozzy, Iron Maiden, Nazareth, AC/DC, all in their album-oriented glory. Then, a TV commercial featuring Paul Schaeffer announcing that "our voices had been heard. Enough of the heavy stuff!" From then on, it was a steady mix of the Clash, Aerosmith, The Cars, The Police, plus all of the classic stuff (Led Zep, The Who, Stones, Beatles). I was exposed to everything that made rock great during those days - the best of the British Invasion, the supergroups of the 70's, Southern Fried rock, plus all of the newest mainstream goodness. Back then, you didn't just listen to the music, you lived it, you loved it. I think that's what made the AOR format so great - you didn't just hear what was popular, you heard what was good (at least in the DJ's opinion), and it was never the same. During those days, 96Rock provided the soundtrack to my life.

I can still remember hanging out in my room at night, the lights off, just laying there listening to Willard spin the "Perfect Album Side"...

Listening to Kaedy Kiely in the afternoons. Kaedy has forgotten more about rock music than most people will ever know. I had a huge crush on her...

The Friday 5:00 Whistle. The official end of the week for a lot of years. Once those songs started playing, you knew the weekend was officially here...

Christopher Rude in the mornings always made me laugh...

Honestly, Pink Floyd and Comfortably Numb would have meant nothing to me without 96Rock.

It's no secret that radio has seen better days. With competition from the Internet and IPods, radio stations have had to struggle to stay profitable. Unfortunately, the best business decisions are rarely the best programming decisions, which is why a great legacy station like 96Rock had to die its slow death. A regular poster on the Radio-Info site sums it up nicely:

Radio is no longer flesh and blood; it’s becoming a playlist on a media server connected to an antenna run by suits. Nothing lasts forever. RIP 96Rock.

I suppose I'm part of the problem myself. My intense hatred of what passes for today's "popular" music has kept me listening to a steady diet of talk radio and my IPod for years. It's not that I haven't wanted to listen to 96Rock, it's just that I've long since gotten out of the habit of relying on radio for my musical entertainment. It's okay, though. Today's 96Rock is certainly not the same glorious station I listened to in my youth. Those days are truly gone. However, I would liked to have been listening as the station breathed its last. I understand the last song played was Baba O'Riley by The Who.

Which, by the way, was the very first song ever played on 96Rock.

So we have come full circle, and it's nice that someone thought to end it on that note, rather than just playing the next song in the rotation. It's nice that someone remembered.

And of course, those of us in the teenage wasteland will never forget.

The Taser Incident

2006-11-16T23:10:00.000-05:00

The net is buzzing about an Iranian-American UCLA student getting tasered by campus police at the library:

Mostafa Tabatabainejad, a UCLA student, was repeatedly stunned with a Taser and then taken into custody when he did not exit the CLICC Lab in Powell Library in a timely manner. Community Service Officers had asked Tabatabainejad to leave after he failed to produce his BruinCard during a random check at around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Naturally, a concerned citizen with a cellphone camera caught the incident on video. YouTube, anyone?

"Here's your Patriot Act! Here's your fucking abuse of power!"

Now, I don't want to get all knee-jerk here, but if I get tasered by some cop, I'm not going to be making political statements. I'm going to be pretty much doing whatever I have to to avoid another shock. But that's just me.

I know this is going to get a lot of play over the next few days, with the inevitable blaming of President Bush for the whole thing. From what I saw, the student was being unresponsive to the officers' commands and argumentative. Plus, the whole "Patriot Act" comment really makes me wonder if this wasn't a bit of planned street theatre.

I know, I know, but I find it hard to put anything past the "socially aware".

By the way, here's a video of someone getting tasered who doesn't have a comment to make about the Patriot Act or abuses of power. Please note the lack of hysterical screaming.

People Are Crazy

2006-11-16T09:40:00.000-05:00

Fergie, female singer for the Black Eyed Peas, recently said that anyone who insults her singing is actually insulting God:

“I may not have the type of voice you like, but I can sing,” the white hip-hopper told Vibe. “You can’t take that away from me, ‘cause singing is a gift from God, and when people say I can’t sing, it’s kind of like insulting God.”

When asked for comment, God replied "In Fergie's case, it was actually a gag gift."

Election Night...Not Looking Good

2006-11-07T21:39:00.000-05:00

It's about 9:40, and I'm flipping channels between election results on
Fox News and Star Trek:TNG.

Right now, the Dems are 3 Senate seats and 13 House seats from taking it all.

We may end up losing it all.

If so, it'll suck getting up tomorrow.

K-Fed Bocomes Fed-Ex!

2006-11-07T17:05:00.000-05:00

Man, no sooner do I put up a little post about Kevin Federline's dismal concert appearance, than this hits the news: Britney Spears Files For Divorce!

In her petition, Spears asks for both legal and physical custody of the couple's two children, one-year old Sean Preston and two-month old Jayden James, with Federline getting reasonable visitation rights.

I'm fairly certain that K-Fed has soiled himself over all of this. I can't even begin to imagine what is running through his head right now.

K-Fed In Da House...By Himself!

2006-11-07T16:07:00.000-05:00

Poor K-Fed! The road to rap superstardom is fraught with potholes:

K-Fed plays to an almost empty house
Wannabe rapper has to beg club not to cancel his concert

C'mon, you knew this was coming when he first announced his "tour"

K-Fed’s New York City gig at Webster Hall wasn’t cancelled as some predicted — but it reportedly took some big-time begging on his part.

Begging. Begging. Heh.

Only 300 people showed up at the club that holds 1,500.

For me, the real story is not that 1,200 hundred people didn't show up, but that 300 people actually did. Was this a free concert by chance? Oh yeah, K-Fed kept those 300 fools waiting for three hours hoping more "fans" would show up. For that, they got to see K-Fed rap for all of 30 minutes, in a performance described as "mercifully short". One witness claimed that Federline

seemed really confused about how to act on stage. He would pace from one side of the stage to the other, just saying things like, ‘Hey’ thirty times in a row or ‘New York, thank you for coming — buy my CD.'

I think it's obvious K-Fed is confused about many, many things.

K-Fed doing his "thang"

Cry Havok, And Let Slip The Dogs Of War

2006-11-07T09:54:00.000-05:00

At last, The Day is upon us.

In about twelve hours, we'll have a pretty good idea of how this thing will turn out.

Judgement Da - er, I mean - Election Day!

I'm nervous, but hopeful. On some level, I just can't believe the cosmic powers, those that bring order and balance to the Universe, would actually allow the Democrats to win. I mean come on, Speaker Pelosi?!? God, that would be a Hell on earth.

I hope when this is all done, I'll have good cause to revisit this little post.

Once again, Ace of Spades is in my brain:

If the Democrats lose, do you have any doubt they will decide, in their typically-thoughtful Councils of Herd Animals, that John Kerry alone cost them the entire election?

Damn... even if I hated Bush I'd vote Republican just for that.

After the 2002 election disaster for the Democrats (remember? they were counting on big wins then, too) William Kristol said, "And now comes the most enjoyable part of any election season: the recriminations."

Please vote, just so we can have those recriminations.

Do you know what Chris Matthews' tears taste like? I don't, but I've heard stories they taste like gold spun finely into cotton candy. I need to know if those stories are true.

Heh. Amen to that!

I'll be voting tonight after work. Until then, I'll be tracking the excitement all day.

Bill Maher Is A Putz

2006-11-06T15:13:00.000-05:00

From Perez Hilton:

"Stop hassling me about my Halloween costume. Yes, you've seen it on the internet. I went as the Crocodile Hunter with a bloody stinger in my chest. People who really love animals understand if you get killed by one, chances are you were doing something to it you shouldn't have been. You want me to apologise for making a joke? Who do you think I am, John Kerry?"

Translation: "I'm yet another in a long string of whiny, liberal asses who thinks I can do whatever I want - no matter how tasteless or inapproriate - and get away with it. As a liberal, I'm naturally better than you, and will therefore not be held hostage by your mundane sensibilities. As a liberal, I possess the sort of intellect which enables me to know that what you see as a cruel jibe at a beloved figure is actually a clever and nuanced statement on today's media-saturated society. However, should my actions begin to attract enough negative attention to actually make me look bad (at least bad enough to where market share may begin to suffer) then, as a liberal, I will simply suggest that Irwin got what he deserved and that I am, in fact, defending the rights of animals to live free and untainted by human interference...which you would have realized if you were as smart as me."

Tool.

You know, I used to like Bill Maher, way back when he was a comedic actor and not spewing his particularly noxious brand of lefty commentary.

Although I don't watch his HBO show, I do find it interesting that Maher feels four liberals versus one conservative is a fair fight. Are their ideas so weak that it takes four of them to equal the candle power of one average conservative? I doubt Billy would admit to that.

Only in America could someone go from D.C. Cab opposite Mr. T. and Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death opposite Shannon Tweed to being one of the premiere mouthpieces for the Left.

What If They Win

2006-11-01T22:40:00.000-05:00

From Jane Hamsher at Firedoglake:

First of all — I don't care if John Kerry was eating live babies on TV, one week out from an election you do not repeat GOP talking points. Ever. It makes you look like a big pussy who can't stand up to the Republicans, even when they're playing from an exceptionally weak hand on an issue you own.

Of course. After all, what's a few babies when we have an election to win?

From the Kosfather himself:

Thats the way you show strength. That's the way you beat back bullies. That's the way you win in America. Not by going around whining about "apologies" and worried that Rove and his Republican bullies might say "boo!"

All you hand-wringers -- grow some cojones or get the frak out of our way.

Somebody botches a joke. Big fucking deal. Laugh at those who would make it an issue, kick them in the shin for good measure, then move on.

Sure, why apologize for a "botched" joke that insulted our troops. BFD! After all, we have an election to win!

All over the blogosphere, lefty blogs are ranting about Kerry having to apologize when he was, in fact, right - the military is overwhelmingly populated by underschooled idiots with damn few options.

You can almost feel their desire to drop the pretenses and just say, "Why are you talking about the troops? We have an election to win!"

At what point do we begin to wonder about the true intentions of people who crave power - crave control - this much?

For the past six years, they've talked about offering us a new course, about returning America to its former glory. But their actions and their attitude convey a different message - it's inconceivable to them that they are not in control, and they simply must do whatever they can to remedy that situation.

As we continue counting down to E-Day, they know the only thing standing between them and the total domination they seek are a few Red State rubes who don't have enough sense to know when they're not being properly governed.

I might have been content in the past to accept the idea of the Democrats taking over Congress; on an intellectual level, one has to understand that is always a possibility. But the world we live in today doesn't inspire me to be that practical. I can't afford to place my trust in a group of people who won't be happy until American is just another bit player on some global stage instead of the lead. Until our society becomes one bizarre, giant hive-mind, programmed to slavishly follow their twisted socialist doctrines.

Am I being paranoid? Would things really be as bad as that? Hell, we're already on our way there, it's just that most people can't or won't see it.

I'm sure at one time the Romans thought they'd last forever. So too the Persians, the Egyptians, the British. That is the way of the world - everything eventually ends.

And that end has to start somewhere.

The Joke, Take 2

2006-11-01T12:19:00.000-05:00

MSNBC reports that John Kerry has cancelled most of his campaign appearances in the wake of his comments at the Angelides rally. The article also gives us the joke which Kerry regretfully "misspoke" as an insult to the troops:

A Kerry spokeswoman, Amy Brundage, said Kerry’s prepared text had called for him to say: “Do you know where you end up if you don’t study, if you aren’t smart, if you’re intellectually lazy? You end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq. Just ask President Bush.”

Sorry, but I call bullshit. After the reaction his actual comment got, it's way too easy to trot someone out a day later and have them say "this is what the Senator meant to say". Besides, it's still suggesting that the penalty for being dumb is getting elected President.

That certainly doesn't say much for Kerry himself considering his own Presidential ambitions. It sort of makes sense, though. You'd have to be pretty stupid not to be able to get this crappy joke right to begin with.

John Kerry Is A Moron

2006-11-01T11:02:00.000-05:00

Honestly, what else is there to say?

While at a Pasadena Community College campaign rally for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides, John Kerry said the following:

You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.

So, according to Kerry, if you're smart you'll have options in life. If you're not, then joining the military and shipping out to Iraq is pretty much all you have to look forward to. Which I suppose suggests all of our troops currently deployed in Iraq are uneducated losers. Seems pretty clear cut to me. I mean, I can't see how you can read that statement any other way.

Apparently, I'm wrong.

Now, Kerry is saying he botched a joke - that he wasn't insulting the troops, he actualy meant to insult President Bush! What's more, Kerry says Bush knows that's what he meant to do, and to suggest otherwise is more "despicable Republican attacks". The entire statement is chock full of handler-speak, calculated right down to the last period.

The only thing missing, I'm sure, is a finger wagging.

So John Kerry was admonishing a crowd of college students to study hard and do well in school, because the alternative is...becoming President of the United States and initiating hostilities in a foreign country with the support of Congress?!?

Oh, I get it now.

Heh.

Update: Ace of Spades has the same take on Kerry's "stay in school" message. Great minds think alike...except of course Ace actually has a readership while I'm pretty much just talking to myself here.

Brad Pitt Gets A Wake Up Call

2006-10-30T16:42:00.000-05:00

From those intrepid reporters at Contactmusic.com:

Pitt Shocked by Anti-American Attitude

Brad Pitt discovered how unpopular America is across the globe when a group of drunk Dutchmen threatened to kill him because of his nationality.

Seems Brad was tooling around Amsterdam on a bicycle at midnight during the filming of Ocean's Twelve when he had to swerve to avoid the drunken Dutch revelers who were exiting a local bar.

I said, "Excuse me," and swerved out of the way and they started screaming, "You fucking American. We'll fucking kill you." I'd never come face to face with that before - that turn in the way we are perceived in other countries.

Now, let's look at the facts in this case, shall we?

1. It's midnight in Amsterdam.
2. Brad Pitt is riding around on a bike.
3. He swerves to avoid a group of drunk Dutchmen as they were leaving a bar.
4. Brad says "excuse me".

I guess my first question is, how did they know Brad was an American? I mean, I find it hard to believe that a bunch of Dutch drunks would immediately recognize Brad Pitt as he zoomed by them on a bicycle at midnight. Was Brad's "excuse me" so noticeably American? Perhaps Brad was draped in the flag as he rode around to guard against the chill.

I think it's laughable that Brad's first instinct is to believe the Dutch want to kill him because America has sullied its reputation across the globe and not because he's some pretty-boy Yank who almost ran over their drunk asses.

Who knows, maybe they're pissed at Brad because of how he left Jennifer Aniston for Angelina Jolie?

I know it's been a while since that all went down, but let's not forget - Brad made Jen cry.

On Oprah!

You don't just forgive something like that...

Eight Days...

2006-10-30T16:37:00.000-05:00

It's eight days and counting until the election. The polls are still
indicating a Democratic sweep of one, maybe both houses of Congress,
and you better believe the media is trumpeting that. You can't get
away from it.

If you're a Republican like me, you may just think about staying home
on election day.

I mean, what's the point, right?

Right?

I'm staying positive about our chances for victory; it will definitely
come down to the GOP's GOTV efforts. Hopefully they'll be up to the
task. I have to hope that rational people won't want to live in a
world where Nancy Pelosi is third in line for the Presidency.

If we do keep Congress, can we once and for all declare the liberal
agenda officially rejected? I mean, if they can't win in this
environment, they have to be doing something seriously wrong.

Eight days...

A Poem...

2006-10-26T12:23:00.000-04:00

I just saw this in the comments section on Sweetness & Light, one of my regular reads. The poster's name is Nimblicity; his name wasn't linked to a blog, so I don't know if he has a site of his own. I also don't know if the poem is an original or something he found somewhere. What I do know is that it's a very clever summary of just what's facing this country right now.

And so, without further ado:

Two Guys and a Girl in Blue Jeans
“You’re a prude,” said the Euro with his hand in his pants.
“Your clothes and conventions oppress you.”
He gave her a box of buttons and a silk sock, and said,
“This is how I would dress you.”
“You’re a slut,” said the Mullah with his finger in the air.
“Your shirt and tight blue jeans reveal you.”
He gave her a baggy burqa and a silk shawl, and said
“Here’s is how I’d conceal you.”
She spurned one and both,rejecting with
pride the folly with which each would drape her.
Thus scorned, these two found,though they should
be foes,common cause and conspired to rape her.

“She” is America. The last stanza is yours to write–not with words but deeds. And
there’s a lot more at stake than public standards of dress.

Why I'm Going to Vote Republican

2006-10-25T15:16:00.000-04:00

Michelle Malkin has a nice little post on the differences between the Dems and the Republicans going into the election. For her, the main reason to vote Republican in one of security:

As one of those post-9/11 security moms, it all comes down to a simple question for me: Who will keep this country — and my children — safer from harm?

I agree that security is a very important reason to vote for the Republicans; frankly, I will never trust the Democrats with that particular issue, no matter how hard they play at "supporting the troops".

But if I may be honest for a moment? One of the many reasons I'm going to vote Republican is because I don't want the Democrats to be in charge. More than that, I can't wait to see their faces when they lose.

When I visualize the morning of November 8, 2006, and the media is announcing that the GOP has done the impossible and held on to Congress, I see

...the heads of Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Howard Dean, Keith Olbermann, Bill Maher, etc. literally popping off their collective shoulders and flying around the room under their own steam like so many deflating balloons (deflating like their HOPES AND DREAMS!)

...Markos Moulitsas and the rest of the Kos Kidz weeping bitterly as they deal with the fact that reality really sucks for the "reality-based" community.

...dozens of left-wing bloggers desperately trying to spin their defeat into something positive, only to give in to their true impulses and just throw tantrums while labeling those who re-elected the GOP to power as idiots who just don't get it.

...armies of Republican faithful trolling on every liberal website, leaving only one short but delicious comment: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

...George W. Bush, sitting in the Oval Office with just the barest smile on his face, the true winner in the election. Hail to the Chief, baby.

Tell me that wouldn't be the greatest day ever.

Michael and Rush

2006-10-25T09:46:00.000-04:00

I was listening to Rush's show this week when he made his comments about Michael J. Fox. I sort of cringed when Rush said MJF was "faking" his illness in the ad - I knew what Rush meant to express, but felt he chose the wrong words to express it. He wasn't suggesting that MJF was faking about his Parkinson's in general, only that he was faking the extreme tremors in the ad.

Okay, so maybe that's a small distinction, but it is true - Rush wasn't saying that MJF doesn't have Parkinson's disease.

Although I personally don't believe that MJF was acting or exaggerating the effects of his condition, it is worth noting that he once testified before Congress without taking his medication in order to make his tremors more pronounced, so as to better demonstrate the ravages of his illness. Clearly, he knows the visual impact his tremors have when talking about his illness. I also won't deny that Michael's ad is compelling, which I suppose is the point. However, if the substance of his ads are misrepresenting the facts (which Rush claims they are), then that has to be addressed. Also, if Michael wants to throw his lot into the fight, then his actions and his motives become open to criticism; perhaps the Democrats were counting on no one having the nerve to do so. This, of course, is a favorite tactic of theirs - find messengers who are immune to attack based on the severity of their circumstances. This keeps the debate focused on the purely emotional rather than on the purely factual. Oftentimes, this indicates a lack of substance in one's position.

I am in favor of expanding stem cell research; however, I want a debate grounded in facts, not on emotion or sympathy.

Hillary Comes Clean

2006-10-18T09:48:00.000-04:00

Hillary Clinton is setting the record straight on how she got her name:

For more than a decade, one piece of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s informal biography has been that she was named for Sir Edmund Hillary, the conqueror of Mount Everest. The story was even recounted in Bill Clinton’s autobiography.

But yesterday, Mrs. Clinton’s campaign said she was not named for Sir Edmund after all.

It's certainly looks like Hillary's planning on running for President in 2008. After seeing how "I invented the Internet" and "Love Story was written about me and Tipper" worked out, I suppose Hillary doesn't want to take any chances.

One last quote from the article:

“It was a sweet family story her mother shared to inspire greatness in her daughter, to great results I might add,” said Jennifer Hanley, a spokeswoman for the campaign.

Give me a motherfucking break!

How do these people manage to get these types of statements out of their mouths without their tongues bursting into flames? Does Hillary really, really think that bullshit actually works? Is that what we have to look forward to if she actually wins?

A Deep Cleansing Breath

2006-10-06T14:02:00.000-04:00

Ok, I'll say it.

Mark Foley is a disgusting person. What he did was disgusting, and
I'm glad he's out. Anyone who knew about this mattter also needs to
go. I don't care who it is. That may make things harder for us in
the short term, but will only make us stronger in the long term.

Now, here's the thing.

Vote these guys out, and vote in some new, better REPUBLICANS!

We can do the right thing here and still keep ourselves in power.
After all, the alternative is to have a Democcratic majority long
after the Foley thing goes away.

Adventures in Mobile Blogging

2006-10-02T14:27:00.000-04:00

I'm in my car, in a parking lot, enjoying my lunch hour.

Not very exciting in itself, but I'm blogging about it anyway.

You gotta love technology.

Mobile Blogging

2006-10-02T11:22:00.000-04:00

Very cool.

I got a new Cingular 8125 smartphone over the weekend. Yes, it was expensive, and no I didn't need it. However, the phone is very cool, and has a ton of great functions. One of things I did with the new phone is something I've wanted to do for a while - mobile blogging. I just used the phone to send an e-mail message to Blogger's mobile site, and that message was uploaded as a regular post.

I look forward to doing some more mobile blogging in the very near future. I'll just drive around, see what there is to see, and blog about it.

Technology is a wonderful thing.

Bill Clinton Gets Testy

2006-09-25T08:15:00.000-04:00

Chris Wallace interviewed Bill Clinton on Fox News Sunday.

Chris stayed cool while Bill looked like a fool.

Bill got mad because Chris asked him "a legitimate question".

I tried, I tried, I tried...Bush did not try, no he didn't, he did not try...

Bill pointed his finger at Chris, tapped his notes with it, got in his face with it.

Remember the last time Bill waved that finger at us? Yep.

I'm thinking it's about like that this time, too.

"The Pope Must Die!"

2006-09-18T15:35:00.000-04:00

And so it continues.

The Muslim world continues its whining over the "insult" to its precious religion by the Pope.

The Pope, while giving a lecture in Germany, quoted the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II as he spoke to a Persian scholar:

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

The exhange between the Emperor and the scholar, of which this quote is but a part, was used by the Pope to introduce his larger examination of faith and reason. A provisional text of the speech can be found here. It's worthwhile to read the entire speech; only then would someone see how absurd the Muslims' "offense" really is. Honestly, it's not even a question of context. When seen as part of the larger speech, any objective reader would have to conclude that Pope Benedict was not insulting anyone's religion. However, within the context of a speech on faith and reason, surely it's appropriate to question whether certain actions carried out in the name of faith are...well, reasonable. Pope Benedict's ultimate point was that radicalism, in any religion, would be against the will of God.

Why would the Religion of Peace be against that?

More Outrage from the Religion of Peace

2006-09-15T12:27:00.000-04:00

Honestly, is there anything that doesn't offend these people?

From the article:

[Pope] Benedict quoted from a book recounting a conversation between 14th century Byzantine Christian Emperor Manuel Paleologos II and a Persian scholar on the truths of Christianity and Islam.

"The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, holy war," the pope said. "He said, I quote, 'Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.'" Benedict did not explicitly agree with the statement nor repudiate it.

The comments raised tensions ahead of his planned visit to Turkey in November - his first pilgrimage to a Muslim country.

Salih Kapusuz, a deputy leader of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party, compared the Pope to...

no, no, wait for it...

Hitler!

"Benedict, the author of such unfortunate and insolent remarks, is going down in history for his words," he said. "He is going down in history in the same category as leaders such as (Adolf) Hitler and (Benito) Mussolini."

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like every day someone else is being compared to Hitler. Bush, Cheney, the Jews, Republicans, and now the Pope. I can't help but think at some point that comparison will begin to lose some of it's sting. But my favorite quote comes from Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam:

"Anyone who describes Islam as a religion as intolerant encourages violence,"

Ahem.

Intolerant: adjective. a : unwilling to grant equal freedom of expression especially in religious matters b : unwilling to grant or share social, political, or professional rights : BIGOTED

Encourages violence from whom? The oh-so tolerant followers of Islam?

Surely not.

Like the old joke says, Muslims...you just gotta love 'em. No, seriously, you've got to or they'll kill you!

September 11, 2001

2006-09-11T22:48:00.000-04:00

It was Tuesday.

I awoke to a beautiful, sun-filled morning. I set about getting ready for work. Showering, getting dressed. I walked downstairs, grabbed my to-go cup of coffee, kissed the wife and the infant daughter, and headed out the door. My commute was nothing special, just the usual Atlanta rush hour traffic. I arrived at the office prepared for another uneventful day.

It was 8:28 a.m. on September 11, 2001.

I worked for a small company; only eight employees, with a couple out of the office on vacation. As was normal for a Tuesday morning, we hurried to prepare for our weekly staff meeting.

8:46 a.m.

The first hint that something had happened. My phone rang - it was my brother-in-law. He was calling to tell me a plane had crashed into the World trade Center.

"Oh, my God!" I exclaimed. I didn't think I had said it that loudly at the time. But later, coworkers would tell me that there was something in my tone that captured their attention. I assumed (I think we all did) that he meant a small plane, a private jet or single prop plane. Regardless of what it was, we naturally assumed it was an accident. I sat down at my desk and pulled up my internet browser. I typed in CNN's address - the site was down. Fox News. Down. ABC News. Down. Site after site after site...nothing. The entire Internet was gone. For the first time that morning, I knew something was very wrong. For the first time, I was afraid.

A few minutes later, the second plane hit.

A colleague in our sister company downstairs called up and reported the news. For the first time, we heard those two frightening words: terrorist attack. Not knowing what to make of things, we did the only thing we could - we went on with our work. As we gathered in the conference room for our meeting, everyone was subdued. As we started to go over business, the phone rang again. It was the same colleague, calling again.

"They just blew up the Pentagon."

Stunned and more than a little afraid, we wrapped up our meeting in short order and drifted back out of the conference room to our desks. We gathered around, trying to get some sort of information on what was going on. A couple of people went downstairs where there was a television set. Others got on the phones and started calling friends and family. Me, I turned to the Internet, trying to get some sort of news site to pull up.

All too soon, the situation escalated.

Three planes had crashed, but supposedly there were five others that were unaccounted for. One was rumored to be heading towards Atlanta.

Somebody heard there was an emergency at the Atlanta airport; I was worried, since my father worked there.

Rumor had it the Bank of America Tower downtown was a possible target, and was being evacuated.

The Centers for Disease Control was a target. People were being evacuated, and area hospitals were put on alert, preparing to receive casualties. My wife worked an one of those hospitals, and confirmed the alert status.

Two of our coworkers were travelling that day - one in Los Angeles, the other in Wisconsin. We desperately tried to find out if they were okay. Fortunately, they were.

And then the towers fell.

For the rest of the work day, we waited. Waited for the next wave to come. Eventually, we realized that we had been through the worst of it, at least for that day. All too soon, it was time to go home, home to our families.

I don't remember how the drive home was, but I suspect it was different than other days. Too much had happened for that not to be the case. I got home, gathered my family to me, and spent the evening watching the news, hour after hour of reports. Watching the destruction unfold before me on the TV screen, I knew nothing would ever be the same.

I could have never imagined something like 9/11. Not in my wildest, most fevered dreams. We were Americans. Things like this never happened to us. Who could have done this? Who would dare? We would learn the answer to that questions all too soon.

It was later that night. I laid down to sleep, thinking about the events of the day. I worried about what I might wake up to in the morning. As I finally drifted off, I couldn't help but wonder if the only thing more frightening that September 11 would be September 12.

2,996: Server overload

2006-09-11T22:23:00.000-04:00

The response to the 2,996 Memorial project has been tremendous. So tremendous that the original site's server was overwhelmed earlier today. There have been several mirror sites set up. One of the latest is www.madmommajen.com. I encourage you to go there and read some of the wonderful tributes which have been posted.

Remembering Matthew M. Picerno

2006-09-11T10:00:00.000-04:00

2,996 is a tribute to the victims of 9/11. On September 11, 2006, 2,996 volunteer bloggers will join together for a tribute to the victims of 9/11. Each person will pay tribute to a single victim.

We will honor them by remembering their lives.

Matthew M. Picerno was a limited partner and head of the New York municipal bond desk for Cantor Fitzgerald. Every day, he would commute from his home in Holmdel, NJ to his office on the 104th floor of One World Trade Center. Sadly, Matthew lost his life on September 11, 2001. He was 44 years old.

So often in tragic situations, a victim's life is reduced to a short series of sentences, each one trying to convey some sense of the person they describe. We take in these brief descriptions and move on. This time, however, I was fortunate in that I had the opportunity to learn more about Matthew Picerno and the life he lived. For that, I am grateful.

By all accounts, Matthew was a vibrant and energetic man with a tremendous zest for life. A devoted husband and father of three children, Matthew loved spending time with his family. Matthew was the kind of father who would ski down a mountain backwards just so he could videotape his kids’ progress. He joined six other fathers in a “Dancing Dads” troupe at his daughter’s school, rehearsing for months for their recital. The routine? A contemporary version of “Macho Man”. Matthew was a coach for a local youth activities association, where he was involved with basketball, soccer, and baseball. He was also a diehard Giants fan. Matthew’s wife Petrina said:

"He was larger than life. He made everyone feel at home, part of the party. He was so very personable."

Matthew was born and raised in Jersey City; he attended Marist and St. Mary's High Schools. After marrying Petrina, the young couple moved to Bayonne, where Matthew worked as a longshoreman. A self-made man, Matthew graduated from Taylor Business Institute with an Associate's Degree. After taking his bond trader's test, Matthew began a successful career in finance. He began working for Titus & Donnelly in New York in 1985; he would stay there for ten years before moving on to Cantor Fitzgerald. Despite his success on Wall Street, however, there was another passion that Matthew wanted to pursue – winemaking.

Two years before, he and Petrina had opened the Bacchus School of Wine in Jersey City. For six months of the year, he would leave his day job at Cantor Fitzgerald and head over to Jersey City, where he would often work until 11:00 pm. The school was housed in a former two-truck garage, dressed up with Italian flags and piped-in Frank Sinatra music. "This was a hobby," said Petrina, "but he really enjoyed it. Municipal bond broker at day, winemaker at night.” Matthew planned on pursuing winemaking fulltime when he left Wall Street. It was a passion he was fortunate enough to share with many friends through his school. One of those friends, Scott Clarke, wrote in memory of Matthew:

"Matt, You were a good friend. I followed your dream and continued to make wine in your honor. You and my dad are my true wine tasters. With every glass everyone enjoys, may your true spirit and larger than life attitude bless them."

Husband. Father. Friend. Matthew was all of these, and much more. After reading about him and his remarkable life, I can’t help but feel inspired by his example. Matthew lived his life and lived it well, with passion, love, and a deep commitment to his family and friends. Such a person can never truly be gone. Petrina Picerno again said it best:

"He is here; he is in everyone’s hearts. He’s going to be on the mountain, when we are skiing, and he’s going to be with us forever… Matthew was just too much of a live spirit. You can’t bury something like that. He had a huge zest for life. He’s still here — he will always be here."

Matthew, my thoughts are with you and your loving family this day.

You are missed.

The Path to 9/11

2006-09-11T09:00:00.000-04:00

I watched the first part of Path to 9/11 last night, and I'm watching the second half this evening. I'll probably switch over to Fox at 9:00 to watch Vanished (I'm addicted to that show - it's this season's 24). So far, I've found the miniseries to be engaging and a sober reminder of how woefully unprepared we were for what happened on that day.

I paid some attention to the controversy surrounding the showing of this program, although not too much. I know the basics, though. I know there were some scenes which Bill Clinton and his camp claimed were fabricated, casting an unfair shadow on his efforts to combat terrorism. ABC edited those scenes amidst an avalanche of criticism from people on both sides of the political spectrum (although primarily from the left). I can't say if those protests served to boost the program's viewership, but I can say it made me more interested in watching.

Having watched a goodly portion of the program, I regret that the producers of this film felt the need to "dramatize" certain key events. I believe the truth would have been more than sufficient. Detractors naturally claim the fiction was politically motivated. I honestly don't think that's the case; after all, we live in a society where the most popular programming on TV, so called "reality" tv, is anything but. Face it, if ABC really wanted to appeal to the mainstream, they would have cast Flavor Flav as the intrepid FBI agent, and Cabinet members would have been voted out at a tribal council.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not as "up" on the intricacies of the path to 9/11 as I could be. I haven't read the 9/11 Commission report, and I know as much about terrorism in the 90's as can be learned from a moderate awareness of current events. Frankly, I have other, more important matters to occupy my mind. Perhaps that's not a proper mindset, but it's the truth. I'm not a scholar or historian, but I do have an opinion on the subject.

For me, the issue isn't whether the Clinton administration dropped the ball on terrorism during the 90's; it's obvious they did. I don't say that maliciously, but the fact remains that 9/11 did happen. They pulled it off. And we did nothing to stop it. It's easy to lay the blame on President Bush; the attacks happened on his watch, blah, blah, blah. But that's a technicality, and a lame one at that. The planning of the attacks - all of the training and preparation - surely didn't start the day after Clinton left office. It started long before that. So where was the intelligence? Where were our contacts, our assets on the ground, and all that other spy shit we rely on to keep a step ahead of the bad guys? If we can hold President Bush accountable for the eight months before the attack, then surely we can at least question President Clinton's efforts in the eight months before that...if not the entire eight years.

It seems to me that the Clintonistas' objections had less to do with dramatized scenes and more to do with wanting to avoid any negative feedback on his adminstration's actions. One thing which Path to 9/11 does do, fictionalized scenes notwithstanding, is spotlight how political considerations were a factor in every decision, often to the detriment of decisive, positive action. Fine, politics is a nuanced business. But any suggestion that Clinton acted authoritatively in every instance, political fallout be damned, would be as much a fantasy as anything else in this movie. But it seems that's what they want us to believe. It's not about not looking incompetent, it's all about looking heroic.

It's about looking Presidential.

To Boldly Go - Star Trek Turns 40

2006-09-08T22:30:00.000-04:00

September 8, 1966.

Star Trek airs for the first time. Hell, yeah!

Ever since I was a kid, I loved curling up and watching the valiant crew of the Enterprise travel the galaxy, boldly going where no man had gone before. In elementary school, we would always play Star Trek at recess. Lucky for me, my black hair always meant that I got to be Spock. As the years went by, I fed my appetite for Trek with the cartoon, assorted books, all of the movies (Khaaaaaaaaaan!), and of course the subsequent series (full disclosure: I never got that into Voyager or Enterprise).

I was in my 30's when I finally bought all of the Trek toys that I had always wanted when I was younger. I have two tricorders, two phasers, and a couple of communicators. I was nutting out when G4 started showing Trek all the time. Weeknights at 11:00 pm, Saturday marathons, and Next Generation episodes during the week. And, thanks to J.J. Abrams, we have another movie to look forward to.

Set phasers on action!

Forty years later, I'm getting to introduce my daughter to Star Trek. She's not quite there yet (okay, she's not into it at all). She's only five, though - I've still got lots of time to get her hooked.

Happy birthday, Star Trek!

Schadenfreude, thy name is Paris Hilton

2006-09-08T21:08:00.000-04:00

Alert the media. Paris Hilton is having a bad week.

Oh, never mind.

According to every news and gossip outlet ON THE FREAKING PLANET, Paris Hilton was arrested for DUI on Wednesday night. The "official" story is that Paris, tired and hungry from working harder than anyone else in the history of history, was thrown for a loop by a single margarita she imbibed at a charity function mere moments before getting in her car and going for some drive-thru. Paris was handcuffed and taken to the police station, although she was released a short time later. There was no word on whether Paris blamed the Jews for her trouble.

Earlier today, Paris went on the Ryan Seacrest radio show to discuss the incident. She claimed the entire affair was "nothing". Her publicist issued a statement opining that the DUI, rather than hurting Paris' image, would probably boost it.

Uh huh.

Contrast this with another incident which took place last week. Apparently, Paris and her pals were denied entrance into a Video Music Awards after-party at Bungalow 8 in New York. It seems the ruckus was enough for the police to be called out. Paris and the gang were forced to go to another club to get their party on.

Here is a picture of Paris on the fateful night:

Paris was reduced to tears over the incident. Tears.

SHE WAS FREAKING CRYING!

Get busted for DUI...ain't nothin but a thing. Get denied entrance to a club...boo hoo hoo.

God, life can be so cruel!

I survived another Dragon Con!

2006-09-05T19:45:00.000-04:00

Another year, another Dragon Con. As predicted, it was four days of crowds, comics, and all kinds of women in all kinds of skimpy costumes.

One of the largest comic conventions in the country (20,000+ attendees), this was also Dragon Con's 20th anniversary. I myself have attended for the past 13 years. There's a lot to do and see, and my friends and I usually have a pretty good time.

Of course, it's not hard to see why.

Fun, fun, fun!

It's time for Dragon Con!

2006-08-31T15:35:00.000-04:00

Proving once again that man does not live by politics and current events alone, I'm off to enjoy four days of comic books, science fiction, pop culture, and scantily clad females.

It's Dragon Con, baby.

Here's a link to the official site, if anyone's interested.

See you on the other side!

Ruminations

2006-08-26T17:24:00.000-04:00

The rhetoric is heating up as we get closer to the November elections. The Democrats are in full attack mode, desperately trying to highlight the "failures" of the Republicans in an attempt to stockpile potential votes. As usual, the Dems can tell me why I shouldn't vote for the Republicans, but they can never seem to articulate why I should vote for them, other than "we'll do better".

The thing that's always amused me is that, although I strongly identify with the conservative side of the aisle, I'm actually pretty moderate or left of center on some key issues. It's fair to say the left could probably get my vote more often if they would only try to convince me that they're right instead of always shrieking that everyone else is wrong.

As many issues as I have with the Republicans (and I do have a few), there's just something about the Democrats that repulses me. It's that whole "we have to regain power again or our heads will explode" vibe they give off. I accept that President Bush isn't their man, and I also accept they may have some legitimate disagreements with his policies. But the never ending mantra of "Bush is the greatest evil that has ever existed" does not persuade. Christ, the man must have done something right during the past six years, if only because of the law of averages.

I get that this is the Dems' big winning strategy - create an "anybody but Republicans" sentiment. At some point, however, substance has to trump strategy. That always seems to be where the left falls short.

The 2,996 Project

2006-08-23T16:35:00.000-04:00

I've signed up to participate in the 2,996 Project. 2,996 bloggers are volunteering to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks, with each blogger paying tribute to an individual victim. The website is here. I think it's a wonderful project, and I know reading the various tributes will be a somber and powerful experience. I will be paying tribute to Matthew Picerno, a 44 year old investment broker. I'll be starting my research on Mr. Picerno soon. I'm a bit nervous, as I really want to pay a proper tribute. I don't know if anyone will be reading my tribute, but I still want to do a good job.

Double. Standard.

2006-08-18T10:18:00.000-04:00

From Allah at Hot Air:

UK telecom giant suspends spokesman for anti-Muslim “racism”

Inigo Wilson, the Community Affairs spokesman for mobile phone company Orange, included some "definitions" of politically correct terms as part of a larger post at the Conservativehome.com website; his post is here. In his "lefty lexicon", he defined Islamophobic as "anyone who objects to having their transport blown up on the way to work". Palestinians are defined as "archetype 'victims' no matter how many teenagers they murder in bars and fast food outlets." and "never responsible for anything they do - or done in their name - because of 'root causes' or 'legitimate grievances'." These are but two of many, MANY definitions given in what was actually an engaging little post.

Of course, as day must always follow night, some muslims who read the post claimed insult, and yelled for the head of Inigo Wilson.

In the comments section of the post, notice was given of an effort to get Wilson fired because of his post. Members of the Muslim Public Affairs Committee (MPACUK) began soliciting people to flood Orange with complaints and requests to have Mr. Wilson disciplined:

"mmm Mr Inigo Wilson. we're all up for fair criticism but i sense a deep
hatred. Orange need to find them a better 'community' pr man."

"well , when we threaten to advertise his statements across all islamic
media outlets, both hear and abroad. I doubt he will have his job for much
longer"

"muahahaha i am an orange customer... i just threatened to tell every muslim
i know. i also gave em the web page and ask for a written response to be sent to
my home address.call their PR office"

Given the headline of this post, it's clear they were successful in costing Mr Wilson, husband and father of one, his job.

Interesting.

An entire group of people, in this case a company, is being forced to take responsibility for the actions of one of it's members and mete out a suitable punishment. Failure to do so will result in reprisals, and claims that the group condones those actions.

And yet, to suggest that the larger muslim population should accept responsibility and be accountable for the actions of some of it's members (i.e., terrorists) is rascist, Islamophobic, bigoted, etc.

No reprisals for us, thank you very much!

And don't you DARE suggest that we're all terrorists or that we even condone terrorism!

Cynthia's Supporters: racist is as racist does

2006-08-10T23:33:00.000-04:00

Ah, Cynthia McKinney. What a class act! Considering her immeasurable grace, it should come as no surprise that Cynthia would surround herself with people of comparable quality.

Yep. Quality.

I had heard about the altercations between Cynthia's camp and the press on election night, but I didn't hear any real specifics. I was finally able to see some video footage of the scuffle. What a treat that was.

Cynthia - share the magic!

"Motherfucking crackers, get yo ass on!" God, that's just so...lyrical!

Oh, and Hank Johnson is now an "Uncle Tom". But of course he is. Any black man who refuses to make racism the centerpiece of his world view cannot possibly have any real legitimacy.

However, in the end, never forget that everything bad is the Jews' fault. That's J-E-W-S.

It never fails to amaze me how black people can get away with saying the most outrageously racist things, and never be held accountable. Had a white person said this, blah, blah, blah.

Cynthia, sweetie...I'm glad you're gone.

Cynthia McKinney: The Next Day

2006-08-09T10:45:00.000-04:00

Cynthia's bitterness was apparent when she finally gave her "concession" speech. She railed against electronic voting and stolen elections. She refused to mention Hank Johnson by name when she wished him luck in November. Her staff members got into physical confrontations with the local media on more than one occasion yesterday. She "sang" Mr. President by Pink during her concession. Cynthia insists she's never going to change. I think that's her problem right there. Neal Boortz hit's it on the head:

Just think about it ... If you had just said "I'm sorry officer, I'm Cynthia McKinney. I've changed my hairdo, perhaps you didn't recognize me." Just 15 words. All you had to do was just be a little human for just a moment -- to show some courtesy to a man who's job might require him to stand between you and a bullet --- but you just couldn't pull it off, could you? You had to turn it into a racial incident. You had to call this man who was just doing his job a racist .... and now can you imagine how he and his fellow Capitol Hill cops are celebrating! One bad moment --- and you're out on year ear.

Life's a bitch, isn't it, Cynthia?

Amen.

An Open Letter to Cynthia McKinney

2006-08-08T23:19:00.000-04:00

Dear Cynthia:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Enjoy obscurity!

Signed,

The 59% of voters in the 4th district who actually deserve the right to vote.