Happy Something ... New Year? Fox News watching?

The year ends.

I'm not much on the "big story" baloney. Most would have said that the stock market crash of 1929 was the story, yet the real story was the "Talkies." From that technological advance came a string of motion pictures that moved and shaped the world as nothing else before or since.

There were many stories in 1944, yet THE story was the reining in of Patton in favor of Monte's pipe dreams. The result being "The Battle of the Bulge" with 20,000 killed and the Soviet Union being allowed a full share of Germany. God only knows what misery that ultimately caused.

Later the stories were the defeat of the US in Vietnam by its own Congress but even there we find only a smidgen of truth. Goldwater may have midwifed conservatism and Reagan took it to the altar but it was the Left's antiwar actions that allowed the simmering hatred of them to take a political child and turn him into a man.

So pardon me if find the stories about the evil Bush and the glorious Hussein both juvenile and boring. Come back in a few years and we can talk. In the meantime, I find myself continually reminding my Leftie friends of some of the oldest saws in the world.

Success, dear chums, is getting what you want.

Happiness is wanting what you get.

Many people will soon understand the truth of that.

And while it is true that Bush has been all but destroyed by the hater's of the Left, especially those in the media. He, like Truman, will see his presidency ascend over time.

I myself find him flawed, as was Truman. He has been too loyal to those who weren't capable and he failed to fight back at the utter nonsense spewed by the Left over the war on terror. Failing to do this has allowed the Left's unpatriotic attacks give comfort to an enemy who became convinced that they could, like the communists in Vietnam, win a political battle given to them by the Left's hand maidens in Congress.

In the meantime only 20% approve of a Democratic Congress, less than the approval of Bush. That it is Democrats who control Congress is why you hear almost nothing about this.

But now the Democrats have it all and it is their right to govern. It is their war on terror. Their recession. Their housing crisis. Their failed energy policy. Their failing school systems. Their "homeless" sleeping under bridges. Their "everything."

There is no evil Repub in charge and no racist in the White House, although the new occupant was elected because of his race. All the claims of the Left, all the charges, all the social theories can now be tested.

In the meantime all we know for sure is we have a youth going to the White House that has never been tested. He is the first of the "no one loses, everybody wins" generation. As such his natural narcissism gives us a man who has never lost so he doesn't know how to win. He will be too gracious to our enemies and too harsh on his critics, He will confuse our allies and enemies alike. The results will most likely be death and destruction here in the US.

We truly suffer from the Chinese curse. We live in interesting times.

God help us all.

Farm kid in the Marine Corps

There's a real kernel of truth in this.

Dear Ma and Pa,

I am well. Hope you are. Tell Brother Walt and Brother Elmer the Marine Corps beats working for old man Minch by a mile. Tell them to join up quick before all of the places are filled.

I was restless at first because you get to stay in bed till nearly 6 a.m. But I am getting so I like to sleep late. Tell Walt and Elmer all you do before breakfast is smooth your cot, and shine some things. No hogs to slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, fire to lay. Practically nothing.

Men got to shave but it is not so bad, there's warm water. Breakfast is strong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal, eggs, bacon, etc., but kind of weak on chops, potatoes, ham, steak, fried eggplant, pie and other regular food, but tell Walt and Elmer you can always sit by the two city boys that live on coffee. Their food, plus yours, holds you until noon when you get fed again. It's no wonder these city boys can't walk much.

We go on 'route marches,' which the platoon sergeant says are long walks to harden us. If he thinks so, it's not my place to tell him different. A 'route march' is about as far as to our mailbox at home. Then the city guys get sore feet and we all ride back in trucks.

The sergeant is like a school teacher. He nags a lot. The Captain is like the school board. Majors and colonels just ride around and frown. They don't bother you none.

This next will kill Walt and Elmer with laughing. I keep getting medals for shooting. I don't know why. The bulls-eye is near as big as a chipmunk head and don't move, and it ain't shooting at you like the Higgett boys at home. All you got to do is lie there all comfortable and hit it. You don't even load your own cartridges They come in boxes.

Then we have what they call hand-to-hand combat training. You get to wrestle with them city boys. I have to be real careful though, they break real easy. It ain't like fighting with that ole bull at home. I'm about the best they got in this except for that Tug Jordan from over in Silver Lake . I only beat him once.. He joined up the same time as me, but I'm only 5'9' and 170 pounds and he's 6'8' and near 300 pounds dry.

Be sure to tell Walt and Elmer to hurry and join before other fellers get onto this setup and come stampeding in.

Your son,

John

Hat tip to Mike L

Poker grumbles...

So here I was in this tournament and close to being in the money... I catch an AK off suit on the button with three others... I push in $4000 and the BB and LB fold. This guy with about $7000 calls. An A flops... I push in $4000 and the guy calls and shows an A3.... yes dear hearts a 3 came on the river... So I'm short stacked and dead in about 10 more hands...'

grumble grumble grumble...

More good news for Obama - Russian Missiles

December 29, 2008: Russia has activated another two battalions (three missiles each) of Topol-M ICBMs. These are the road-mobile versions, that avoid destruction in a first strike, by constantly moving around on the roads 200-300kilometers northeast of Moscow. The two new battalions belong to the 54th Strategic Missile Division.

Remember when then VP candidate Biden told us Hussien, well okay, he said Obama, would face a crisis within six months? You know, I always have a tendancy to believe Biden because he loves to show off. Tell him something of great importance and he just can't keep quite.

What really bothers me is that Biden also said we wouldn't like "their" solution.

Link

Congressional Airliners

Aka Con Air

Pelosi's tax payer paid for private jet.

Hillary as a ventriloquist

Look closely.... You can't see her lips move.

Global warming facts.

With the appointment of Hussein's science advisor, and Hussein's terribly wrong declaration of man made global warming being of the utmost importance I thought you might enjoy these NPR interviews with Michael Crichriton.

If you watch them it will be helpful to do so in order. It will also be helpful to remember they are about 4 years old and do not reflect what Crichton thought about the decrease in temperatures and other changes.

I think you will find his conclusion interesting, in that even though he believes, he doesn't think we should be going gaga over it and that it would be, if it existed at all, a perfectly manageable situation and not worth the $568,000,000,000... that's $568 Trillion dollars.... that was the estimate to reduce the temperature by a half degree C... Remember that the new goal is to reduce it by 1 degree C and the cost would run into the Peta dollars.... that is 15 zeros.

Crichton Pt 1

Crichton Pt 2

Crichton Pt 3

Who is Barack Hussein Obama?

All the pundits keep asking this question. Why, I don't know, unless I am truly smarter than the average national talking head. Something that, even if true, really gives me little to brag about. But I digress.

The answer is.

Barack Hussein Obama is a second rate product of the Democratic Chicago Machine that has parlayed his race into becoming President of the United States.

His supporters have the stench of fanaticism around them and while he and they try and cloak him in the mantle of FDR and Kennedy, his closest actual role model is Truman, who was also a Democratic Machine Politician, although from Kansas City rather than Chicago.

In the end Truman's patriotism, basic honesty and common sense turned him into one the 10 best Presidents in history. Unfortunately Husssein has yet to demonstrate any of these traits.

And your next question is?

A good'un

A hat tip to whoever sent me this one.

I love to watch exploding heads...on the Left

Some on the Left are taking Hussein having Warren speak rather hard.

[new] Nativity Scene (none / 0) (#50)
by lentinel on Wed Dec 24, 2008 at 03:12:55 PM CST
And a meeting was held in the Chamber.
Therein smoke aboundeth.
The Elders were came to decide
Which would be chosen to Place before the Multitudes
To Lead them.

He of Waxen face and stunted speech arose before them and proclaimed, « A savior findeth I. »
And the Elders rose up and questioned him, « Of what hath he done, this man who ye proclaim as Savior ? ».
And He of Wax Countenance arose anew and spake thus, « It is true, oh wise and wrinkled ones, that this man of the City of Wind of whom I speak is bereft of Works, but of Bullshit hath he great knowledge and speweth he in flowing torrents.
And the Multitudes are charmed therof and followeth him even they know not where. »

And all the assembled there fell on their faces and blessed the Waxen one, for he had chosen well.

And soon from the Criers issued Forth the news that a new leader had been chosen, and He would be a Bullshitter.
And those Born yet every minute gave joyous praise.

But trials soon begat the Chosen One, blessed be He.
First from the Lady of Rodham, betrothed of William the Philanderer.
William spake of the Chosen one, blessed be he, accusing him as ney a tale told by Fairies.
But the Scribes arose in anger and spake thus :
« Tho he lay in the dreck with Joe The Mentor, Monger of War, he knows not of this foul odor, but of inclusiveness embraceth he. »
William and his Queen, Lady of Rodham, Dame of Evil, thus were vanquished as they be one.

But yet another trial awaited He.
John the Septegenarian was joined with Sarah of the North.
And together they sought to Humiliate the Windy one.
And of his consort with the Bearded One of old spake they.
But the Criers of the Evening spake of tales of far-off lands wherein many shootings of the beasts of the fields tooketh place, Sarah the Beguiling resting among them and howling thereon.
And the Multitudes did ridicule and mocketh at John and Sarah
And the time of choosing came
And Sarah and John the Elderly, they too were vanquished.

The Chosen One, glib of tongue, became well chosen, and he spoke thusly to the assembled flock, « I will be thy leader and will presently consort
with those who dress not in gay apparel. I do this that I may in my tent placeth All. For it is written that the Scum shall lie with the Lilies.»
And the Multitudes and Scribes were vexed and spake thus :
«Thou didst promise us, oh Windy One, that when thou be annointed, remembered would be those who did thy bidding and the bidding of those by whose strings ye be pullethed.
And he answered thus, « Begone Morons, for I have chosen the Warren as my shaft.»
And the Morons spake and said, « Thus shafted be we now.»
And they was right.
Amen.
Merry Christmas.

Hat tip to TalkLeft, the only blog on the Left worth reading.

From Meccanina to Atlantis

For your holiday pleasue I have compiled links to the first six chapters of, "From Meccanina To Atlantis," by Takuan Seivo of the Brussels Journal.

Read them. They will make your head hurt, but read them. Think about what they say.

Part 1 - "The March of the Body Snatchers."

Part 2 - "From the Clenched Fist to the Raised Middle Finger."

Part 3 - From Encirclement to Breakout."

Part 4 - "Tribe"

Prt 4.5 - "Darkness in the Cranimum."

Part 5 - "From Screeching Cats to SDG."

A Christmas Gift from Brussels

This from the Brussels Journal and is so well said that anyone reading it will have to stand in awe.

Except, of course, those on the Left who deny the obvious.

A bell curve society is not enough, however wise and virtuous the smart ruling elite may be. Hope is important. Opportunity is important. Encouragement and empathy are important. The left-tails of IQ and talent distributions should not be cut off as though at the hips, and forgotten.

If I had the opportunity to counsel a person of lesser intellectual potential, domestic or imported but earnestly yearning to better his lot in life, this is what I would say in the context of China’s piano-playing tsunami, though it can serve as a metaphor for the larger context:

You may be just a minor cabinetmaker in a small, dinky shop. Your alcoholic father beat you when you were young, and your native lower-class culture discouraged education.

You will never be invited to the emperor’s gilded chambers like Mozart was. Beautiful women will not faint upon your entrance, as they did upon Liszt’s. Your name will vanish forever a few years after you are dead.

You have no chance of being equal. Don’t let Body Snatchers propaganda fool you. Forget the self-esteem crap they teach you in school.

Even if you had the means to buy yourself a piano and give up your saws and chisels for the practice of music, even if you used your minority status to gain admittance to a prestigious conservatory under Body Snatcher rules, even if you practiced 12 hours a day, you will never be Mozart’s equal. And that’s not because of the mystery of his genius.

For Mozart was the son of a great musician and the brother of a great musician, and the grandson, on his mother’s side, of a talented amateur musician. And Clara Schumann, a giant among virtuoso pianists, was not only the wife of the composer Robert Schumann and the great love of composer Johannes Brahms, but also the daughter of Friedrich Wieck, perhaps the best piano teacher of the 19th century. And Beethoven was the son and grandson of professional musicians. And there were at least 60 individuals surnamed Bach in the annals of Western music.

And it’s no different in our times. Krystian Zimerman is the son of musicians. Yo-yo Ma is the son of musicians. Ennio Morricone, a living legend, is the son of a trumpet player. But he also honed his native talent – as have all the others-- by decades of arduous study and journeyman work.

But with all the opportunities given, and with all your hard work, you still cannot be equal -- because your genes are not equal. You were not born a blank slate; banish Body Snatchers’ lying promises. They are lying to flatter you so that you vote for them, or to sell you stuff you don’t need.

Life is unfair. It cannot be made fair by reengineering society, which is the Body Snatchers’ sacred project. It cannot be made fair by giving everyone a subhonest mortgage loan and putting a flat-panel import TV in every parlor. Both the left and what passes for the right lie about this.

If I go along with the government’s scheme to redistribute my earnings to you, will you give me a piece of your chiseled cheekbones in return? Cheekbones, talent, charisma are all distributed “unfairly,” you know, and they are as good as money in the bank.

It’s Western Civilization that’s God’s equalizing gift. If you play Mozart’s music in your shop, you will make better cabinets. Even cows yield better milk with Mozart. So, first, chuck all those rap CDs. Forget about the stupid Associate degree the Snatchers will give you if you just enroll in their stupid Multicultural Studies program at their stupid Community College.

Make cabinets. But make them the way JS Bach composed music: SDG. Laborare est orare – to labor is to pray. And pipe in a bit of Bach or Schubert while you are working, for that will put you in touch with a higher power, a power that will infuse you.

If you are more sensitive to the play of space than the play of time, buy a wall calendar with the twelve most magnificent medieval cathedrals of Europe. Contemplate those pictures daily.

In time, you will have become the best cabinetmaker in town. You will make so much money that you will be able to hire a chamber orchestra for your daughter’s wedding.

And that daughter will have spent her childhood helping you in tidying up your workshop at the end of the day. While Bach is on your portable CD player. And her son will get started on the violin when he is four years old, which will help him in becoming a successful engineer.

By then, your seed will be in the pool of potential equals. And a hundred years later, perhaps a Mozart or a Galileo bearing your surname may be born.

You are standing at the threshold of a magnificent cathedral, the edifice of Western Culture. Much of it was built SDG, for a glory greater than man’s glory. Even the side chapel of its science was built with a sense of that glory, and awe.

It’s a capacious edifice too. It will take you in no matter where you live, no matter your race, religion or social background. It will reward you and your heirs a thousand times over, if you love it sincerely. But if you are foreign-born and live in the West, leave your other baggage outside, and enter in a spirit of reverence and humility.

Remember this at Christmas.

How the Democrats stole Christmas

I think this, from Coldheartedtruth explains what the the Democrats mean when they say, "Every vote must count!"

For instance, instead of a ballot that had marking for more than one candidate being thrown out as an overvote (say an X in one and another totally filled in) the canvassing board was awarding that vote for which ever candidate had an "X" in the spot:

So in the case of this ballot... which is normally an overvote, the canvassing board awarded the vote to Franken.

Since the ballot is marked twice it should, in a world that demanded rational actions, this and others like it would be trashed.

No one can tell what the voter meant. You know that. I know that. The Leftie barking moonbats of Minnesota, aka Democrats know that.

Right before America's eyes an election is being stolen. Our democratic process is being pissed on and all the media can cover, what little they do, is the arguments back and forth.

Why doesn't CBS, NNC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC and Fox make a large copy of the picture above and show it on the news saying, "This is what is being used to elect Al Franken."

Christmas Advice

Achieving Peace & Calm During the Holidays

I am passing this on to you because it definitely worked for me, and we all could probably use more calm in our lives, especially at this hectic time of the year.

Some doctor on television this morning said the way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started. So I looked around my house to see the things I’d started and hadn’t finished and, before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of shhhardonay, a bodle of Baileys, a half a sicks pak of bear, a butle of vocka, a pockage of Prunglies, tha mainder of bot Valum scriptins, the res the Chesescke an a box chocolets.

Yu haf no idr who frkin gud I fel.

Peas sen dis orn to dem yu fee ar in ned ov inr pece an culm

happpee halidozees

Hat tip to the Rottweilier Empire!

A Christmas Posting

Every blog should have a Christmas favorite. You know, a touching story based on childhood memories of all the family gathering together.... or something like that.

Well this is mine. First posted a year ago, I bring it back. Think about as you watch all those lights a flashing..........

It's not that I don't like compact fluorescent lights (CFL). I do. It's just that I don't think the government should be telling us we must use them. In fact, I hope people resist, because when they keep on using old faithfuls and paying for the use, that will help cover the fixed cost the electric utility companies must pay to remain in business.

Yes Virginia, there is no Santa Claus. If we all reduce our usage by, say 50%, the per unit cost of what we will use will have to go up to match that "cost." Otherwise, they will go out of business. And although we all know that corporations are evil nasty creatures with evil nasty bosses... except for PBS and NPR of course... having your local electric utility "turn out the lights" would be no fun. No fun at all. So as universal usage goes down, per KWH price is going to have to go up.

Money is made in this world when someone knows something others don't. And that is not illegal, unless the CEO withholds bad news while shorting the company's stock.. and other such things.... So my plan has been, and I have executed it brilliantly I must say, was to reduce my usage by, among other things, using CFLs. And since I have reduced my usage with no change in life style the plan was working.

Now, George Walker Bush has abandoned his free market roots and ruined it all. He has told people they must change, and put the full force of the government behind it. Oh the horror!!!

So pay no attention to the cost savings, the fact you can buy them in various "colors," use them with dimmer switches, etc. And that wee bit of mercury is meaningless.

Oh. You disagree?? Ah. I see you are smarter than most. Because us smarties know that the three people who run America have sat down and figured out that in about 30 years the environment will have returned to a pristine state and the EPA would be out of business throwing thousands of do gooders out of work. But now, with all those CFLs being dumped we will have thousands of clean up sites!!!

Knowing stuff like this is why I support this organization.

Merry Christmas! And keep those lights blazing!

Sweet Caroline

Good times never seemed so good....

But Kennedy, who has asked Governor David Paterson to appoint her to succeed Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton — and who helped oversee the vetting process for Obama's possible running mates — is declining to provide a variety of basic data, including companies she has a stake in and whether she has ever been charged with a crime.

Kennedy declined on Monday to reply to those and other questions posed by The New York Times about any potential ethical, legal and financial entanglements. Through a spokesman, she said she would not disclose that kind of information unless and until she becomes a senator.

"If Governor Paterson were to choose Caroline, she would, of course, comply with all disclosure requirements," said the spokesman, Stefan Friedman.

Well gee, that sure is nice of her.

Well, really dear chums... She IS a Kennedy don't you know! Rules are for the little people.

Proof again that while power corrupts, adulation destroys the reasoning ability of both those worshiped and their minions.

Link

Mufflers, hamburgers and girls

Some of you may remember my post of a few days ago about how two buds and I purchased an "Okie Special," a hand painted '36 Chevrolet, while going through Prep school at Norman, OK and used it to prey on all the young ladies who would stand still long enough to listen to our tales of utter nonsense.

Most of these lived in Oklahoma City or its burbs, as the ratio of boys to girls in Norman was about 10 to 1 and in the City the odds dropped to a more manageable figure of say, 3 to 1. Besides, the young ladies of Norman were mostly attuned to the boasts of Sons of Boomer Sooners and us lowly Prep school types were well known to not own oil wells, sections of land or herds of cattle. That we were there at all was attributed to the "government," who was known to do strange things from time to time.

Indeed, that one of these lovelies might listen to such as us and even speak to us was a clear demonstration of good breeding and Christian charity but poor judgement. That these rejections neither angered or perturbed us I think clearly demonstrates the confidence and strength of the lower class on its way up. There were lots of other girls and miles and miles of highways in front of us. No meant "Try Again."

So we toured Oklahoma City and when not invited by a family to dinner, people actually did such things in those days, we would feast on "White Castle Hamburgers" as we checked all the likely spots where girls might be.

As I noted earlier, the car had been hand painted British Racing Green. It also possessed something that we deeply treasured and loved without qualification. Some previous owner had removed the muffler and installed a straight pipe. Installation of same allowed the stock engine to develop a most enjoyable roar, especially when you shifted from first to second, gunning the engine and then "backing off."

The stupidity of youth can never be over estimated.

Life, as they say, goes on. Two weeks before graduation and being launched onward into the world we discovered an underpass. Naturally the acoustic capabilities of the straight pipe, the underpass and the three dummies in the car combined into us making multiple drive throughs. I think it was on the fourth pass that an Oklahoma City Police car pulled us over and cited us for violating every anti-noise law known to man.

We were then taken to what I think was their version of Night Court.

The Judge was actually quite nice. To our plea that we had been meaning to replace the dreadful noise maker he merely said, "Okay, now go do that and come back next Friday with proof that you have."

The problem was that we didn't have the money and what we needed to do was sell the "Flash," as someone had named it.

So I asked, "What if we sell it?"

"How do I know the muffler problem will be fixed?" the Judge asked.

"We'll sell it in Norman," one of the buds offered.

"And we'll make whoever buys it promise to fix it," I chimed in.

The Judge frowned and dismissed the case, probably relieved to be rid of such criminals from his jurisdiction.

And we did. Two days before we were to leave we sold the car to a new guy. As we were leaving the scene of the sale I told the new owner, "Oh you know there is a problem with how loud the car is..."

"Yeah, straight pipes" the proud owner said. "That's what I like about it."

And so we left the scene of the crime unencumbered by the law. I have wondered if a muffler was ever put on the Flash or if the new owner was just luckier or smarter than the three dummies who didn't know you shouldn't do multiple runs through underpasses at two AM in the morning.

We soon had louder noises, airplane engine noises to listen to.

From time to time God does take care of fools. Thankfully He has never given up on us.

Wille Brown and those who elect Pelosi

I'm not into the jealous of the rich thing, but I just wonder how many of the people being wooed by the hosts of this airline vote the straight Democratic ticket, believe totally in man made global warming and contribute to Nancy Pelosi who has blocked and will continue to block efforts to drill for more oil in the US, and thus keep the price low. I would bet money the number is in the 99.99% range.

The following is from a column by the ex-Mayor of Baghdad by the Bay, Willie Brown.

I went to the party of the year Wednesday night. It was thrown by Emirates Airlines, and did they ever put on a show.

It was in the Herbst Pavilion, Building A out at Fort Mason. They had about 500 people.

They made up the place as if you were in the first-class section of their best aircraft. All red.

All these attractive, tall, model-like airline attendants were around with their helpers. And their helpers were nattily dressed guys with white tops and black pants - with tray after tray of anything you wanted to drink.

The cost? Who knows.

I mean, Hilary Swank as the hostess! They had the Lyon Opera Ballet perform during the cocktail reception.

Then a curtain opened up and you went into this dining room with huge screens all around on which they projected the story of Dubai.

Then out came the Irish river dancers and the Brazilian dancers. At the end, Swank invited everyone to come up and dance. And for an hour, Sheryl Crow performed and nobody, but nobody, left the dance floor.

Let them eat cake, eh dear chums?

A low class joke.

You can blame this on Mike L.

Never Choke in a restaurant in the South

Two hillbillies walk into a restaurant. While having a bite to eat, they talk about their moonshine operation.

Suddenly, a woman at a nearby table, who is eating a sandwich, begins to cough. And, after a minute or so, it becomes apparent that she is in real distress One of the hillbillies looks at her and says, 'Kin ya swallar?'

The woman shakes her head no.

Then he asks, 'Kin ya breathe?'

The woman begins to turn blue and shakes her head no.

The hillbilly walks over to the woman, lifts up her dress, yanks down her drawers and quickly gives her right butt cheek a lick with his tongue. The woman is so shocked that she has a violent spasm and the obstruction flies out of her mouth. As she begins to breathe again, the Hillbilly walks slowly back to his table.

His partner says, 'Ya know, I'd heerd of that there 'Hind Lick Maneuver' but I ain't niver seed nobody do it!'

White Castle Hamburgers and Chevrolets

Last week while making my required visit and contribution to Wal-Mart, I happened by the breakfast frozen food section and noticed that nestled among the Jimmy Dean sausages was a box marked "White Castle." Further inspection showed it to be frozen "White Castle Hamburgers" just waiting to be nuked in my microwave.

I stopped. Stunned by memories of past days when I had almost no money, but a boundless future... You see, once upon a time a White Castle Hamburger in Oklahoma City cost nine cents. Yes. A nickel and 4 pennies.

While attending Prep school in Norman, two buddies and I managed to scrape up enough cash to buy an ancient Chevy of very uncertain history. Although relatively clean it had been painted what is often referred to as "British Racing Green," with a brush. Yes, that's right. It had been hand painted.

Now the investment in the car was bad enough, but the cost of gas and oil was fearsome. In fact, it kept us nearly broke. But for a buck and a dime you could get a bag of some of the best hamburgers ever made and a cup of coffee that your momma would envy. We ate'em all weekend long... Dinner on Friday, breakfast on Saturday and Sunday and dinner on Saturday night. They went extra good with the 3.2 beverage the natives called beer.

The car gave us a leg up over our classmates. We could get to Oklahoma City and offer any young ladies who dared associate with us transportation from their homes, after the required interrogation from their parents, of course. I have often thought that these good folks should have been turned loose on the jailbirds in GITMO. Five minutes with them and the truth of who the miscreants were, who their family was four generations back and their plans and ambitions would be laid bare for the world to see.

But, having few, if any Lefties around back then no one wrote articles in the local paper about us being assumed guilty. Of course, just as Bush and 100% of the intelligent people in the world know the terrorists have evil intentions towards us, the young ladies and their parents understood that we were boys and the the young ladies provided, shall we say, a great fascination for us.

One day three of the young ladies, in an effort to domesticate us, proposed a picnic on the beach of what was called a "lake." They provided the food and their company and we provided transportation and a case of beer. Since none of the girls drank that left it to us future world leaders to drink the case of beer... In about three hours. Then it became time to take the object of our desires home, or face the wraith of Mom and Dad.

The only problem we had was that the Chevy had went to the levy and the levy was like quicksand. Our means of transport was buried to its running boards and no amount of pushing and backing would get it out. But just as we were considering sending one of us for help a Sheriff's Patrol showed up. A Deputy got out, took a look at the mess we were in, laughed at us and got a shovel and a rope out of his car's trunk. With a little digging and pulling we got the car on solid ground. The Deputy then told us to be sure and clean up the mess we had made, and with a "be careful on the way home," drove off.

I have often wondered what would have happened if that were today. Most likely we would have been arrested for DUI or some related offense, the girls would have had to call their parents for a ride home and the US Navy would have ended our budding careers as defenders of the free world.

And youngsters can't understand why we old folks often speak of the "good old days."

We got our dates home only slightly late and one of the families let us clean up, perhaps in recognition that we were more a threat to ourselves than to their daughters. And to prove that true love is often found in a Chevrolet, one of my buds and his date kept in touch and eventually married.

The Deputy has never known the good he did. Maybe I'll run into him on the other side and have a chance to say, "Thanks. You did more good than you could have ever known."

Hat tip to Cardomain. It is possible, though highly unlikely, that this beautiflly restored '36 Chevy was once owned by three Navy guys.

Harvard Loses Money

On Thursday I posted about how universities and colleges have lined up to receive their share of our tax dollars:

With the Big Three seeking a bailout from Washington, the Big Ten are following suit. Earlier this week the Carnegie Corporation of New York took out a two-page ad in the New York Times, signed by executives of 36 public universities, state university systems and higher-education associations, urging Congress and President-elect Obama to rescue them.

I provided numerous suggestions on how they could save money. One of them was that everyone making over $50,000 take a 10% pay cut and everyone making over $120,000 take and additional 10% cut...

Boy was I a softie.

Harvard Management Company announced Friday that compensation for its five highest-paid officials and former president totaled approximately $26.8 million for the year ending June 30—a turbulent time for both the markets and the company’s leadership.

Former endowment chief Mohamed A. El-Erian earned $921,000, while his five employees earned between $3.9 and $6.4 million each. The total figure represents a significant increase of 20 percent over that of the previous year, which saw total compensation of $22.3 million

.

A raise??? Why in the world? I mean, talking about being performance orientated.

Under El-Erian and Kaplan’s tenure, Harvard’s endowment grew from $34.9 billion to a $36.9 billion. In the four months after June 30, the endowment shrunk by 22 percent, or $8 billion—the largest decline in the University’s history—and, with continued losses expected, University officials have yet to disclose its recent performance.

Being an old sales type I can tell you that if your revenue decreased 22% you could expect:

1. To receive no bonus or incentive money.

2. A meeting with HR where your severance package would be explained.

3. If you escaped with your job, which was possible in hard times, expenses, salaries, etc., were controlled so tightly the Controller could tell if it was a penny or dime that someone dropped in front of the snack machine.... just from the sound of it hitting the floor from six offices away.

Many gripe about entertainers making a ton of money. I don't. If they don't fill the seats, sell the CD's, books and videos they become last week's story.

And I haven't complained about the stock brokers making money because they made it by taking a small amount... selling a ticket... from each person.

But since they were rewarded handsomely for their success, I believe they should be penalized for their failure. All compensation above $500,000 should be cut to $400,000.

And if they don't like that, pay'em whatever. Just don't come begging to me for money.

Link

Reformation and Muslims

Gates of Vienna has this amazing video, "An Interview With Mohammed," which I have linked to at the end of this post.

In a subtle way it addresses the question of moderation, of reformation within Islam, and is worth watching. I have long noted that it is Muslims who must reform their own religion and throw out the radicals, just as the Catholics, started by Martin Luther, did.

Videos such as this provide a ray of hope that if the West holds firm, we can all live in peace and tolerance. But if the West continues to give into the demands of Sharia law the Muslims wanting change and tolerance will be undercut and violence will be the end result.

Link to Gates of Vienna.

Obama to create outreach administrator to Iran

I always knew Hussein was ignorant.

Barack Obama is planning to create a new administration post meant to reach out to Iran, The Washington Times reported Friday.

Such a move would support the president-elect's pledge during the campaign to engage the rogue nation.

The Times quoted a State Department official who said Obama's team discussed naming a senior Iranian outreach coordinator in early meetings with Hillary Clinton, Obama's pick for secretary of state.

Iranian specialists also said the position was in the works. Obama's team has made no official announcement on the creation of such a post.

Now I know he's stupid.


Fox

FLASH! PALIN'S DAUGHTER'S MOTHER IN LAW ARRESTED!

HOLD ABOVE THE FOLD FOR FURTHER DETAILS! REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR'S OFFICE REFUSES TO COMMENT! MCCAIN STAFF MEMBER SAYS HE KNEW IT ALL THE TIME!

WHEN ASKED TO COMMENT, PRESIDENT ELECT HUSSEIN SAID, "DON'T WASTE YOUR QUESTION."

WASILLA -- A 42-year-old Wasilla woman was arrested Thursday at her home by Alaska State Troopers with a search warrant in an undercover drug investigation. Sherry L. Johnston was charged with six felony counts of misconduct involving a controlled substance.

Johnston is the mother of Levi Johnston, the Wasilla 18-year-old who received international attention in September when Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, announced their teenage daughter was pregnant and he was the father. Bristol Palin, 18, is due on Saturday, according to a recent interview with the governor's father, Chuck Heath.

Now just watch this turn into a media circus.

BUMP AND UPDATE - I just went to Advanced Search in Google, selected "must have all these words" and typed "Sherry Johnston arrested" hit search and got 86,100 hits..

And that is in about 18.5 hours, the first 6 of those in the early morning hours.

Tell you anything, dear chums?

Colleges and Universities want a "bail out."

With the Big Three seeking a bailout from Washington, the Big Ten are following suit. Earlier this week the Carnegie Corporation of New York took out a two-page ad in the New York Times, signed by executives of 36 public universities, state university systems and higher-education associations, urging Congress and President-elect Obama to rescue them.

Mr. Obama has already promised to expand federal subsidies to higher education by increasing Pell grants and making student-loan terms more permissive. The university chiefs seek an additional "federal infusion of capital" -- as much as $45 billion -- to build new facilities, especially "green" ones. "To ensure a rapid response, only projects that are shovel-ready or on which construction can begin within 120-180 days should be funded," says the ad.

If our congress people thought that many tax payers were grumpy over bailing out the Big Three automakers, just wait until these makers of radicals and America Haters line up with their hands out.

Let me suggest some modest reforms these folks need to try before they come begging.

Have everyone making above $50,000 a year take a 10% pay cut.

Have everyone making about $120,000 a year take an additional 10% pay cut.

Change all financial need scholarship programs to a "best test score" applicant gets the money.

Eliminate tenure. You don't do the job, you're toast.

Make all "special studies" departments and programs privately funded.

Quit building. You can't afford it. (Neither can I.)

All out of state students pay out of state tuition.

Turn all cultural sojourner students, aka illegal aliens, over to immigration.

Eliminate sabbaticals, both paid and unpaid. If they don't want to work, let'em quit.

Eliminate all social type functions that the college or university is paying for.

All "retreats" and/or meetings must be held on campus.

All travel by groups or individuals paid for by the school must be by lowest cost, signed off on before the travel by the highest official of the school and published in the local newspaper for five days prior to the travel and noted on the school's Web page.

Sports programs must pay for themselves. Funds can be moved between programs at the school's discretion, but no funds from the school may be used.

I am sure there are other things but these will be a good start.

Link to WSJ.

Hat tip to Urgent Agenda.

Large majority believe Obama or his staff involved in Blago scandal

From Rasmussen with a hat tip to Powerline we find that:

Forty five percent (45%) of U.S. voters say it is likely President-elect Obama or one of his top campaign aides was involved in the unfolding Blagojevich scandal in Illinois, including 23% who say it is Very Likely.

Just 11% say it is not at all likely, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken Thursday and Friday nights.

That means that 89% believe that it is likely that Obama and/or his staff are involved in the scandal.

Wow. My confidence in the American public has just shot up.

As has been said..... Well, duhhhhhh......

I mean Democrat....Chicago....scandal....

How did that old song go?

"Love and marriage, love and marriage, they go together like a horse and carriage..
I tell you brother, you can't have one without the other!"

The question is, how long will the press tolerate being told to "save your question."
Think any of'em will grow a pair big enough to make them bite back?

Nahhhhhhh. That would require massive injections of testerone. Won't happen.

A new wine for the holidays

My good buddy Mike L, knowing that I enjoy a glass or three of wine with dinner, sent me this information regarding a new wine that is just becoming available in time for the holidays. In the spirit of fellowship, I share his thoughts with you.

Wal-Mart announced that it will be offering customers a new discount item ... Wal-Mart's own brand of wine.

The world's largest retail chain is rumored to be teaming up with Ernest & Julio Gallo Winery of California to produce the spirits at an affordable price -- in the
$2 to $5 range.

Wine connoisseurs may not be inclined to put a bottle of the Wal-Mart brand into their shopping carts, but "There is a market for inexpensive wine." said Kathy Micken, professor of marketing at the University of Arkansas, Bentonville. "However, branding will be very important."

Customer surveys were conducted to determine the most attractive name for the Wal-Mart wine brand.

The top surveyed names in order of popularity were:

Chateau Traileur Parc
White Trashfindel
Big Red Gulp
World Championship Riesling
NASCARbernet
Chef Boyardeaux
Peanut Noir
I Can't Believe it's not Vinegar
Grape Expectations
Nasti Spumante

The beauty of Wal-Mart wine is that it can be served with either white meat (Possum) or red meat(Squirrel).

Take care of yours and Merry Christmas,

Mike

P.S. Don't bother writing back that this is a hoax...I know possum is not a white meat.

Palin's church fire bombed

...in Wasilla, Alaska, an evangelical church, attended by Gov. Sarah Palin and her family, teaches the true meaning of Christ's message to His church and to a fallen world.

On Friday, Dec. 12, the Wasilla Bible Church was firebombed. Authorities said the fire started at the main entrance of the church and that they are investigating the blaze as arson. They estimated the damage at $1 million. No one was injured, although a small group, which included children, was inside at the time.

Did you miss this on TV? Drudge? Daily KOS? MoveOn? Huffington Post? New York Times??

Can you imagine the screams of outrage if Obama's church had been firebombed?

Think you could have missed that??

Link to source.

0 to 60 in 2 seconds

Hat tip to Mike L.

An Englishman acts like an Englishman.

To those of you who keep an eye peeled at the European Union to see what Hussein has in mind for us, the link at the bottom will give you a look at an astonishing speech in this PC world.

Nigel Farage's speech.

Hat tip to the Brussels Journal.

Obama speaks!

Link to a funny one.

Rezko changes his mind....

Link to Sun Times

A federal judge has indefinitely postponed the Jan. 6 sentencing for Tony Rezko, the prominent political fund-raiser and former adviser to Gov. Blagojevich.

The move this morning came after Rezko lawyers asked U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve last week to throw out the sentencing date.

Rezko's request comes as he restarts talks with federal prosecutors. Those talks hit a stumbling block as Rezko asked to be let out of solitary confinement at the downtown federal lockup. He asked for a rushed sentencing in January.

But last week's revelation that the government has recordings in the governor's case, appeared to change Rezko's mind about cooperating.

Huh? To some folks, maybe even in Obama's camp or The Chosen One himself has to find this news as good as being told they need to do a second colonscope....

Obama and Al Gore... together at last

And that's a scary thought. And since Hussein is trained as a lawyer and Algore flunked out of Divinity school... I certainly want to spend a zillion dollars based on these two.... Especially if science or engineering is involved.

But I digress.

I give you this from New Scientist.

Climate myths: Global warming stopped in 1998

Water stores an immense amount of heat compared with air. It takes more than 1000 times as much energy to heat a cubic metre of water by 1 degree Centigrade as it does the same volume of air. Since the 1960s, over 90% of the excess heat due to higher greenhouse gas levels has gone into the oceans, and just 3% into warming the atmosphere (see figure 5.4 in the IPCC report (PDF)).

Globally, this means that if the oceans soak up a bit more heat energy than normal, surface air temperatures can fall even though the total heat content of the planet is rising. Conversely, if the oceans soak up less heat than usual, surface temperatures will rise rapidly.

Okay fine. Now let us say that X amount of heat is applied, of which 90% is soaked up by the oceans and 3% into the atmosphere. Now the author wrote:

Globally, this means that if the oceans soak up a bit more heat energy than normal, surface air temperatures can fall even though the total heat content of the planet is rising.

Wait a second there varmints! Let us examine something. Let us say that the ocean temperature is Y and now we introduce more heat. The temperature goes up because 90% of that new heat is soaked up by the ocean and 3% is soaked up by the atmosphere...... yet the atmosphere temperature falls........ Uh, look. Can we talk?

I am not a scientist and I gave up on being really smart as an engineering type years ago, but if you make something hotter by introducing heat (energy) then by golly it doesn't get cooler.... that 3% does something... and it is THE AUTHOR'S number. Try this.

If the ocean gets warmer because of the energy applied to it from radiation, be it reflected from the atmosphere or from the sun and other cosmic sources the air will not become cooler.

And we are supposed to believe what this guy writes?

Civil War and Big Three Bailouts....

I can't remember who sent me this or where I got it or when.

But after watching the idiots from the north attack the South over the partisan politics of last Thursday night I think this says it all.

There is no way

One morning, three Southerners and three Yankees were in a ticket counter line at a train station. The three Northerners each bought a ticket and watched as the three Southerners bought just one ticket.

"How are the three of you going to travel on only one ticket?" asked one of the Yankees.

"Watch and learn," answered one of the boys from the South.

All six boarded the train where the three Yankees sat down, but the three Southerners crammed into a toilet together and closed the door.

Shortly after the train departed, the conductor came around to collect tickets. He knocked on the toilet door and said, "Ticket, please."

The door opened just a crack and a single arm emerged with a ticket in hand. The conductor took it and moved on.

The Yankees saw this happen and agreed it was quite a clever idea. Indeed, so clever they decided to do the same thing on the return trip and save some money.

That afternoon when they got back to the station, they bought a single ticket for the return trip and watched, while to their astonishment, the three Southerners didn't buy even one ticket.

"How are you going to travel without a ticket?" asked a perplexed Yankee.

"Watch and learn," answered the three Southern boys in unison.

When they boarded the train, the three Northerners crammed themselves into a toilet and the three Southerners crammed into another toilet just down the way. Shortly after the train began to move, one of the Southerners left their toilet and walked over to the toilet in which the Yankees were hiding. The Southerner knocked on the door and said, "Ticket, please."

There's just no way on God's green earth to explain how the Yankees ever won the war.

What I found to be extremely disgusting was watching the press failing to mention that there were enough Demos who voted against it to have passed it if they really "cared."

And could we please knock of all the BS about loaded labor costs??

Just tell me how many actual US dollars are being paid, what the fringe benefits are and I can figure out who has the best deal.

Does that mean I am against "bailing" them out? No. I am just against being lied to and having people tell me I am supposed to pay them "X" amount. Maybe a southern transplant living in Detroit city and working for a legacy car maker is worth more than a southern good old boy working for a transplant car maker in Alabama, but if you want my money you better start showing me why.

Does the above mean I want the corporations to go into Chapter 11? No, because that would destroy a lot of pensions that are being paid, said pensions having been earned based on a prior agreement.

Us Southern boys believe that keeping your word is a requirement in having that "manly feeling" all those Gollywood types seem to want to project.

What they could do is say at age 65 you go on Medicare like the rest of the world.

And did I mention that a warranty claim against a Chapter 11 company is often called an "unsecured claim?" (Plainer. You ain't gonna get nuttin'.)

So there are a lot of ifs and buts going on here, but, as usual the Lefties want to pretend they are smarter than God and are just so sensitive that most of us either want them to just shut up or go away or both.

Obama did what???

Just the facts...


Now we have another source that says that Obama met with the Gov. In this case it was specifically to discuss his replacement.

Ill. governor meeting with Obama today
By Carol Sowers
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 at 10:39 a.m.
CHICAGO, ILL. -- Now that Barack Obama will be moving to the White House, his seat in the U.S. Senate representing Illinois will have to be filled.

That's one of Obama's first priorities today.

He's meeting with Governor Rod Blagojevich this afternoon in Chicago to discuss it.

Illinois law states that the governor chooses that replacement.

There's already been speculation about his selection...from Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. of Chicago's south side

Link
And then...

By Alexis Hunt - Saturday, November 08, 2008 at 9:48 p.m.

QUINCY, IL -- Now that Barack Obama will be moving to the White House, his seat in the U.S. Senate representing Illinois will have to be filled.

Obama met with Governor Rod Blagojevich earlier this week to discuss it. Illinois law states that the governor chooses that replacement. There's already been speculation about his selection...from Congressman Jesse Jackson, Junior to Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth.

Link

Then we had the interview with Axlerod which featured the disappearing video of him saying Obama had met with the Gov.

UPDATE: HERE'S THE MISSING VIDEO.

And yet Obama says he didn't.

Wow.

We will find out if the press has a shred of journalistic standards left.

Hat tip to Power and Control.

Christmas Cheer

Christmas Story - for anyone having a bad day....

When four of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the pre-Christmas pressure.

Then Mrs. Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more. When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where. Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered.

So, frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drunk all the cider and hidden the liquor. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider jug, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom.

Just then the doorbell rang, and irritated Santa marched to the door, yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.

The angel said very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?"


......And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree...

Thanks to Denver Shawn!

Obama and Lies UPDATE

Obama lied......

Well today he said he had had no contact with Blago re his appointment.

Who you gonna believe? The chosen one or your lying ears and eyes?

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE.... THE VIDEO IS NOW AVAILABLE. MY THANKS TO WEEDER GANDER.
UPDATE: THE VIDEO IS MAGICALLY "NO LONGER AVAILABLE." THE HUSSEIN TRANSITION TEAM SAYS AXLEROD MISSPOKE HIMSELF.

I'LL SAY HE DID. HE TOLD TRUTH WHEN IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE, BUT WHEN HUSSEIN DENIED SPEAKING WITH THE GOVERNOR, HE HAS SUDDENLY "MISSPOKE."

WHY DID HUSSEIN SAY HE HAD NOT?

AND IF THE ANSWER IS, "HE MISSPOKE" WHY PULL THE VIDEO??

WHAT DID HUSSEIN KNOW AND WHEN DID HE KNOW IT?

Ya gotta read this

The Deadwood approach to fighting terrorism.

Hat tip to Grouchy Old Cripple.

England does it again

I keep posting this picture of a canary. Why? Because a canary was used in mines to give the miners advance warning that deadly gas was seeping into where they were working. When the canary became sick, it was time to run.

The following is from Gates of Vienna, one of the more active blogs on the Internet specializing in the slow but steady collapse of England and Europe and the take over and imposition of Sharia law.

Read it and the only thing you can say is, "What? This is too stupid, so against everything England and America have stood for that it can't be real.

But it is real, dear chums. It is very real.

The Police State Is Here: BNP Publican Arrested over Commercial Newspaper Cuttings

Anyone who doubts that the Police State does not exist should think again. A BNP-supporting publican has been arrested because of commercial newspaper cuttings he pasted up on his pub walls which a visiting senior police officer did not like.

Mr Peter Mailer, owner of the Black Bull in Warkworth, Northumberland was arrested on ‘suspicion of committing a racially-aggravated public order offence’ because of newspaper clippings on the wall.

Mr. Mailer was arrested after a complaint from a senior Nottingham Police officer who visited the pub while on holiday.

Mr Mailer, who is an active supporter of the British National Party, was hauled into the nearby Alnwick Police Station.

He has been bailed to return to the station on December 23, when he will learn whether or not the Crown Prosecution Service will charge him.

[…]

The newspaper cuttings were all from commercially published daily newspapers. Journalists from the papers who read this, had therefore better be aware that the state which they have helped to create, will ultimately come for them as well.

Now, let's look at this dastardly crime. The posting on the bulletin board of a pub.



When they come for you, dear chums, remember that you had ample warning yet continued to not speak out.

Shalom, happy Chanukah and all that good stuff from

Rudolph's first cousin on his mother's side, Shlomo.



Hat tip to Grant M

Torture and the CIA

With Obama picking his main minions the Left is again in a tizzy over the issue of "torture" and who should run the CIA.

I enclose "torture" in quotation marks because I have trouble in defining it. Branding irons, cattle prods, the Iron Lady, et al, are obviously instruments of torture.

But are sleep deprivation, exposure to temperature extremes, loud music, nasty talk by females during interrogation..... I think not. Is waterboarding? I think not.

Now enters the military who wants all prisoners treated like prisoners of war. Hint to the Left Wing Generals. All prisoners are not prisoners of war but should be treated as such by the military.

The CIA is different. How different?

I wrote the following on 12/16/2007 and I think sums this up quite well.

With apologies to Shakespeare.....otherwise known as that dude who caused us much misery in Senior lit, the question has become….. To torture or not to torture? That is the question. I mean we all know that only the evil ones of the world torture. And torture is immoral. Right?

Oh, really?? Let me pose a scenario to you. This afternoon you drive over to your local shopping center to shop. As you get out of your car you see an elderly lady walking towards her car one row over. You can also see two young thugs semi crouched between two cars, obviously waiting to mug her. As you start to move, one of the thugs sees you and makes a threatening gesture. Do you yell at her? Run at the thugs? Honk your horn? Dial 911? Or stand frozen in place, watching them jump out, grab her purse, knock her down and dash off?

If you chose to do nothing, I submit that you have just committed an immoral act. You have committed a sin of omission. We are our brother’s keeper.

The Left in particular, and some fuzzy headed Republicans are currently bent out of shape over waterboarding. I’m not.

The CIA is "our brother's keeper."

My thanks to Investor Business Daily.

Obama and Jon Favreau and taste and how that relates to the safety of the country

the photo featuring President-elect Obama's chief speechwriter Jon Favreau and his colleague that turned up in the media and on the Internet last week.

While the following notation of the usual double standard applied to the sins of the Demos as compared to the sins of the Repubs is accurate, it really isn't the point.

Breitbart observes that "[t]he aggressive iconography of two young drunk men taking advantage of a life-size cutout of a woman - especially a powerful one - would bring an elite college campus to a standstill, force a housecleaning of a Fortune 500 company, ground the Air Force Academy and would, in most cases, ruin the career of a Republican staffer or elected official." He juxtaposes the jocular reaction to Favreau's photograph with that of any comparable Republican:

"If, for instance, President Bush's former speechwriter Michael Gerson had been caught in flagrante cartone, he would have stepped down before the president could fire him. If not, the media, the feminist establishment and the Democratic Party leadership would have destroyed Mr. Gerson and Mr. Bush and crafted a "culture of harassment" umbrella descriptor to hang around the administration's neck in perpetuity.

In GOP land, apologies and resignations are never enough...."

In the case of Favreau, however, "the Democratic double standard on political correctness kicked in immediately as the feminist establishment, the media and even Mrs. Clinton herself came forth to save the fast-rising Obama wordsmith." Whatever moral one draws from this particular episode, it is a striking illustration of the phenomenon that was the subject of Professor Hanson's column.

No. The issue is Hussein. By tolerating this action he is clearly saying, "I have no taste."

But why, you may ask, is this important? Because dear chums it validates those who rightly noted that Hussein had hung around the Reverend Wright because he had no particular problem with listening to someone scream "God damn America!" and better yet, Hussein could use the association to his advantage.

The same applies to his association with Ayers. He knew who Ayers was and what Ayers had done. But again, he had no particular problem with what Ayers was and what he had done, and again better yet, he could use the association to his advantage.

He has no taste. No foundation in middle class morals and mores. He belongs to no group and thus feels free to do as he feels right. There is another word for such a person that I am inching towards using, but I think he deserves a bit longer to prove me wrong.

He is starting to remind me of Nixon without Nixon's base patriotism... and, like Nixon, his loyalty is to someone who is loyal to him. In the end that destroyed Nixon's ability to govern.

At present the media is still in denial, but the far Left is starting to grumble. We shall see how long and how much they will endure from The Chosen One.

Powerline Link

England gives up its language

A nation that gives up its language soon ceases to be a nation. The ties that bind its citizens together are words. Spoken and written words that invoke common memories of the country.

From England, a country that seems to be unable to shed its glorious and freedom giving past fast enough, we get another example of how those who worship at the altar of diversity are the leaders in this damnable task.

Keep in mind that this the "Children's" dictionary so some one will argue that the words aren't gone, merely moved. I would argue that 99% of the vocabulary is formed by age ten, and by removing them, even if a child is exposed to such a evil word as "altar," they won't have a ready and easy source of its meaning.

Oxford University Press has removed words like "aisle", "bishop", "chapel", "empire" and "monarch" from its Junior Dictionary and replaced them with words like "blog", "broadband" and "celebrity". Dozens of words related to the countryside have also been culled.

The publisher claims the changes have been made to reflect the fact that Britain is a modern, multicultural, multifaith society.

I never dreamed that "aisle," was ancient and out of date. And replacing "chapel" with "celebrity" seems to be well past midnight on the stupid clock.

What's next? "Terrorist" replaced by "insurgent?" That would suit the Left wing diversity crowd quite well."

Evidently this nonsense started in 2003. The removed words are:

Carol, cracker, holly, ivy, mistletoe

Dwarf, elf, goblin

Abbey, aisle, altar, bishop, chapel, christen, disciple, minister, monastery, monk, nun, nunnery, parish, pew, psalm, pulpit, saint, sin, devil, vicar

Coronation, duchess, duke, emperor, empire, monarch, decade

adder, ass, beaver, boar, budgerigar, bullock, cheetah, colt, corgi, cygnet, doe, drake, ferret, gerbil, goldfish, guinea pig, hamster, heron, herring, kingfisher, lark, leopard, lobster, magpie, minnow, mussel, newt, otter, ox, oyster, panther, pelican, piglet, plaice, poodle, porcupine, porpoise, raven, spaniel, starling, stoat, stork, terrapin, thrush, weasel, wren.

Acorn, allotment, almond, apricot, ash, bacon, beech, beetroot, blackberry, blacksmith, bloom, bluebell, bramble, bran, bray, bridle, brook, buttercup, canary, canter, carnation, catkin, cauliflower, chestnut, clover, conker, county, cowslip, crocus, dandelion, diesel, fern, fungus, gooseberry, gorse, hazel, hazelnut, heather, holly, horse chestnut, ivy, lavender, leek, liquorice, manger, marzipan, melon, minnow, mint, nectar, nectarine, oats, pansy, parsnip, pasture, poppy, porridge, poultry, primrose, prune, radish, rhubarb, sheaf, spinach, sycamore, tulip, turnip, vine, violet, walnut, willow

Words put in:

Blog, broadband, MP3 player, voicemail, attachment, database, export, chatroom, bullet point, cut and paste, analogue

Celebrity, tolerant, vandalism, negotiate, interdependent, creep, citizenship, childhood, conflict, common sense, debate, EU, drought, brainy, boisterous, cautionary tale, bilingual, bungee jumping, committee, compulsory, cope, democratic, allergic, biodegradable, emotion, dyslexic, donate, endangered, Euro

Apparatus, food chain, incisor, square number, trapezium, alliteration, colloquial, idiom, curriculum, classify, chronological, block graph

Isn't the question.... Why not just add the words? The English language is a wonderful sponge and is used the world over because it is flexible and adds/removes words on its own. It needs no help.

This action is like the canary in the coal mine.

The excuse, and the Left always has a good intentioned excuse, is stated as:

Vineeta Gupta, the head of children's dictionaries at Oxford University Press, said: "We are limited by how big the dictionary can be – little hands must be able to handle it

But wait, dear Vineeta, are you telling us that six or seven extra pages are so burdensome that the users can't handle them? As Colonel Potter said, "Horse hockey."

Here is the real reason. Again from Vineeta:

We are also much more multicultural. People don't go to Church as often as before. Our understanding of religion is within multiculturalism, which is why some words such as "Pentecost" or "Whitsun" would have been in 20 years ago but not now."

Indeed. "Not now."

`I don't know what you mean by "glory,"' Alice said.

Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. `Of course you don't -- till I tell you. I meant "there's a nice knock-down argument for you!"'

`But "glory" doesn't mean "a nice knock-down argument,"' Alice objected.

`When _I_ use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, `it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less.'

`The question is,' said Alice, `whether you CAN make words mean so many different things.'

`The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, `which is to be master - - that's all.'

--Lewis Carrol, "Through the Looking Glass"

Links and thanks to the Telegraph.