Umbilical Stem Cell Success?

If this is true, it is a major breakthrough for stem cell research. Sorry, California, they're umbilical stem cells...no killing fetuses needed. See my post here for the real story on stem cells.

Front Page: New York Times

Just kidding, this from NewsMax.com:

FALLUJAH, Iraq – Marines from the 1st Marine Division shot and killed an insurgent, who while faking dead, opened fire on the Marines that were conducting a security and clearing patrol through the streets here at approximately 3:45 p.m. on 21 November.

For more information, please contact Capt Bradley Gordon, public affairs officer, 1st Marine Division, gordonbv@1mardivdm.usmc.mil

Watch the major media...see if they report it.

Read Any Great Books?

There is an old saying, from I know not where, that goes something like this, “A good book is one that preserves your beliefs, a great book is one that destroys them.” I have found that to be true. Many of my thoughts and opinions have come from being forced, by some faceless author, to question previously held ideas.These are the books I admire the most. And in that light, I would like some input on any books, you out there, have read that have changed your beliefs and ideas about the mind, life, the universe, whatever. This is, of course, for purely selfish reasons...I will be going on a sunny, sandy vacation soon and would like something inspiring to peruse.

To get us started here is a list of some books that have had such an effect on me:

1) Walden by Henry David Thoreau.
Probably the one book that has affected my ideals more than any other. A truly great book.

2) The Hero With a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell.
As with many of his writings, it points to the intrinsic sameness of humanity throughout all cultures.

3) The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious By Carl Jung
A look into the the mind of man.

4) The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
A book filled with wisdom on how to find peace in one's life. His The Mastery of Love is also recommended.

5) The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura Schlessinger
If you are married or are heading in that direction, male or female, get it and read it and use whatever force necessay to get your partner to read it.

6) The Way of Zen by Alan Watts
If this book does not make you think about the way you view the world, it is time to invest in a casket.

7) The Poetry of Robert Frost: The Collected Poems, Complete and Unabridged by Robert Frost
If you enjoy poetry at all he was one of America's greats.

8) The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge by Carlos Casteneda
The entire Don Juan series really points out the power we have over our own lives along with the resposibilities.

9) A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
A laymans guide to the universe.

10) A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
A wonderull book showcasing the interconnectedness of history. If you like Connections on PBS you'll enjoy this.

Well, there's ten..I await your comments and suggestions. My foundations could use a good shaking.

Thank You Mr. Meyer

For any of you who have not yet seen Herbert E. Meyer's The Siege of Western Civilization, go buy it, sit your children down and watch it. This his latest, from The American Thinker, an open letter to the Euroweenies:

An open letter to Europe
November 11th, 2004


Hi. Are you nuts?

Forgive me for being so blunt, but your reaction to our reelection of President Bush has been so outrageous that I’m wondering if you have quite literally lost your minds. One of Britain’s largest newspapers ran a headline asking “How Can 59 Million Americans Be So Dumb?”, and commentators in France all seemed to use the same word – bizarre -- to explain the election’s outcome to their readers. In Germany the editors of Die Tageszeitung responded to our vote by writing that “Bush belongs at a war tribunal – not in the White House.” And on a London radio talk show last week one Jeremy Hardy described our President and those of us who voted for him as “stupid, crazy, ignorant, bellicose Christian fundamentalists.”

Of course, you are entitled to whatever views about us that you care to hold. (And lucky for you we Americans aren’t like so many of the Muslims on your own continent; as the late Dutch film maker Theo van Gogh just discovered, make one nasty crack about them and you’re likely to get six bullets pumped into your head and a knife plunged into your chest.) But before you write us off as just a bunch of sweaty, hairy-chested, Bible-thumping morons who are more likely to break their fast by dipping a Krispy Kreme into a diet cola than a biscotti into an espresso – and who inexplicably have won more Nobel prizes than all other countries combined, host 25 or 30 of the world’s finest universities and five or six of the world’s best symphonies, produce wines that win prizes at your own tasting competitions, have built the world’s most vibrant economy, are the world’s only military superpower and, so to speak in our spare time, have landed on the moon and sent our robots to Mars – may I suggest you stop frothing at the mouth long enough to consider just what are these ideas we hold that you find so silly and repugnant?

We believe that church and state should be separate, but that religion should remain at the center of life. We are a Judeo-Christian culture, which means we consider those ten things on a tablet to be commandments, not suggestions. We believe that individuals are more important than groups, that families are more important than governments, that children should be raised by their parents rather than by the State, and that marriage should take place only between a man and a woman. We believe that rights must be balanced by responsibilities, that personal freedom is a privilege we must be careful not to abuse, and that the rule of law cannot be set aside when it becomes inconvenient. We believe in economic liberty, and in the right of purposeful and industrious entrepreneurs to run their businesses – and thus create jobs – with a minimum of government interference. We recognize that other people see things differently, and we are tolerant of their views. But we believe that our country is worth defending, and if anyone decides that killing us is an okay thing to do we will go after them with everything we’ve got.

If these beliefs seem strange to you, they shouldn’t. For these are precisely the beliefs that powered Western Europe – you -- from the Middle Ages into the Renaissance, on to the Enlightenment, and forward into the modern world. They are the beliefs that made Europe itself the glory of Western civilization and – not coincidentally – ignited the greatest outpouring of art, literature, music and scientific discovery the world has ever known including Michaelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Shakespeare, Bach, Issac Newton and Descartes.


Europe is Dying

It is your abandonment of these beliefs that has created the gap between Europe and the United States. You have ceased to be a Judeo-Christian culture, and have become instead a secular culture. And a secular culture quickly goes from being “un-religious” to anti-religious. Indeed, your hostility to the basic concepts of Judaism and Christianity has literally been written into your new European Union constitution, despite the Pope’s heroic efforts to the contrary.

Your rate of marriage is at an all-time low, and the number of abortions in Europe is at an all-time high. Indeed, your birth rates are so far below replacement levels that in 30 years or so there will be 70 million fewer Europeans alive than are alive today. Europe is literally dying. And of the children you do manage to produce, all too few will be raised in stable, two-parent households.

Your economy is stagnant because your government regulators make it just about impossible for your entrepreneurs to succeed – except by fleeing to the United States, where we welcome them and celebrate their success.

And your armed forces are a joke. With the notable exception of Great Britain, you no longer have the military strength to defend yourselves. Alas, you no longer have the will to defend yourselves.

What worries me even more than all this is your willful blindness. You refuse to see that it is you, not we Americans, who have abandoned Western Civilization. It’s worrisome because, to tell you the truth, we need each other. Western Civilization today is under siege, from radical Islam on the outside and from our own selfish hedonism within. It’s going to take all of our effort, our talent, our creativity and, above all, our will to pull through. So take a good, hard look at yourselves and see what your own future will be if you don’t change course. And please, stop sneering at America long enough to understand it. After all, Western Civilization was your gift to us, and you ought to be proud of what we Americans have made of it.

'nuff said.

Happy Thanksgiving

Have a great Thanksgiving, all.

Government Schools

Miss I.: Good morning children. And welcome to General History 101. I am Miss Information and I’ll be your teacher this year at Land of Fruits and Nuts High School. Well, I see we already have a raised hand. Oh, children look its Jimmy, he has just recently transferred from what we refer to as a Red State...Yes, Jimmy?

Jimmy: Miss I., I recently read about a controversy involving the Declaration of Independence...

Miss I.: Hey, whoa there, sport. Don’t know anything about this supposed Declaration you speak of...Let’s just move on...

Jimmy: But...

Miss I.: Children, who thinks Jimmy needs another Ridalin? Let’s move forward. Our lesson today involves a great Italian free thinker, astronomer, mathematician, and physicist Galileo Galilei. You remember Copernicus from last year, I’m sure. Well, Galileo began to teach Copernicus’s theory that the sun was the center of the solar system. This angered some religi.... um, people, uh in Rome. Some guy named Pope Whatchamicallit or other. Children, a Pope is, hmm how can I put this, a guy that dresses in long flowing robes, drinks lots of wine, and never marries...you know like principal Vidmar.
Any way, they tried him because this disagreed with their belief in, uh, well, stuff. And they convicted him and made him promise to abide by their beliefs in...oh geez, well, hmm....Oh, just forget it. Let’s move on to another lesson. OK, I see another hand up..Suzie, you have a question?

Suzie: Miss I, can I have a condom?

Miss I.: Now, sweetie, you know full well where the dispensing machine in the lunchroom is. But, let’s now talk about the Spanish conquistador Hernad Cortes. He went Cuba in the early 1500's. From there he went on to the heartland of Mexico in search of gold and to spread Cathol....whoa, hold on, let’s just say in search of gold. He soon encountered Montezuma, the emperor of the Aztecs. Well, children Cortes was far out manned but was able to defeat the Aztecs, partly because Montezuma believed Cortes to be his god Quezalcoatl...ooops, did I say god, whoopsy, I of course meant cousin Quezalcoatl...on his mothers side...twice removed. You know what, screw it. I Quit!

Winston Spinning in His Grave

Neville Chamberlain is back, promising Iran's peaceful intentions.

Fun and Games

Went to a basketball game and a soccer match broke out. Disgusting.

Chris Matthews Negotiates With Bin Laden

This from 'Hardball With Chris Matthews' last night. Mr. Matthews was speaking with Michael Scheuer formerly of the CIA:

'MATTHEWS: After 22 years with the CIA, Michael Scheuer left the agency this past Friday. It is fair to say few people there knew more about Osama bin Laden than did he and does. Yet Scheuer says his warnings about the threat that bin Laden posed to this country fell on deaf ears. His complaints were made public in “Imperial Hubris,” a book critical of the CIA and the Bush administration.
Michael, you‘re a gutsy guy. When did you sense that bin Laden was going to be a danger to us?
MICHAEL : I think we found out shortly after we began chasing him in January of 1996 that he was much more than any kind of terrorist we had ever seen before.
MATTHEWS: What is his motive? Why does he want to kill us?
SCHEUER: His motive—his motive is to change our policies, sir. Notwithstanding what the president or Mr. Kerry said during the campaign, he really doesn‘t give a darn about our democracy or our society. He is after a change in policies which he views as lethal to Muslims.
MATTHEWS: Does he think, for example—let me try this—and I don‘t want to sound like an apologist. But suppose we had truly an even-handed policy in the Middle East. Suppose there was a Palestinian entity of some kind and it had reasonable borders and it was contiguous enough to be a working state, and we didn‘t back dictators like the Saudi royal family, people like that who are simply selling the oil to keep their fingers filled with rings and girlfriends in London, all right?
Suppose we were a good country and an even-handed country, all right?
Would that make him any less hostile to us?
SCHEUER: We are a good country, sir, to start with.
MATTHEWS: In other words, in his eyes.
SCHEUER: Yes, in bin Laden‘s...
MATTHEWS: What are the problems besides Middle East and the oil kingdoms?
SCHEUER: With bin Laden, his opposition is based on support for Israel, support for the tyrannies.
MATTHEWS: Yes. Does he want to eliminate Israel?
SCHEUER: I think he does. I think that‘s...
MATTHEWS: OK, well, that makes it simple. You can‘t do that.
SCHEUER: That‘s clearly his goal.
MATTHEWS: So there‘s no policy negotiation we could ever have with this guy.
SCHEUER: It has to be a changes in policies and a more assertive use of military force.
(CROSSTALK)
MATTHEWS: No. What I‘m saying, there‘s no way not to be at war with this guy, from our perspective, is what I‘m asking you.
SCHEUER: Yes.
Right now, the choice isn‘t between war and peace. It is between war and endless war.
MATTHEWS: Was there any time that we could have avoided war against him?
SCHEUER: No.
MATTHEWS: So, basically, he started a war against us. We just got to beat him.
SCHEUER: Yes. That‘s exactly right.
MATTHEWS: OK. That‘s what I want to know.'

So, Mr. Matthews maybe finally gets that you can't negotiate with terrorists? Maybe, maybe not. But his words do show where his heart lies.
And why does the far left want so much to deal with these usurpers of Islam? Do they not realize it is exactly their leftist ideology that the terrorists hate so much? But let’s deal with the these murderes. Let’s just make concessions. Sound good? OK then, let’s make a list of what we could offer:

1) We could give up women’s rights...no more equality, the Islamo-fascists hate that. No more women working. No more having it all ladies, but then of course no more glass ceiling or unequal pay, either. No more passing out condoms to high school girls. Shoot, no more girls in school at all. No more fashion industry, how many colors of berkas could there be? And you can throw out the whole ‘choice’ debate. No more abortions, period. And let’s throw in female circumcision and honor killings just for fun.

2) We'd have to cede the left's love of tolerance and compassion. No room for tolerance in a religion whose very name means 'submission'. The Suni's and Shiite's can not even tolerate each other, how do you think they'd feel about secularists, athiest's, American Jews, and Christians? How 'bout tolerance for those who engage in non-straight sex? Let's just say the words 'submit or die' come to mind.

3) Maybe we could negotiate away homosexual marriage and civil unions altogether. But, we’d probably be beheaded for even bringing it up. Let’s not. ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’? Don’t think so...better to deny it exists at all. Homosexuality doesn’t sit well with those true believers in the ‘religion of peace.’ There goes all our ‘What Not to Wear/Queer Eye’ clone television shows. Shoot, and no more interior decorating or antiquing. On the positive side, maybe we could keep the Boy Scouts.

4) Might as well throw in our televisions, DVD players, cable, and satellite. Our programs and cinema would not sit well with the sophisticated pallette of the child killers. Our God hating, controversy driven, sex teasing media would have to be replaced by America-Jazeera. The perverse sexuality that the ACLU protects has to go. No more, “It’s the parent's responsibility to protect their own children from what society spits out.” Now it will be the mullah's responsibility, not you evil non-believers.

5) Let's toss in the lefts idea of justice. No more gettting our panties in a wad about supposed police brutality. That is what the police would then be for. You can forget about Miranda warnings...here's the warning, "Stop, American Satan pig!" Followed, of course, by the sound of Uzi's. That would make the whole death penalty controversy obsolete. Of course, we would then have the 'not in my backyard' dilemna of where to put the mass graves.

I could go on, but I'm getting bored. And by now, maybe you can see that many of the left's beloved ideas are the very reasons the Islamic terrorists hate us in the first place.

True Conservation

PETA is at it again:

‘Touting tofu chowder and vegetarian sushi as alternatives, animal-rights activists have launched a novel campaign arguing that fish — contrary to stereotype — are intelligent, sensitive animals no more deserving of being eaten than a pet dog or cat.’

Do these bleeding hearts even have a clue?

I have come to believe that a major problem with the left is that they get an idea in their heads that sounds cute or makes them feel warm and cuddly, and they just charge forward with it. They do not look into the future to see what their actions may cause. They do not look into the past to see how things got to be the way they are now. It’s all about their emotion, about feeling good about one's self. Well, this is exactly the case here.

What PETA, in their naive carp-hugging ways, does not realize is that hunters and fisherman put 70 billion dollars annually into the US economy. Much of that goes to habitat restoration and fish management. It is used to protect the environments our flora and fauna flourish in. Ducks Unlimited is but one group of sportsmen dedicated to habitat restoration:

‘Since its inception in 1937, DU has conserved more than 9.4 million acres of waterfowl habitat throughout North America. DU supporters have raised nearly $1.6 billion for conservation since 1937. No other conservation or environmental group (my italics)can match DU's accomplishments on behalf of waterfowl, wetlands, and related habitats.’

And there are many other groups dedicated to the preservation and restoration of these environments including B.A.S.S.,Pheasants Forever, International Fish and Game Association, Quail Unlimited, and many others.

Without those very sportsmen, where does PETA believe this money will come from? Their pockets? Like they have any money left after paying their parents the rent for the basement.

Seriously though, PETA is uninformed as to the amount of money, time, and energy true sportsmen put forth in protection of the environment. PETA is clueless to the respect true sportsmen feel for their quarry. PETA is blindly ignorant to the future prospects for our fellow creatures if we were to listen to their naive prattle.

I, personally, would fear for the future of our environment and the creatures who reside in it without the support of those of us who truly respect nature and wish to preserve it.

Big Brother Hard at Work on Your Children's Minds

All parents out there...this should scare the hell out of you:

'Under new law being considered, the federal government would require that every child in America undergo psychological screening and receive recommended treatment, including drug therapies.'

Who decides who is ill and who is not? Government doctors? Do you really want the government forcing you to put your children on Ritalin? Do you really want the government to have a psyche file on your children for the rest of their lives?
It's bad enough they're in our pockets, let's keep them out of our children's minds.

This is Worrisome

Check this out. How long til the FCC gets involved?

Veterans Day

"Saving Private Ryan' will be on ABC tonight @ 7:00 CST uncut. If you have children sit them down and make them watch it. It should be shown every year in high school history classes. One of the most memorable moments in the film is when Capt. John Miller(Tom Hanks) says to Pvt. James Ryan(Matt Damon), "Earn this." That really says it all.
Our veterans deserve our respect, admiration, and thankfulness. It is they who have delivered our freedoms. Delivered them with their sacrifice, their blood, and their very lives. They have fought, and continue to fight, tyranny and oppression, injustice, and human evil. We owe them so much. They have sacrificed so much to keep us free. So take a moment today and remember that sacrifice. And through the actions of our lives let us make sure that their sacrifice is 'earned' and not merely wasted.

A Little Compassion, Please

Dear Americans, I sit here somber and with a heavy heart. And I ask for your compassion. As I type now my eyes, clouded in tears, are drawn out through my picture window to the empty spot on my drive. The brand new pick up there sits like a lonely star in a clouded midnight sky. Again, I ask for you compassion. I have for sometime been victim to a need so dear it could tear my very life apart. It is not alcohol, drugs, gambling, or sex addiction...I need A Hummer H2. This is where you come in. I can not afford an H2 and I ask, no I beg, for you in your compassionate hearts to do this one simple thing for me. A quick call or letter to your representatives and senators asking for a infinitesimal tax hike here or an added fee there would be all it would take to save my very soul from the dark abyss that lies before it. I am sure you feel, right now, somewhat skeptical, but give me a moment and hear my tail of woe.
The mistakes and bad decisions I’ve made follow me back as far as I can remember. I recall as a young lad working hard in school. As a naive child, I believed it was important to study hard, get good grades, and instill in myself a love of learning. For this I apologize, but understand I was so young. If only I’d been more worldly, and had the wisdom to ignore my teachers, how much better off I’d be today. I could now have a weekly social security check for my inability to read. A Link card for my food and rent. And whatever various government sponsored programs I need to enable my weaknesses.
Then as a teen and into my early twenties I opted out of college and worked odd jobs. They never paid a living wage. Never had vacations, profit sharing, or child care. How the owners of those businesses slept at night I will never know. Never had health insurance. Sometimes worked 80 hours a week to get by. Sometimes did not even have enough free cash for a good well balanced meal with the minimum RDA of all vitamins and minerals. It was hard not to be pulled into easy money options, if you know what I mean. But I wasn’t, and I apologize for that. The decisions I made to work hard and long and stay on the right side of the law, in retrospect I realize, came from my inability to make good judgements. Had I slid into a life of crime, I could have looked forward to 3 balanced meals, daily exercise, and even cable TV.
Even now I am a victim to the societal pressures forced upon me. Pressures to keep a job, be a good citizen, a good family man, and be decent to my fellow human beings. And unfortunately, I do not have the strength of character to tear these shackles off and break free. To live as say, a drug addicted street person harassing those poor souls unlucky enough to come within earshot of my ranting. Or as a man who jumps from bed to bed leaving nothing behind but fatherless children scraping by on no child care. Or as one so lazy and apathetic that I spend my days in front of my big screen from rent-a-center, with my true friends Jerry and Ricky, wondering if the Pay Day Loan center will be stupid enough to cash another of my checks. But, I have chosen none of those lives and for that I am deeply sorry and ask once again for your compassion. I see now, that as a man I have made such terrible decisions.
Yet still, with a hole in my heart as large as the gargantuan emptiness in my cement drive, I beg of you to find some caring place in your souls. To forgive the errors of my days. And to call and write your congressmen and demand they help one poor soul. Demand they take fairly earned profits from those who rightfully earned them and give me this one small treasure.
Oh yeah, I want black, with leather, and a sun roof.

The 'Statesman' Arafat

With the death of the 'statesman' Yasser Arafat, thought I'd post some info on his great leadership of the Palestinian people. His care, protection, and firm economical ideas have brought them from a floundering people to one of the most powerful and wealthy countries in the world. Oops that wasn't him, but this is:

From Frontpagemag.com

Jawad Ghussein, who was the secretary-general of the Palestinian National Fund until 1996, remarked "the billions Arafat has stolen over the years from the Palestinian people facilitated the corruption of the Palestinian leadership, and is the source of his power over them." and 'went on to say that Arafat "took aid money and contributions that were earmarked for the Palestinian people, to his own account." Ghussein was in a position to know: for twelve years, he had deposited $7.5 to $8 million each month into Arafat's personal bank account.' and in 'The International Monetary Fund report "Economic Performance and Reforms under Conflict Conditions," released in September 2003 in Abu Dhabi, concluded that $900 million in PA revenues from 69 commercial enterprises belonging to the PA in the West Bank, Gaza and abroad, "disappeared" between 1995 and 2000. The report also found that the 2003 budget for Arafat's office, which totaled $74 million, was missing $34 million that Arafat had transferred to pay unidentified "organizations" and "individuals." Furthermore, the report revealed that at least 8 percent ($135 million) of the PA's annual budget of $1.08 billion is being spent by Arafat at his sole discretion.'

And from middleeastinfo.org:

"By all accounts, Yasser Arafat is a very wealthy individual. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) believes that he has $900 million in just one undisclosed bank account, and Rawya Shawa of the Palestinian Legislative Council declared that he has wealth totaling a staggering $4 billion.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian population has become increasingly poor. Many are now seeing this as a deliberate strategy, whereby the PA and Hamas are creating Palestinian poverty in order to stoke anger against Israel.

The UN, Red Cross, USA, Israel, Europe and other world governments have poured money into the Palestinian territories. However, In June 2003, a survey by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics revealed that approximately 2.5 million Palestinians, most of them in the Gaza Strip, live in poverty and more than 50% of Palestinians are living on less than $2 a day. Other sources state that the figure is more like 70%.

Nonetheless, it seems that not everyone suffers in Gaza. Jerusalem Post editor Brett Stephens explains that Arafat's wealth is, "Composed largely of monies pilfered from the EU and Israeli transfer payments, the kitty is estimated to contain anywhere between $300 million (according to Forbes) to $4 billion (according to Rawya Shawa of the Palestinian Legislative Council), and is distributed across bank accounts in the Cayman Islands, Switzerland, North Africa and -- at least in the late 1990s -- at the Hashmonaim branch of Bank Leumi in Tel Aviv." (Nov. 13, 2003)"

And from Likoed Nederland:

By Rachel Ehrenfeld, director of the New York-based Center for the study of corruption and rule of law. Washington Times, March 15, 2001.
" According to surveys by the research center of the Israeli Yad Tabenkin, the West Bank per capita gross domestic product (GDP) before the Oslo accord in 1993 was approximately $3,500, and in Gaza, about $2,800.
Now, the per capita GDP for both territories is around $1,300. And U.N. Envoy Terje Roed-Larsen says that 30 percent of the Palestinian people live on less than $2.10 a day.
Before Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) entered the territories in May of 1994, the Palestinian per capita GDP in the West Bank was about 40 percent of the $ 8,000 Israeli per capita GDP for the same period, and in the 1990s, the economic development of the West Bank exceeded that of Israel.
If that trend would have been allowed to continue, the West Bank's GDP would have reached at least $7,000 by now, similar to Saudi Arabia, and 700 percent higher than the average in other oil-devoid Arab states such as Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Morocco.
In 1990, the CIA estimated that the PLO had between $ 8 billion to $ 14 billion worth of assets generated from 5 percent tax on every Palestinian working in Arab countries.
However, according to a 1993 British National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) report published on the eve of the famous "hand shake" on the White House lawn, most of the PLO's assets originated from "donations, extortion, payoffs, illegal arms dealing, drug trafficking, money laundering, fraud, etc."
A General Accounting Office (GAO) investigation of Mr. Arafat in November 1995 was kept secret, due to "national security interest."
Subsequent to the "hand shake" on the White House lawn on September 1993, Mr. Arafat received at least $3 billion more from the United States and the international donor community, again, without any serious demand for accountability.
The present condition of the Palestinians in the territories is a grim affirmation that becoming the official leader of the Palestinian people did nothing to change Mr. Arafat's old habits.
Shortly after the current Intifada began, Arab donor countries pledged to give $ 1 billion to the Palestinian Authority to ease the economic hardship of the Palestinian people. However, the Arab donors' past experience with money given to Mr. Arafat and the Palestinian Authority prompted them to demand, according to reports in Ha'aretz, the Israeli daily, that "Chairman Arafat show complete transparency in the funds" and a detailed report on how it was spent. Mr. Arafat and the Palestinian Authority declined to comply, and the Arab donors suspended the transfer of the money "for fear that the money will end up in the wrong pockets."
The rapidly growing, very visible social disparity in the territories rows of ostentatious villas and late model Mercedes-Benz automobiles for Mr. Arafat's cronies while most Palestinians live in dismal conditions began to threaten Mr. Arafat's leadership.
Igniting another Intifada enabled Mr. Arafat to redefine the economic decline in the territories as "sacrifices" to mobilize against the "zionist enemy," while blaming the victim of the violence, Israel.
In 1994, British National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) sources asserted that following Oslo, the PLO's illegal activities actually increased. No Robin Hood, Mr. Arafat kept the loot for himself and his cronies, hiding large amounts of money in Swiss and other secret bank accounts, and making large investments in real estate and industry all over the world.
At the same time he has done nothing to improve the living conditions of the Palestinians he allegedly collected the money for. Never having to account for the billions he had stolen, he continues to claim poverty.
Now the cat is out of the bag: The Palestinian Authority has admitted that the current Intifada was planned in detail last July following the failed Camp David Summit. Imad Faluji, the Palestinian Authority's communications minister, told a PLO rally in the Ein Hilwe refugee camp in South Lebanon last Friday that, as part of that plan, all the PLO "military action groups of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s are returning to work to escalate the fighting against Israel."
Mr. Arafat has successfully claimed that Israel causes the economic hardship suffered by the Palestinian people. These claims are based on two fundamentally false assumptions: One, that Israel, rather than Mr. Arafat's misgovernance and corruption, is responsible for the economic collapse; and, two, that on some level, there is still some hope or belief that the disingenuous behavior Mr. Arafat and the PLO's leadership is a result of pressure from the street resulting from lack of tangible gains to the average Palestinian rather than Mr. Arafat's intentions and a reflection of his bad faith in entering the Oslo process in 1993, that led to the establishment of the Palestinian Authority.
Mr. Arafat's past is a good indication that he will continue to use terror and corruption to stay in power. He does not want to give peace a chance because in peacetime the Palestinians working in Israel will earn many times over those working under Mr. Arafat's corrupt leadership in the West Bank, and especially in Gaza, where they will continue to earn a pittance. This will lead, as it already has, to demands to end corruption, thus, threatening Mr. Arafat's regime.
That, more than anything else, explains the failure of "the peace process" wherein the Barak government made unprecedented concessions that Mr. Arafat failed to accept as a compromise to end the conflict. And it is why any attempt by the Bush administration to pick up the pieces of the failed effort appear, at best, extremely difficult."

Maybe with the death of this man the Palestinians will begin to actually see some of the billions of dollars sent their way. Maybe the peace process can truly begin and not be usurped by one man's love of money and power. Maybe the powder keg that is the Middle East can be defused. But I'm not holding my breath.

A Little Help for the Left

Can you stand one more post dedicated to helping the Democratic party survive. If you can, here is one from a Libertarian Conservative.
I believe, to move forward, you need to look inside, not outward, and ask yourself some important questions. Past that I have a list of things you need to understand if you wish to know your opponent somewhat better.
First and foremost you have to decide who you are as a party. Are you the Michael Moore party or the Zell Miller party? Are you Moveon.org, George Soros, and the Hollywood elite? Or are you the many moderate, fairminded, John Kennedy democrats sprinkled throughout the country? Are you going to be ruled by the far left radicals or the more moderate forces in your party? I have to say I’m rooting for the far left, though I must admit for my own selfish, obvious reasons. It may help here to remember what Ronald Reagan said back in the early 60's,
"I didn't leave the Democratic party, the Democratic party left me."
Secondly, what is your stand on freedom? You speak of our freedom as that which makes America special and great in the world, but do you truly believe that? Or, is it as it seems to many, that deep down you fear that very freedom. Fear the choices your fellow Americans would make if given true freedom? For that matter, what is your actual definition of freedom? Other than a woman’s body, what part does choice play in your definition? For it is a sizeable part of mine and many who believe as I do.
Why is it you fear and out right lie about the Fair Tax Plan? A plan that would actually allow Americans to decide what amount of tax they would pay through the amount that they consume. What scares you about giving Americans this choice?
Why is it you fear and out right lie about privatized social security? Why should not every American have the right to invest his own money as he chooses for his retirement? Those who choose to stay in the program as it is could opt for that, but those who don’t should not have to. Why does that scare you? I have some thoughts on that, but these questions are for you.
Why is it you fear and out right lie about school vouchers? Why shouldn’t every parent be able to choose where to send his or her children for education? Do you fear the breakdown of the public school system? Do you fear competition may make for better, more economical schools? Why? Or do you fear the poor may choose schools in your neighborhoods?
Thirdly, why do you disrespect over half of the U.S. population? Does calling a huge voting block religious zealots and right wing homophobes help you attract their interest? Does calling them haters and uncompassionate open them up to your ideas? Along those line, please, could you explain to me the difference between your idea of compassion and that of pity?
And fourthly, admit that the media is liberally biased. Americans are mostly a fair people. They want a fair fight. When they see the fight is not fair, they root for the underdog. Newsweek’s Evan Thomas said the media would give John Kerry 15 points in the recent election. Do you really believe that Americans were too dumb to see that very same thing? They aren’t, and this is why the big three continue to loses viewers to cable news. Come out and state the truth and many Americans will appreciate the honesty.
Next a little understanding. Understanding those who oppose you, as well as those you can influence, can do nothing but aid in your rebirth. So in that light here are some ideas:
Understand, as other countries do, that the UN is a tool for foreign policy, not an unpartisan overseer of world justice.
Understand that there are those who oppose late term abortion and are for the Protection of the Unborn law who don’t have there sights set on your beloved Roe vs. Wade.
Understand that many Americans would respect you more if you could be positive about gains in the war on terrorism and our foreign policy around the world. A good man sees good in others. Here’s a beginning for you...’The elections in Afghanistan are a good thing’. See, simple. Lesson here...pro-American is good. Strangely enough Americans seem to like it.
Understand that there are certain groups most right minded people mistrust. The ACLU, NOW, the PLO, 527's, foreigners with their hands in our government, etc. Avoid these like the plague.
I can truthfully say that I hope some of these ideas will help. Simply because, I believe, they will just be laughed off and scoffed at by the elitists in your party. But that’s fine by me. Now if we could just get those darn Republicans to move to the right!

A War for Wine?

Hmmm, the French at war? It's Armeggedon.

Where Do I Start

This from Drudge:Man commits suicide at Ground Zero




BY ROCCO PARASCANDOLA, DEBORAH MORRIS AND SEAN GARDINER
Staff Writers

November 6, 2004, 7:11 PM EST

Distraught over the re-election of President George W. Bush, a Georgia man traveled to New York City, went to Ground Zero and killed himself with a shotgun blast, police said yesterday.

The suicide victim, Andrew Veal, 25, was discovered just before 8 a.m. yesterday when a worker for the Millennium Hotel looking at Ground Zero from an upper floor saw a man lying atop the concrete structure through which the 1 and 9 subway lines run.

The worker, thinking the man was sleeping, alerted colleagues and the Port Authority police were notified.

But when they got to Veal's body, they realized he had killed himself with a shot to the head from a .12-gauge shotgun.

No suicide note was found, but according to a Port Authority police source, family members said Veal, a registered Democrat, was despondent over Bush's defeat of Sen. John Kerry. A second source said Veal, who lived in Athens, Ga., and worked for the University of Georgia, was also adamantly opposed to the war in Iraq.

More than three years after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, Ground Zero remains a top tourist attraction, the site rife with symbolism.

Visitors there yesterday reacted in different ways to news of Veal's suicide. Bobbie Jensen, 54, a Republican from Phoenix, said that while she understood how Bush's victory disturbed those who dislike him, Ground Zero is not the place to act on those emotions.

"You can be upset about the war, about Bush, but this is a sacred place," she said. "You got to accept what happened and not kill yourself." But Frank Franca, an East Village artist and registered Democrat, suggested the suicide was symbolic.

"I'm very moved by it," he said. "Obviously, this person was devastated. I can see why he would come here."

Franca's friend, Jeffim Kuznetsov, a 25-year-old student from Russia who lives in Atlanta, said the suicide is evidence of how deeply many Americans were affected by Kerry's defeat.

"It's a national tragedy," he said. "This election is devastating to all who believe in democracy."

Another visitor to Ground Zero, Arushi Raval, 34, a businesswoman who lives in Chelsea, said Veal might have been active in campaigning for Kerry, only to taste defeat.

"Maybe he felt ineffective," she said of the victim. "You feel ineffective if you tried and it all failed.

"I know so many New Yorkers who are depressed over this."

I'm no psychologist, but I have to think this guy had a few more problems than just John Kerry losing the election.
And Mr. Franca, if you want to be moved by something how 'bout Palestinain children who strap bombs to themselves and blow up civilians. Or the hundreds of mass graves that sprinkle Iraq. Or The thousands dying in Sudan while the UN sits idly by. Not by an obviously troubled man wasting his God given gift.
And to Mr. Kuznetsov, who said. "This election is devastating to all who believe in democracy." Looks like you need to spend a little more time in your Political Science classes. Whoever had won the election it still would have been a true study in democracy. You see, the voters decided...that is democracy. Or at least that's how we do it on this side of the Atlantic.
For the rest of you dems, if you are as Ms. Raval says are 'depressed', for God sake get help if you need it. Or find something truly important in your life. Oh, I don't know how 'bout family, or friends, or work, or a hobby.

Really I Had No Idea

Just ran across this.

Is It the Economy Stupid

So now the economy is booming. This from Reuters:

‘The Labor Department said 337,000 new hires were added to payrolls, twice the number that was forecast and enough to fire up speculation the Federal Reserve might keep an interest-rate rising cycle going longer than thought to keep a damper on inflation.’

And this:

‘Stocks maintained a rally, rising for a third straight day as the Dow Jones industrial average added 72.78 points, or 0.71 percent, to close at 10,387.54. The technology-laced Nasdaq Composite Index gained 15.31 points, or 0.76 percent, to finish at 2,038.94.’

And this:

‘Not only was October a strong month for U.S. hiring but the number of jobs created in the two prior months was revised up -- to 139,000 in September instead of 96,000 and to 198,000 in August instead of 128,000.’

Don’t mean to be conspiratorial, but I wonder how this would have been reported a mere 3 days ago. It would probably be something like this:

‘The Labor Dept. Said the 337,000 new jobs sound like a lot, but it is not nearly as many as some experts have predicted. The Federal Reserve will surely be on an interest rate raising binge from now moving forward.’

And this:

‘Stocks maintained a rally today with the Dow at 10,387 and the Nasdaq remaining over 2000. Though these numbers are a positive, they are well below the all time highs for either market.’

And this:

‘The jobs created in September and August have been revised upward. However, these jobs were most all merely service jobs, not jobs that pay a living wage.’

Hopefully It Happens Soon

Satan: Welcome Arafat you little pansy.

Yasser: Wha?? Where am I? Where are my virgins?

Satan: Virgins? None here I’m afraid. Well, unless you include your rectum and that won’t be one for long.

YA: This can’t be right. This isn’t heaven. Where’s Mohammed?

Satan: He ain’t here. Last time I saw him he was giving Jesus a swirly screaming something about a ‘liquid jihad’. Those two.....

YA: Why is it so hot, it must be 500 degrees in here? And what’s with all the screaming and wailing?

Satan: Actually, Yasser, it’s winter down here...I must say August is just hell. And the wailing...you’ll understand that soon enough...have I introduced you to your cellie Johnny Holmes?

YA: You can’t do this to me..I’m Yasser Arafat for God’s sakes!

Satan: Please do not curse in here Yasser. And, Oh, I can do this to you. Let me read for a moment from the scroll of your crimes:

You spent most of your petty life acquiring and grasping for power while the people you were supposedly there to help lived in squalor or blew themselves up. You killed the innocent and stole from your own people. You stood in the way of the peace process at every turn. Your fear and hatred spread from your puny land to envelope the entire middle east and much of the world.

My, my, maybe I’m in the wrong business, you got me beat hands down. Hey, Adolf, c’mon over here you gotta meet this guy.

YA: What’s going to happen to me?

Satan: Oh, don’t worry about that. On the positive side, you can’t die down here. So you don’t have that to worry about. On the negative side, of course, that means you will be tortured for an eternity!

YA: Eternity..that’s a long time, huh?

Satan: Yes, oh yes, it is. Hey, Bundy bring that hot poker over here!

Hitler: Hey, you’re kind of cute!

YA: YAAAARGH!!!!

A Prediction

I am about to make a prediction. Some have said that because of the numerous wide ranging losses by the Dems this election cycle, they must begin to realize that they are out of touch with the American people. I, however, am somewhat more skeptical. It is my belief, instead, that they will now begin hammering this very talking point...

”It is not our progressive ideas that the American people reject, it is just that we ran a bad candidate.”

They will begin to attack John Kerry like hungry jackals. It is just a matter of time. And it won’t take long. I’ve heard it said the libs will have to look inside themselves and realize they must change or die. But I say that is not in their psyche..instead they will lash out at what they see as the cause of their pain. And that is their candidate. They cannot be wrong.
All the hidden and/or ignored warts on Kerry’s history and persona will begin to slowly seap to the surface of our national media. They will probably begin out of country or on blogs so as not to seem obvious. But they will come. Slow at first, then in a steady stream.
Headlines such as these will be common:

“Theresa’s Attitude Turns Off Safety Moms”
“Kerry’s Medals Found Questionable”
“Seems Swift Vets May Have Had It Right”
“Voters Say Flip Flops Swayed Election”
“Kerry’s and the Clintonistas”

The media will take off the kid gloves and roast this poor man over the coals. His party will alienate him. The pundits will question how they ended up with him as their candidate in the first place. Hollywood will moan that many of their own would have run a better campaign. Michael Moore will spew rhetoric (oh, I guess there’s nothing new there). But they will not, under any circumstances, admit that most Americans disagree with secularism, gay marriage, socialist programs, ceding American military power to foreign control, appeasement of murders, and softness in the face of terror.
Well that’s my prediction anyway. Let’s sit back and wait and see.

My Concession Speach

I spent some time on November 2 doing some exit polling of my own. Turns out I recieved 4 total votes for president of this great country. I will not name names in respect for those who pledged their support. That and they warned me that they know where I live. So, in respect for that very support, here is my concession speech:

The American people have spoken. And their voices are echoing throughout the streets of the world and through the very halls of history. They have chosen, and I pray chosen wisely. But only time and history can answer to that.
Yet this much is beyond question, that democracy lives and thrives in these United States. And that the entire world has seen a free people act with responsibility and honor.
There have been many speed bumps on the way to November 3rd. The 527's on both sides. The overtly obvious agenda and bias of the media. Propagandists spewing their rhetoric unquestioned. Politicians pandering to the young, the old, the poor, the wealthy, the entitled, and of course the afraid.
Even so, we still remain the freest people on this Earth and these difficulties are mere hiccups in this great experiment we call democracy. And we must remember, unwaveringly, that what makes this country the greatest history has ever known are our freedoms. Our freedom of speech, of owning property, of choice, of gun ownership, of religion, and of thought. Yet still, we must continue to fight for these freedoms. Fight and not be willing to cede them in exchange for our safety and peace. We are a strong and resolute people and we shall continue to survive and move forward.
Because of these things, I concede this election to George W. Bush. He has my backing, my blessing, and respect as honors the office. I wish him well in the next four years in his endeavor as the leader of the free world. And I pray that he owns the wisdom and resolve to act accordingly. Mr. Bush, good luck, be safe, and God bless.

Ohio Falls

Another reason for the left to hate Fox News.

Just when you think the media might be returning to something close to nonpartisan, then this.

For the true entire interview check my previous post here.

Guess NBC News has a dog in the race. It's 11:24 CST 11-2 so you might be able to figure out what dog I'm talking about. C'mon Ohio!

By the way, anyone remember Evan Thomas of Newsweeks 15 points?

The Religion of Peace

I recently ran into some interesting ideology on crackers blog regarding the religion of peace. Here, however, are some facts:

The Muslims Palestinians have a continuos war of terrorism against Israel.
In Sudan, Africa, the Muslim government of the north have already killed over one million Christians in the south.
Algeria is wracked by bitter fighting between Islamic Fundamentalists and the military.
Nigeria is in the midst of a civil war between Moslems and Christians.
In Kenya the Islamic Party has declared Holy War on the government.
Colonel Khaddafy and his Libyan army have carried out numerous military excursions into neighboring Chad, and, like Aphganistan and Iran, is the basis for terrorism plots.
In Turkey the secular Muslim government is being challenged by militant Refah Islamic Party.
A war also rages between Christian Ethiopia and Muslim Eritrea.
The fight between Christian Armenians and Muslim Azerbaijans ( 35,000 casualties), after which tiny Armenia was shrunk further because of territory "gained" by the "breeding-with-a-vengeance" Muslims population.
A war between the Christian Serbs and the Muslim Albanians could spark at any moment.
Muslims in Chechnya, Daghestan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have ignited insurrection against the pro-Russian regimes.
Two articles in the L.A. Times wrote about Muslims in Indonesia forcing Christians of all denominations to convert to Islam or get their throats slit. Thousands upon thousands of Christians have been first converted, and then sexually mutilated with kitchen knives and razor blades to make them conform to Muslim standards. Afterwards, they are enslaved to their local Muslim chieftain. This was not some aberration of Islam, but rather business as usual for all but the moderate factions. They have a history of murder, terror, lies and brainwashing to advance their cause of global conversion and subjugation... Their Jihad!.

And this just in from China.

November 2

PSST, it's election day. GET THE HELL OUT AND VOTE.

Some Thoughts

Thank God I live in Illinois.

What would Clinton have done if the first attempt to topple the World Trade Centers had worked? You know there was a first attempt don't you? Was it any less of an attack because it didn't work?

My God, who ever wins the election, let us as a country back the man. Our differences are deep, but no deeper than our similarities. And no lawyering up post election. Either side. It's embarrassing.

More insanity. Ever wonder when was the last time there was an Israeli suicide bomber?

I Love Blogging

Here is an exchange I had with a fellow blogger @ Alleyblog. If you own a psychology degree you may find it interesting:

Thursday, October 28, 2004

Israel
Just cut off the support for Israel and watch how fast they come to the table to end the problem that has been a thorn in the worlds side
posted by alleyblog @ 9:46 PM

1 Comments:
G. Blagg said...
Wha? Are you truly that naive. I hope not. But here is how you really 'get them to the table' if you're interested. 1) Blow up Isreal and kill all the Jews, 2)Take every right away from women that they have won in the last 10 centuries, 3)Become a Muslim, 4)Give away all your worldly possessions to the mullahs and live in an adobe hut, 5) Relinquish all your freedoms and worship Bin Laden. Well, that's a start anyway...maybe that's the kind of world you'd like to live in. Don't curse it on the rest of us.

Saturday, October 30, 2004

I still dream
There was a time not long ago.
When it took only one spouse to earn enough to support a family.
It was an age of dreams.
We threw it all away.
The time has come to break up corporations and return to the people what they have stolen.
We have the power to take this country back.
It may take a while, but It can be done if you really want it.
posted by alleyblog @ 7:23 PM

1 Comments:
G. Blagg said...
There was a not long ago when every family didn't have 2 computers, 2 DVD players, 3 televisions, cable, wireless phones, 2 cars, a 2400 square foot house, a 45% tax burden(federal, state, fees, social security, medicare, ect.), numerous vacations per year, etc. Did the evil corporations amke us buy these things?

Sunday, October 31, 2004

Special thanks to G.BLOG for his postings
I’d like to extend my special thanks to G.BLOG for posting his thoughts, for it shows the inner workings of a right wing mind and how they deal with problems
Nuke’em! Kill’em
Don’t try to understand them; there is blood on all of our hands for we have tried to force others to live our way of life.
G.BLOG can’t understand why there are so many people in this world who don’t want to punch time clocks.
G.BLOG can't let others find a way for themselves to make changes if they really want it.
G.BLOG bitches about paying 45% tax, yet he has no idea of how many people in this world would love to have his problems. He obviously only thinks of himself.
As far as technology goes, I doubt if anyone that has such a closed mind could have ever been innovative. Therefore you wouldn’t be enjoying what you enjoy today,if everybody thought like you.
G.BLOG you have become my poster child for why we need change in this country.
Keep posting!
posted by alleyblog @ 1:06 PM

1 Comments:
G. Blagg said...
No sense of humor, huh? That's OK, I like angering the left. Makes you know you've hit a nerve. Well, here I go again. You said..'there is blood on all our hands for we have tried to FORCE others to live our way of life'...what force? Who wants to rule by force? Seems the Islamo Facsists have the upper hand on that. Oh, and by the way what exactly is 'our way of life'? Last I checked we have pretty extreme differences inherent in our society. Pretty much people live as they please. Which of those individual ways
of life are we forcing? Hint here, logic should be the mainstay of the enlightened mind. Next you say 'G.BLOG??? can't understand why there are so many people in this world who don't want to punch time clocks'..don't know where that came from, but I have absolutely no problem with how any person chooses work, or not to work for that matter(understanding, of course, that the choosing not to work should in no way cause finacial burden on any other person or entity). 'G.BOLG??? can't let others find a way for themselves to make change if they really want it'..again, where did that come from. Are you maybe dealing with a little self esteem issue, because you seem like an intelligent person and I'm sure you'll be and do just fine. But, I must add that a tenet of my ideology is that every person should have CHOICE throughout all aspects of their lives. Along with that, and this might upset you, with those very same choices come responsibility. But if someone wants to make a change in their life for what ever reason, I'm with them 100%. 'He obviously only thinks about himself'...well that's patently ridiculous. If I thought only about myself, I would never be heard of. I care about my country and the direction it is headed. I fear for the children of this country. And because I think about these things and believe I can make a difference I speak out. 'he has no idea how many people in this world would love to have his problems'...you got me there. I can't claim to know another man's mind, so there is no way I'd know 'how many peoples' minds. But I do know every single solitary person on this imperfect earth has problems. Those who choose to face them, move forward, and try to better themselves are the ones who deserve respect and praise. 'As far as technology goes...'...I'm not sure what you mean here, either. But my point on listing what people now have is that we HAVE so much more now as families than we had even a generation ago. Then, a family could live on one paycheck. Mine did. But we didn't have all the TVs, DVDs, etc. And people do do it now, it's just about priorities. And don't even get me started on innovation, because I fear you may have the left's penchant for socialism and that road leads directly to the death of innovation.


…’Nuff said.