More on Kerry's Upcoming Election Theft Attempt

Raven Wood has a Leftovers Post which includes a link to yet another article on Kerry's vile attempts to succeed at the theft Gore couldn't pull off.


Money quote:

"I don't think we ought to have any vote cast in America that cannot be traced and properly recounted," he said. "I intend to ask this legal team to do that, and we will identify those districts where people have had trouble voting in the past."

This is as pretty a setup as I hope to see.

* Electronic voting machines do not allow for recounts

* The counties that had trouble in the past are democrat counties, with democrat election supervisors.

*Florida spent massive sums re-doing its voting techniques. We can't afford to do it again.


*The 2002 elections had problems only in Broward, Brevard and Palm Beach - democrat counties. Reno started to sue McBride (FL democrat governer primary) and was squelched by the DNC.

* A late-game challenge to Florida by the dems could result in all Florida's votes being thrown out by the courts.

Is today's Florida state legislature as gutsy as the year 2000's?

I'm telling ya - this is a deliberate setup by the dems to throw the electoral process into the wastebasket.

Is the RNC paying attention? Is anyone?

Have a Little Chuckle

Two Nervous Dogs linked to this nifty little voting game. It's hard sometimes, to know who to shoot.

O Boy!

An Alphecca Launch! Hi there, all you Alphecca Pholks!!

Went to the Range and tried out the new gun. WHY did I shoot worse with the new one than the old one?

The Party that Cried Wolf

I just had a horrible thought. To any thinking person, who has read and understood the constitution and the US election process, the claims of dems that 2000 was somehow stolen are simple, barefaced lies. Being a Floridian from Chicago, I could see them taking lessons from the Daley voting machine to apply in Brevard, Broward, and Palm Beach. Reno, a fine specimen of the Clinton administration, tried the dem methods again in 2002 in the democrat primaries. I know the dems will manufacture false charges in 2004, just like the sun will rise in the east.

The result is, that even if the Republicans do something really bad, I may not believe it at this point. I'm accustomed to brushing off democrat cries like a horse brushes away flies. The dem party has simply lied to me once too often.

yikes. Something to guard against .

Let's go shopping!

I thought the bright shiny toy on my wish list was a little expensive, but Rob at the Backroad Blog has a shopping list that makes me look frugal!

Speaking of Tom Feeney

Look what I found on his website:

"The American people have not consented to being ruled by foreign powers or tribunals, and their elected representatives have an obligation to ensure that America’s courts do not impose this rule upon them,” said Rep. Feeney. "America’s sovereignty and the integrity of our legal process should not be threatened by a jurisprudence predicated upon laws and judicial decisions alien to our Constitution and our system of self-government."

Ya'll write your rep and tell them you support Feeney's Reaffirmation of American Independence Resolution.

He's my hero.

This post will be important Nov. 4, 2004

This rather dull post was inspired by John Kerry, who is already preparing for the unethical and wasteful assault on the 2004 election.

I'm so sorry - you are probably as fed up with the whole mess as I am. But Kerry, who served in Vietnam and can't give it a rest, won't give the election a rest either, whether he wins or not. The dems are definitely revving up to feed us more horseshit. I want this posted before they start shoveling, in the hopes of preparing for what lies ahead.

Charges of Racism at the Polls
I just received my Florida voter's registration card. We get a new one about every year. It comes with instructions:

1. YOU MUST VOTE IN THE PRECINCT WHERE YOU RESIDE. Local residence determines your voting precinct and districts.
2. BRING PHOTO AND SIGNATURE IDENTIFICATION TO THE POLLS.
3. ABSENTEE BALLOT INFORMATION NEEDED? CALL (813) 272-5854.
4. A copy of your signature is maintained in the voter registration records so we can verify changes to your file or verify your signature on a petition or absentee ballot. If your signature changes, you can request a form to update your signature by calling (813) 272-5820 or sending an e-mail request to: absentee@hillsboroughcounty.org

Bold print reproduced from the original. These helpful instructions are also printed in spanish. They will also be posted at the voting polls. In addition, they are posted on the election supervisor's website. In short, it is nearly impossible for any semi-interested voter to avoid seeing them. This was true in the gubernatorial elections of 2002 and in the presidential elections of 2000 as well.

Nevertheless, item 2. above was used by the Democrat party to incite charges of racism during the 2000 election. Their reasoning was that black people who weren't permitted to vote due to a lack of proper identification were discriminated against. If I am to accept their basic premise, I must also be prepared to believe that blacks are inherently stupider than whites. It will take more than lawsuits filed by pampered democrat trial lawyers to convince me that skin color makes one incapable of remembering to carry proper identification.

Charges of Republican Chicanery at select counties

The counties with the most voting problems in 2000 and again in 2002 were:
Volusia
Broward
Palm Beach
Brevard

All four of these counties are mainly democrat. All four had democrat election supervisors. Three of the four (Broward, Palm Beach and Brevard) had problems again in the 2002 democratprimaries. Jeb Bush finally got fed up and tried to fire at least one of the supervisors. He was met with racism charges. Every single other county got it right; Broward, Brevard and Palm Beach blew it. Firing someone for incompetence is not racism.

Charges of Voting technique irregularites

Aka the famous hanging chads. There will be no chads in 2004; all Florida voting is now electronic. I am sure the democrats will manufacture other charges, such as rigged voting machines. I don't recall whether or not these machines provide a receipt. If so, all Floridians need to keep 'em. Look for a last minute challenge to the machines themselves, too late to actually allow anything to be done in accordance with Florida law.

Those are my main predictions for the 2004 election: Attention will once again be focused on Florida, with Brevard, Broward and Palm Beach being the offending counties, and the focus will be on mainly on the new machines, with a little racism thrown in for spice.

Florida was extremely fortunate to have Tom Feeney as head of the Florida State Legislature during the 2000 fiasco. The democrat party was trying to get the entire state of Florida blocked from participating in the election. However, per the constitution, in an emergency such as the dems tried to create, the legislature can select and send the electoral voters. Feeney called a special session and the legislature was kept sitting around in Tallahassee, waiting for court results . . if Fl was thrown out, the legislature was ready to step in. Tom Feeney will forever be my hero for reading and enforcing the consitution. He actually read it to the FL state legislature - here's the instructions, boys, and this is what we're going to do.

Anyway, keep an eye peeled. It's coming.

BTW, this is a short post on all the crap that was pulled, and on how many times the dems actually lost in 2000, and on how many ways they tried to rig the election. I got more . . lots more . . but this should be enough for any thinking person (which seems to exclude the democrat base).

I didn't even vote for Bush, but I recognize theft when it happens under my nose, and that is what the dems tried and what they will try again.

Update: Jeff at Alphecca and Kathy from On the Third Hand are also on it.

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead

Michelle at A Small Victory is the bearer of excellent news. Abbu Abbas is dead!

He was captured in "no terrorist ties" Iraq. I was initially uneasy with our entry into the Iraq war when it started. The capture of Abbas eased all my concerns and fears, and the discovery of mass graves clinched my support. If ever there was a vile, cold-hearted fiend from the darkest depths of hell, Abbas was that fiend.

May Leo Klinghoffer and his wife finally rest in peace.

This is for Dave

Armed Barbie.

Yep.

Burnt Fuse, fellow blogger and Pre10tious Twit, found this quiz:


Non curo. Si metrum non habet, non est poema.
"I don't care. If it doesn't rhyme, it isn't
a poem."
You are a type A personality. You like bright
things, you don't call in sick to work, and you
have devastating opinions about art.


Which Weird Latin Phrase Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Not so sure about the Type A, but I do like bright, shiny things and I don't call in sick to work. My opinions about art are eminently sensible; to the parasitic modern artist sucking at the government teat, I suppose they could be devastating, except such creatures are too arrogant and narcissistic to worry about the opinions of the plebs that involuntarily support them anyway.

Hi Everybody! Did you miss me?

I missed you!

So what's new? I've been working . . actually, it was okay, very busy with some late nights but it's been satisfactory work for a change. I feel like some things were actually accomplished. It's a nice change.

I've still not seen The Passion because (a) the theater says 'reserved special seating' or something, so I take it the local churches still have it locked up, and (b) I won't go to AMC theaters, they're a bunch of gun-grabbing goofs, and (c), just between you, me, and the Internet, I'm a little scared to. I'm not sure I want to realize the sacrifice that was made to wash away my sins because, honestly and ashamedly, I enjoy my sins (well, some of 'em). I also don't like surrendering control. I want what I want, when I want it . . . and from all I hear, it will be very difficult to rationalize that inherent self-centeredness in the middle of that particular movie. It is interesting (to me, anyway) is how the discussion around it has inspired such introspection . . .

same subject, lighter side: Most comments have either been from heavy-duty christians or from frothing christophobes. I'd been wondering what the in-betweens thought about. Here's what going on with some of my long-distance in-between friends:

A bunch of them are going to see it, but they won't let Cindy come with them, because Cindy has been known to vomit while watching gore. Then they said, ok, Cindy can go but she has to drive her own car and bring her own plastic bag to throw up in. Fran was not going to go at all, but she changed her mind when she heard Cindy was going, because Fran wants to see Cindy throw up. That is apparently the only reason Fran is going.

Interesting, what motivates people, isn't it? Poor Mel Gibson, I hope he never finds out. Don't be telling him . . shhhhh.

I got a new haircut, a new lipstick, and a new (used) gun. The haircut is pretty funny - anybody remember the old Barbie with the bubble cut? That's what I got. It actually looks pretty good, we'll see if I can keep it up. I think I have to hang by my ankles while blow-drying, then pour on a gallon or two of hairspray. The lipstick is coppery, and the gun is a .357 S&W Lady Smith, 5-shot. It came with rosewood grips, but they threw in a rubber set that looks and feels pretty nice. Also got two holsters for it, one on-the-waistband and one shoulder holster. I wish to goodness someone would make a waist holster that can be put directly onto jeans without breaking the fingernails; I simply don't wear a belt very often. The holster guy seemed to think I was nuts for wanting a shoulder holster, but I think it will be comfortable and accessible. Tank top & a jacket, with the gun under the arm, and my blue jeans . . theoretically it will work out. The shoulder holster is on order. I'll let you know how it works out when I get it.

& I have some unfinished thoughts in some of my earlier posts, I know. On income tax and my imaginary friends - frankly, I am tired of doing income tax returns. Suffice it to say, I don't believe there is either a marriage penalty or a marriage benefit. If you have reason to believe differently, please send me the link showing where you've worked out the returns. Otherwise, I shall greet all cries of penalty/benefits with a screech "Myth! Myth!"

My other unfinished post was on gay marriage. Earlier I was just giving some background, leading to my conclusion, which is:

There is no such thing as a right to marriage. Marriage, as recognized by the state, is an acknowledgement that marriage is a simplified contract between a man and a woman. Protection and enforcement of contracts IS a task that we, the people, have delegated to the government. Gays are well within their rights requesting that the state honor any contracts they sign up for. Gay folks need to decide what they actually want in the form of permanent, same-sex unions. Then petition their government for a short-cut contract similar to that of marriage, by all means. Make a list, check it twice, discuss it amongst yourselves, and will the adults in the gay community please come to the table with a workable solution? Or are you trying to avoid that discussion, and if so, why?

Mangling the english language, and tryanny by two-bit city mayors, are not on the table. They are not negotiable points. Full Stop.

Serenity is having a conniption fit over John Big Ketchup Kerry. She is absolutely correct in all she says, but me, I've given up arguing with idiots. I'm having more fun lately agreeing with them. "Yes, the war is Iraq was wrong. Let's make amends . . let's put Saddam back in power. There's no harm in a man who would gouge out a baby's eye to make its parent talk. We need to reinstate those $25,000 payments to the families of suicide bombers, too. er . that'll come out of your pocket, right?

Let's release the Achille Lauro guys. Heck, so they pushed an old man in wheelchair off a cruise ship. So what? There are almost 300 million Americans; and plenty of old folks, to go around. It's not like Americans are an endangered species, like the spotted owl or something.

& I don't see why they shouldn't attack american cities if they want to, so long as they stick to places like Berkley, CA in the future. "

Oddly, the above statements don't win me friends in the liberal community. They seem to sort of shy away . . and yet, if that is not what they meant to say, it is certainly what their saying means.

Go figure.

Work Work Work Work Work!

All I do around this place is work!!

I'm not dead, just busy.

It figures


You are Charlie Brown!


Which Peanuts Character are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

On Second Thought

Between being played for a sucker by the gay community, Norman Mineta's Minions arbitrarily issuing fines for free speech, John Kerry's screaming meanies hollering about the 'injustice' of people questioning his senatorial voting record, etc., I'd just about had it with the world. Screw this, get rid of the world, time for Argmageddon, bring it on, God! I plop my self on the sofa in a fit of pique, open the bible for some good news.

The bible opened automatically to Amos and my eye went straight to 5:18:

"Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light."

sigh.

I didn't really want to post about gay marriage but I've read so much pernicious nonsense on the subject I guess I must. I've got errands to run this morning, tho, so it will have to wait. But briefly:

A right is an individual thing. Marriage, by definition, involves more than one person. 'Right,' as applied to marriage, is a non sequitur.

Marriage, for thousands and thousands of years, has meant the permanent union between a man and a woman. There can be no such thing as gay marriage, unless you want to start mucking with the English language. There has already been much mucking with English, to the point where it is scarcely possible for us to communicate with each other. This is a Bad Thing.

In its current state, from a political/social level only, marriage is a short-cut way to enter into a state-recognized contract.

Government in the US is set up to have 3 different branches, each branch having its own role but having equal prominence and authority with the other two. These three branches are executive, judicial, and legislative. It is the legislative branch that makes laws. When executive and judicial branches start making laws, we are looking down the maw of tyranny.

Freedom of assembly IS a right. Freedom to contract is arguably a right under amendment IX if nothing else; whether it classifies as a 'right' or not it's certainly a needed part of free enterprise and free assembly.

If you are gay, and you want the support of this 'thinks Rush Limbaugh is a little on the liberal side," gunnut libertarian, here's how to get it:

In the interests of clarity and decency, come up wiith another name for gay marriage. Some suggestions will follow in a later post, unless I get lazy.

Consider that there are sexual arrangements other than your own. If we toss out the meaning of marriage altogether, as (some of) you would have us do, we've tossed out all boundaries. I keep hearing that you just want to be responsible etc, but I don't see much action that supports it. When heteros or people with concerns about polygamy, bestiality, child abuse, bring up these concerns, it would behoove you to pay attention and prepare a thoughtful response, and not just shriek "wah! wah! you don't like me!" Lawsuits by polygamists have already been filed, based on the changes due to gay rights activists. Pedophiles are starting to form groups for PR and government petition, based on changes mades due to gay activists. It's not paranoia, but reality. Get your head out of the sand and start thinking about these issues like an adult.

Read up on the unique governmental structure of the United States. Understand how it (is supposed to) works amd why. YOU, gay people, are the ones who want this change; it is up to you to follow the rules in place and create and propose some workable solutions.

What is happening in SF is untenable. The couples that participated have stated, by their actions, that they are willing to piss away their rights, mine and yours, for the sake of meaningless feel-good. Whether they are fools, knaves, or both, I cannot tell, but their actions are childish and dangerous.

& Oh yeah - they don't have my support.

4 Right Wing Wackos linked to this statue.

I sent an email to the The Franklin Mint:



"I'm not much on collectibles, but if you happen to make a reproduction of this statue:

http://www.hood.army.mil/4id/Iraqi/news_content/memstatue.asp

by Mr. Kalat in Iraq - hopefully not much more than about $150? I would like one.

There's not much that will bring a tear to my grouchy old heart, but this does."

Never hurts to ask, right?

The military website said something about looking for private donations, but it didn't have a link or paypal button that I could see. Anyone have info?

Have a Declaratory and Restrictive Clause


Amendment II
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."


You may also want to read Who Shall Guard the Guards? It's very long, but very informative.

The citizen has a natural and inalienable right to self defense and to the means of self defense.

The possession of arms distinguishes the free man from the slave.

The possession of arms breeds independence, self-respect and civic responsibility.

An armed citizenry reduces the incidence of criminal activity.

The armed citizen is not compelled to rely upon the assistance of the State for all protection.

The armed citizen forestalls the rise of a tyrant from within the State.

A citizenry accustomed to the use of arms and provided with their own personal weapons can come to the assistance of the State as a militia, either to subdue domestic turmoil or to repel a foreign invader.

The Second Amendment is not an Archaism

Update: I like to think that all US citizens know what a restrictive clause is, but in case you don't, or are not from the US but are curious, here is my Jan. 14th post on Declaratory and Restrictive Clauses. I really, really want every US voter to get this planted firmly in his, her or its head.

Cheers,

Hmmmm.

Well, this is an interesting idea. Wonder if they take civilian stand-bys, sort of like a Post Office Reserves?

Pre10tious and Proud!

Yeah, I know I am once again 3 weeks behind the cool people . . . just leeme 'lone, ok?

Anyhow, some poor soul at kuro5hin went off his rocker and exploded in a fine fury of colorful but silly epiteths in what appears to be an attempt to protest the proliferation of blogs in general and the presence of blogs on google in particular. Mr. James A. C. Joyce (no pre10sions there, eh? poor guy) refers to bloggers as 'Pretentious Twats' and is then kind enough to list the specific qualities that really, as they say, 'chap his hide:'

* latte sipping
* IMac using
*suburban living
* Movable Type using, with trackbacks! eeeeviiillll!
* tertiary industry working (my personal favorite)
* WASPs

According to Mr. Joyce, some of us have sunk so low as to use words like "blogosphere" and "blogroll," and even, if the rumors are true (I hope not), punning! Oh, the shame!

John of ARRGGGHH!! was thoughtful enough to prepare a Pre10tious Twit Net Ring. I drink single bean coffee and single malt whiskey, use a PC and blogspot, so I fail 50% of Mr. Joyce's test. Luckily, however, these twits may be pre10tious, but they're not exclusive! I'm in! I am proud - nay, honored - to be a member of the Pre10tious Twit Net Ring and I feel sure, my fellow Twits, that one day this will be a world where we all know how to use a trackback, mow our suburban lawns, and turn on the Sports Channel to watch the Washington Wasps football game while sipping our latte/mocha/single bean/diesel, in peace and harmony.

{sniffs}

Peace.

Oh my.

Jen at A Collection of Thoughts has an exraordinary post that contains a challenge for John Effing Kerry.

"You are at a fork in the path. Integrity or disgrace. Your choice."

The entire blogosphere needs to read it.

One More


Congratulations!! You're a shot of some good old
hard liquor!


What Drink Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

My first drink was tequila. Some poor fool was feeding me tequila on the rocks, thinking he was going to bed me. I threw up on him.

Ah, sweet youth.

Uncle Sam gets blood from a stone

So I put my income tax return in the mail today. I wouldn't actually mind paying so much to live in a free country, but I resent paying that kind of money out so I can get busted for not wearing a seat belt, for pete's squeak. C'mon, is there anybody out there, really, who actually thinks not wearing a seat belt should be an offense? a crime? WTF?

Anyway, I figured, hey, as long as I'm doing my own return I may well do the returns for my imaginary friends while I'm at it.

I have three imaginary friends, Betty, Jack, and Jill. Betty is single but Jack and Jill are married to each other. They each make $50,000 a year. None of them have a lot of stuff to itemize for deductions.

So Betty had a standard deduction of $4750.00, and 1 exemption @ $3,050. These brought her taxable income down to $42,200. According to the tax table, Uncle Sam gets $7,316.00 from Betty.

Jack & Jill, married filing separately with standard deductions only, each have the exact same deductions, taxable income and taxes due as Betty - Uncle Sam gets $7,316 apiece from Jack & Jill ($14,632 collectively).

To make sure Jack & Jill didn't pay more than they have to, I also figured it for them married filing jointly. In this case, their income was $100,000.00, standard deduction was $9,500, and they had 2 exemptions at $3050 each (total $6,100). These deductions and exemptions brought their joint taxable income down to $84,400, putting Uncle Sam's slice at $14,714. This is $82 higher than if they'd filed separately, or $41 higher apiece.

So far I am failing to see any marriage penalty.

BTW, Uncle Sam's friendly advice regarding Line 3 of form 1040 (see page 20 Package 1040-1, 20031040 Forms and Instructions) says "If you are married and file a separate return, you will usually pay mor tax than if you use another filing status that you qualify for." How coy, the way they don't specify what this other filing status may be. For Jack & Jill, however, filing separately seems to be the way to go.

Anyway, just to take good care of my imaginary friends, I thought I'd better do Jack & Jill's return with itemized deductions as well. Frankly, this was the point at which I burst into tears. I probably could have handled it if I'd started with 'married, filing jointly with itemized deductions,' but I started with married, filing separately. Line 36b did me in.


The instructions on form 1040, line 36b, say:

"If you are married filing separately and your spouse itemizes deductions, or you were a dual-status alien, see page 34 and check here."

Page 34, 20031040, says:

"If you checked the box on line 36b, your standard deduction is zero."

That didn't seem right, so I went back to the Spouse line, 6b:

"Check the box on line 6b if you file either (a) a joint return or (b) a separate return and your spouse had no income and is not filing a return. However, do not check box if your spouse can be claimed on another person's return." (page 21, 20031040).

OK, one person shouldn't be deducted on two returns; fair enough. But that poor one person ought to be deductible somewhere! Maybe what the instructions for 36b should say:

"If you are married filing separately and your spouse itemizes deductions and claims you as an exemption or dependent, or you were a dual-status alien, see page 34 and check here."


I'm too tired to figure this out right now - but I do know why 'spouse' rhymes with 'souse.' It's because whoever invented the English language knew those who are espoused would have to get soused to deal with the IRS.

If you figure it out, let me know.

G'night

Meow

I went to play at spacefem.com today.


I'm pretty damn hard core! Fear me!




Yikes! Tell me the truth - do these horns make me look fat?

People still suck, but I'm not sure I care

Apparently, during the medieval times when nastiness was the Western norm, some priest(s) decided jews should bear the sole responsibility for Christ's death. How they figured that by reading the scriptures is beyond me, but they managed. The last official date I've seen referenced is 1539, which is not to say there haven't been some nutcakes since then. I dunno, it's (it was) an Official Church thing and I don't pay much attention. Anyway, apparently these decidedly distasteful memories have jewish folks a little on the paranoid side.

On the other hand, Jesus was jewish, in a jewish town, with jewish leaders under Roman control, so, yeah, lots of jews come in to play in the gospels. I don't see how one could possibly remove jewish references from a Passion Play, since both the good guys and the bad guys were jewish.

About all I can say is, I won't hold you personally responsible for the crucification if you don't hold me personally responsible for the inquisition.

If you want to know who killed Jesus: I did. & I have a nasty feeling that every time I get into one of these pissing matches, I'm throwing another stone at Him.

On another level, you could say Jesus committed suicide. He died willingly, the sacrifice for our sins.

But everybody who watched the grammys still sucks. is dreadfully short-sighted.

People Suck

(1) "Despite or maybe because of the Janet Jackson breast-baring fallout, the Grammys were seen by 26.3 million viewers making Sunday night's awards show the third-most watched Grammy telecast of the last 10 years."

(2) One of the comments on another blog* spewed out this slander:

"With Mel Gibson's new movie, The Passion of Christ set for release any day now, I really fear an even greater rise in anti Sem not only in Europe, but here in the States too. I cannot understand Gibson's motivations for this movie. I haven't seen it but from what I read it will foster anti-Jewish feelings. It is not only Jews who have come out against the movie, but many Catholics too."

So I sent the person a private e-mail:

"Hello!

You said: "With Mel Gibson's new movie, The Passion of Christ set for release any day now, I really fear an even greater rise in anti Sem not only in Europe, but here in the States too. I cannot understand Gibson's motivations for this movie. I haven't seen it but from what I read it will foster anti-Jewish feelings. It is not only Jews who have come out against the movie, but many Catholics too."

I would appreciate it very much if you could avoid saying things like that in the future, at least until after you've actually seen the movie. I'm not anti-Semitic yet, but I'm about 5 more comments like that away from becoming so.

The rumors of Mel Gibson's 'evilness' are based on a stolen, pre-worked draft. Mr. Gibson has been working closely with various parties to vet the movie for alleged anti-Semitism.

A lot of Christians have worked hard to keep anti-Semitism down. In WWII, quite a few lost their lives for it. Too much of my tax money has been forcibly taken from me, to be given to 'artists,' to blaspheme my Christian God - and nobody cares but us Christians, and the ADL won't speak up for us. Gibson's movie was privately funded; it's no money out of your pocket. & you haven't. even. seen it.

It's another thing entirely if you've seen the movie and can point to something specific. But to denigrate something you haven't seen based on a rumor based on a stolen script that was never intended to be the final - shame!

We (Christians) are constantly assaulted in our beliefs - Piss Christ, The Last Temptation of Christ, the Virgin Mary covered in animal dung . . . now all we're asking is to be able to watch ONE STINKING MOVIE in peace.

Be fair."

I got this back:

"My gut reaction to your tirade is Jesus Christ!@
I was NOT condemning your God or Christianity - for fuck sakes Christ was a Jew if you recall and I have nothing but respect for other religions. There are millions of evangelical Christians for example who have supported Israel through good and bad.
I work for Jewish institutions and I respect the pronouncements of these groups and my peers. I will see the movie and make my own final decision, but I don't see the hooplah in expressing my FEARS that the movie might incur a new wave of anti-Semitism. You seem a little confused - to say you are a few degrees from being an anti-Semite, well, that in itself doesn't say much for you I'm afraid. You have overreacted to put it mildly. But hey, this is America, and you're entitled to your opinion."

and

"PS what is this about the Virgin Mary covered in shit???? Just curious! And in rereading your letter, I find it frankly humourous of you to suggest that your religion is being persecuted!"


I won't be sending this person any information about the Virgin Mary 'piece.' Let this cretin find its own amusement.

*details removed.

Aw Darn

Tennessee Woman Drops Lawsuit Over Jackson's Breast-Baring Stunt During Super Bowl Halftime Show
2/10/04 12:49PM

reprinted in its entirety because ATT/AP don't provide permanent links

Less than a week after filing a class-action lawsuit because of her outrage over Janet Jackson's Super Bowl stunt, Terri Carlin believes she's made her point.

The Knoxville banker is withdrawing the suit filed last Wednesday in U.S. District Court against Jackson and Justin Timberlake, along with MTV, CBS and their parent company, Viacom.

I believe she is actually a bank teller. 'Banker' sounds so high-falutin', doesn't it?

The lawsuit had sought billions of dollars in compensatory and punitive damages.
it sought reimbursement of that portion of the cable bill wasted in watching the super bowl, times the number of watchers.

Carlin alleged that she and others who watched the show during the Super Bowl were injured by the performers' lewd actions when Timberlake tore off part of Jackson's costume, exposing her right breast.

The notice of dismissal filed in federal court says Carlin wants to see if "remedial measures" announced by federal regulators and the companies involved succeed in preventing similar stunts.

so does that mean she can re-file if it happens again? Ya wanna bet, CBS & co. are too stupid to realize it wasn't just the breast? The boob was only the last straw; the culmination of a long list of grievances.


Carlin and attorney Wayne A. Ritchie II, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of Carlin and has represented her for free, have received phone calls and mail from hundreds of supportive parents from across the country who wanted to be included in the suit, the notice states.

In the lawsuit filed on behalf of "all Americans," Carlin charged that Jackson's exposure and "sexually explicit conduct" by other performers during the halftime show injured viewers.

Jackson apologized for the incident, saying a red lace garment was supposed to remain over her breast when an outer garment was ripped away.

so does that mean I can stick a knife in Timberlake, and as long as I apolgize later, it's ok? no, didn't think so.

© 2002 AT&T and The Associated Press. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The information contained in the AP Online news report may not be republished or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

So does this mean we all resign ourselves to living in a garbage dump? Will ANYBODY out there actually turn off CBS, walk away from Viacom, cancel AOL, boycott football? anybody? yoo hoo?

Update: Yay! Scott Ott is running with Boycott MTV. It's hard, I can't boycott what I never bought, but I am glad this is up and running. I wish it success!

AOL = evil beasties

AOL has a reputation for being on the side of anti-freedom, gun-grabbing, dastardly nuts.

Not only do they want you to be defenseless, they foster an ugly world that encourages assault.

"Somewhat perplexingly, AOL, which produced the halftime show, isn’t listed as a defendant."

Somewhat perplexingly, AOL, which produces shows presenting blatant, violent sex as a form of amusement, doesn't want physically weaker people, such as women, to be able to defend themselves.

It must have been Friday yesterday!



You rule. in 15 years, you won't be as known as you
are now, but most of the people that will know
you then will like you (or else I'll beat them
with a stick). You're nice to listen to.


What band from the 80s are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Courtesy Classical Values from Ghost of a Flea, I am a rock band I never heard of.

Aw gee

I got so grouchy I forgot to link to the best satirical writing since Jonathon Swift's A Modest Proposal. But that's okay, you've probably already read it anyway.

O yeah. Eric at Classical Values explains why I got such a lousy haircut. and here I thought it was because I called my hairdresser a 'brain-dead liberal yearning for dictatorship.'

Live and learn!

Something New
Something old
Somthing bloggy
My feet are cold

I've been reading Publicola, Candy Universe, and Ravenwood for ages now, guess I may as well blogroll them. Publicola and Ravenwood are good guardians of Freedom. You may step away from their sites feeling a little grouchy, but you will be better informed! Candy, befitting to the name, is lighter fare.

Lay Line is new to me - short, sweet and zingy.

Coyote at the Dogy Show points to a Fox News article on the mean things that crawl upon the earth, although his stance is certainly different from mine. I say, gibbets and crows for Martin Kaplan, who said "people have not grown up enough to make a distinction between artistic expression and vulgarity for profit." Fuck you very much, Mr. Kaplan. I got your artistic expression right here.

ooooooo! Tee hee hee! Look at me! I said 'fuck.' oooooo! I am so artistic!

I was going to post more, but now I'm all grouchy again. If you are grouchy too, maybe carrier pigeons and roosting moonbats may cheer you up.

Insomnia!!!

It's 4 a.m., I'm in front of my computer with a cup of tea, a cigarette, and Elvis Presley is singing Heartbreak Hotel.

There is something so bleak about that sentence! I feel constrained to continue in a film noir flavor . . . .

It'd been a long day and a long, hard night. Tomorrow wasn't looking any better. The case I was working on had more curves than Marilyn Monroe dancing the watusi on San Francisco's Lombard Street.

It all started at Spike's Neon Cat Cafe. I was nursing a beer and a headache when the blonde walked into the room like trouble on an east-bound train.

She stopped at my table. "Mr. Sullen?" she breathed. "May I sit down?" She didn't wait for an answer and she didn't wait for me to stand up and pull out her chair. So she was a pushy broad, but a dame with her looks could push me pretty hard. I was in no condition to stand up anyway.

"I'm Sullen." I signaled Spike over to the table. "What can I get you, Miss - ?" I asked, as Spike gave her the once-over twice.

"Glenfiddich on the rocks, with a lime. Thank you." She took the drink, but she didn't give a name. "They told me I could find you here." she said, as Spike reluctantly walked away.

"You'll have to tell me who They are, so I can thank them."

Then what? Why won't she give him a name? Who are They? What's Mr. Sullen's first name? Do you think boxing and fixed fights will come into this story eventually? Or maybe a Red Cross scandal or - oooooh! a TSA scandal! If I have something as modern as TSA, can I still use Marilyn Monroe or do I have to switch to Demi Moore?

Proudly Prudish, Rejecting Eden

The Sewage Bowl is yesterday's news (ok, last week's news), but that's me, a day late and a dollar short. Anyway, it took me this long to settle down enough to post about it. I don't watch a lot of TV and I never watch football, but obviously I couldn't avoid hearing about Justin, Janet and jerks.

I never want to hear the following phrases again:

"I'm no prude, but . . . "

"lowest common denominator"

"I'm no prude, but . . . "
WHY aren't you a prude? What's wrong with being a prude? Say it loud, I'm a prude and I'm proud!! There are worse things, you know.

YES! I know the difference between good and evil, and I strive to choose, support and promote the former. I am not ashamed of this. I think a man who rips off a woman's shirt in private in bad enough; a man who does it in public is utterly beneath contempt. A woman who willingly allows this to happen should be quietly taken to the north 40 and shot for her own good - not to punish her, simply to put her out of her misery.

Fer cryin' out loud - if a Justin Timberlake fan is raped, does she bother to prosecute? Or does she not see anything wrong with it? If she does think that rape is a problem, why is she a Justin Timberlake fan? If Janet should be quietly shot, Justin should be slowly tortured and hung in a gibbet alive, for the crows to pick at his eyes and liver.

"lowest common denominator"
Horsefeathers. A common denominator is an element or subset shared by all parties. The half-time show presented by the Caligula Broadcasting Network did not appeal across-the-board, obviously. The acceptance of public sex, especially violent sex, is not common.


& then this utterly weird argument by some critter named 'Kimberland' on rightnation. First, that we are all prudes and overreacting. We should, by this creature's logic, be HAPPY to expose our children to the unacceptable so we can tell them it's unacceptable, but for some reason, it's wrong to actually DO anything about it. No kimberland you moron, once you start accepting the unacceptable, it becomes accepted. If behaviour is unacceptable, reject the behaviour.

Kimberland's utter, illogical, self-preening weirdness is not unique. It's repeated all over the Internet. As if people really do not know the difference between good and evil, right and wrong.

How does that bit in Genesis go? Taste of the apple, and know good and evil, and be as gods.

If not knowing the difference between good and evil is what makes Eden, I reject Eden. I will embrace my original sin, and discriminate, and rise above the mean things that crawl upon the earth. Mean things like Justin, Janet, CBS, MTV and the NFL.

Really, I cannot think of a better description for Justin Timberlake than a 'mean thing that crawls upon the earth.' If that's what you want, you can have it. But I warn you - it is indeed low, but it is most emphatically not a common denominator.

However, we CAN all get along. Here's the deal: fans of Justin Timberlake and his ilk will please identify themselves by wearing T-shirts that say "Justin TImberlake Fan. OK to rape." Rapists and other thugs can then identify victims that won't make a fuss. Timberlake fans have their entertainment, rapists have theirs, and I get left out of it.

Suits me fine.

Update: Instapundit points to The Smoking Gun, which has a copy of a class-action lawsuit filed against Jackson, Timberlake, CBS, Viacom, and MTV. Smoking Gun also has, of course, a picture of the boob showing her boob. We could have done without that picture, Mr. Gun.

I am sooooo pleased by this suit. Unfortunately, there is no legal fund to contribute to. But I hope it wins, and wins big time. ENOUGH!

'Fudged in the Head' PLEASE VOTE!!!


What Type of Lunatic are You?
brought to you by Quizilla


OK! So maybe I don't feel like posting!! I'll just hi-jack this quiz from Sugar White Sand, instead.

I haven't been sleeping, so now I'm rather dazed. I keep waking up in the night, presumably from a dream I can't remember, thinking "This is of great import and must be tended to immediately!!" But then in my waking state I can't think of anything all that important . . .

Which Angel would you be? By Angel

My #1 result for the SelectSmart.com selector, Which herb are you?, is belladonna

My #1 result for the SelectSmart.com selector, If You Were A Flower, What Kind Would You Be?, is Lotus - Deep, thoughtful. Ahhhh. You are thoughtful and reflective. You can daydream sometimes, but not as much a the Stargazer Lily. Most likely you get pretty good grades with all that reflecting and pondering.

Chicken Blogging

It's tough to be a coward.

There's something I've dreamed about doing, but never really thought I could. But now I could have the opportunity to at least try if I move fairly quickly. I don't know if I can, or really want to, or just think I want to.

I've always been a complete physical coward, you get that way after long years of complete uncoordination and tripping over your own feet. But - but - but

I don't know what to do.

Of course, all the cool people have already read Dave Workman's Op-Ed on background checks.

"Gun owners have been told in patronizing terms that "If it saves the life of one child," they must be willing to submit to insidious, guilty-until-proven-innocent requirements to exercise a right. Perhaps the ACLU and millions of offended airline travelers ought to be reminded that "If it saves one high rise building or a plane load of passengers" they ought to also just shut up, sit back, enjoy the wand rape, and allow the airlines to snoop into their private lives.

Or, perhaps we ought to get together and change things. "

via Pervasive Light and
Coyote at the Dog Show and Lay Line.

You've probably also seen the President, the Press, and the Nothin' Fancy Cafe, with excellent commentary from the Logic Monkey.

Dances With Aliens

How Would YOU Take Over the World?

I will pit my aliens against Candy's bunnies any day!

Scary Stuff

Random Nuclear Strikes, or possibly Soft Green Glow, or whatever this site is now calling itself, has a link about a truly disgusting 'incident' by a truly despicable subhuman asshole.

How to protect freedom of speech? Why, by tackling speakers and throwing them on the ground, of course!! If you're rich enough, and famous enough, you can assault people! You will not be arrested, nor will officious cops tell you 'you should have called 911 and left it to professionals', AND newspapers will refer to your assault on an innocent human being as a 'scuffle,' and the media will be more concerned about your spectacles than the well-being of the person attacked. In fact, the assaulted will be utterly ignored in the news.

{spit}. I did mention I will never, never, never ever vote democrat again, right?

Three Cheers! for Kazuhiro Sasaki, a real man.

Sasaki had hoped to rebound next season and finish his career with Seattle, but ultimately placed his family first.

Congratulations, Mr. Sasaki. I had no idea that any decent human beings were in professional sports.

Granting Shriv'ness to God

What! From this sorry creature be repaid
pure gold for what He lent us, dross allayed
Sued for a debt we never did contract, and cannot answer
O, the sorry trade!

Oh, Thou, who didst with Pitfall and with Gin
Beset the Road I was to wander in,
Thou wilt not with Predestination round
Enmesh me, and impute my Fall to Sin?

O Thou who man of baser earth didst make
and even with paradise, create the snake
for all the sins wherewith the face of man is blackened
Man's forgiveness give - and take!

The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam


"I feel need of shriv'ness, Father - and something else as well."

"Something else, Mrs. Grales?"

She leaned close to whisper behind her hand. "I need be giving shriv'ness to Him, as well."

The priest recoiled slightly. "To whom? I don't understand."

"Shriv'ness - to Him who made me as I am," she whimpered. But then a slow smile spread her mouth. "I - I never forgave Him for it."

"Forgive God? How can you - ? He is just, He is Justice, He is Love. How can you say - ?"

Her eyes pleaded with him. "Mayn't an old turmater woman forgive Him just a little for His Justice? Afor I be asking His shriv'ness on me?"

A Canticle for Leibowitz

"Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." An old, two-headed tomato woman in a sci-fi novel had it right.

God is Love, God is Justice - but some of us need to forgive God's perfect and terrible Justice - just a little. Cut us some slack. Life is brutish, nasty and short.

Mayn't an old tomato woman forgive Him, just a little, before asking forgiveness for herself?

Yes.

Yes, darling child of God, let it go . . . .

Laying a Fleece Before the Lord

36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,
37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.
38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.
40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. "

Judges 6:36 - 40

Gideon wasn't very sure of himself and his situation, was he? "God, I know you said I'd beat these guys but howse about I put this fleece out, just to doublecheck?"

and God answered.

"Uh, ok, look I'm gonna put this fleece out again, keep it dry this time, okay? Just once more, God, I promise!

and God answered.

and Gideon did what he had to do.

I had to ask God if He existed. I couldn't 'believe' without reason. Many people can, and more power to them. I had to know!! Does God exist? If He does, is He loving, or is an asshole? or does He just not care, and let the chips fall where they may?

The first question of existence had to be answered before the second could even be considered. So I 'laid a fleece before the Lord.' "Are You there? Are You real? or are you just a made-up crutch? What are You? Where are You? If You're real, prove it. Show me miracles. I'm small change, I don't need anything fancy, just show me. Show me something I can't write off as coincidence."

& odd things happened. Small, odd things. I believe 2 or 3 happened before I really realized it . . at some point in the day I realized I'd been thinking "hmmm, that's odd" quite a bit. A jacket I'd left in the living room was in the kitchen. A previously empty matchbook had 2 matches in it. I had puzzlement within, but began to sense a growing irritation from outside. "Look, chick, you're pushing it. Don't waste My time."

oh God.

So is this objective, measurable, repeatable proof of the existence of God? Absolutely not. If you want to know, you will have to seek Him for yourself.

I would actually caution a person against taking this particular approach, at least saying don't ask a question if you don't want to hear the answer. Your heart must be open and you must be prepared to live with the answer. Be careful.

I'm so afraid some smartass will read this and say "Haw haw yuck yuck, hey Beavis, wanna see a miracle?" Such a prayer will not be answered, and may even put a barrier between you and God that will be hard, if not impossible, to tear down. Please be careful. If you don't believe, or don't want to believe, then don't. If you're truly searching, search honestly, inside your own soul and out.

And remember:
Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Peace

A Boon to the Lax!

The Friday Five - it's about as trivial and dull as can be, but I kinda like it. If nothing else, perusing the FF comment section introduces you to blogs you would not otherwise see.

Anywho:

At this moment, what is your favorite...

1. ...song? Greensleeves aka What Child is This?. Whether it's done as a medieval troubador song about unrequited love, or a choral/orchestral song of holy praise, it haunts and soothes me. I've yet to hear a version I don't like.

2. ...food? Chocolate. Hands down, no contest. Don't even attempt to tell me chocolate isn't a food. People have died for less.

3. ...tv show? Last of the Summer Wine. As near as I can tell, this is shown only on the occassional local PBS station. It's about 3 old guys in a small village in Northern England with not much to do besides hang out and get into trouble. Love it. I'm using it as an inspiration to plan my retirement.

4. ...scent? hard one!! lavender, cinnamon, coffee, warm bread, lilacs!! There are lots of good scents in this world!

5. ...quote? "The beauty of the second amendment is that we won't need it until they try to take it away." attributed to Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to William somebody written in 18something. If anyone can point to the actual source, I would be tickled pink.

I Need Something to Read

The words I heard most often during childhood and my (thankfully brief) marriage were "There you are with your nose in a book again!"

Well, yeah. Duh.

I like mythology and religion quite a bit. A person's religious viewpoint will touch every aspect of life; I like to try to get inside it. The Egyptian Book of the Dead, the Koran, Bhagavad Gita, Tao Te Ching, and my personal favorite, the christian Bible, are all online for free. Other religous books, that so far as I know have to be purchased, include the I Ching and the Popal Vuh.

I read all of them years ago, cover to cover, except the Koran. I tried to read the Koran several years ago, but it just struck me as nasty. The only other book I picked up and didn't finish was The Autobiography of Moshe Dyan - hopelessly convoluted, at least for a 15 yr old, as I was then.

Polytheistic religions don't thrill me; their gods are almost invariably tied to a piece of real estate. It's all very well to worship Pe'le (polynesian volcano goddess) if you're actually living next to her volcano, but what if you move to Alaska?

I can't remember anything now about the Book of the Dead, and next to nothing about the Popol Vuh, except that it says civilization as we know it will end on the winter solstice (Dec 21?) 2012.

I couldn't wrap my brain around Hinduism and the Bhagavad Gita. To an American, the thought of being helplessly stuck in a position for life is just not on the boards.

From what little I know of Buddhism, I think I like it. I agree with some scholar or other who stated that Buddha and Christ were alike in the reason they are revered - they made a sacrifice for humanity. Buddha gave up his death and Jesus gave up his life. Interesting switch, with similar intentions although not similar effects. Buddha gave up Nirvana so he could just keep getting reincarnated over & over again, to hang around and teach people how to get to Nirvana. Jesus gave up his earthly life as a substitute for our spiritual deaths. These are powerful and touching acts, whether or not you accept the underlying philosophies.

The above are all actual religious texts. If you're interested in serious commentary, Joseph Campbell's Myths to Live By is a must-read.

The above reading matter is not to everyone's taste, and I spread the reading out over a space of several years. I wanted to read these for myself, without exraneous hoopla, and enjoyed them all. The only ones I continue to read are the I Ching and the Bible. Maybe I'll try the Koran again, although I doubt that my attitude will have improved since I first (tried to) read it. Bad things have happened since then, sort of sours the intellectual appetite.

Cheers,

Ha Ha Ha!! This is pretty funny - if you're looking for a good chuckle, read the whole thing.

My darling levitating frog,

After drinking an infinite quantity of beer unfeasibly quickly, my 'statue of liberty' felt rather queasy - I imagine it even turned green.

I am Pacman. I am an aggressive sort of personality, out to get what I can, when I can. I prefer to avoid confrontation, but sometimes when it's called for, I can be a powerful character. I tend to be afflicted with munchies constantly. What Video Game Character Are You?

I know, I know . . . a little early for quiz day.

Toodles

I Tawt I Taw A Puddy Tat!

I did! I did! I did see a puddy tat!

Tweety Bird's happiness, paid for by your tax dollars.

Go read this

When I read stuff like this, I really can't help hating the rest of the world.

bleeeech.

Update: the following was posted as a response to my comment:

"while US domestic political issues continue to influence International situations - the economy being joined by, say, a Middle Eastern policy aimed mainly at securing the Jewish vote, or the Cuban embargo solely for the benefit of the Miami diaspora - while this is still the rule, the rest of the world will continue to find it tiresome."

ho-kay . . every country's domestic polices have the potential to influence international situations. Should US citizens be voting in the UK to reduce their stringent and insane gun control laws? UK's laws are looked to by US gun-grabbers with great glee (never minding that gun violence in the UK is increasing because of those very laws) - so should I be able to vote in the UK? NO, NO, NO. The UK is and will hopefully remain a sovereign nation, EU nothwithstanding.

Our middle east policy is geared only and solely to get the Jewish vote? WTF? It simply amazes me, and probably amazes Hamas and Hezbollah too, they have repeatedly killed. They have repeatedly stated they want Islamic law throughout the world. They have repeatedly stated they want to eliminate, in this order: (1) jews; (2) christians; (3) hindus; (4) everybody else that's not a muslim; and (5) all the muslims that aren't orthodox enough. Considering the blood already on the hands of Hamas et al, I see no reason to doubt them. Yet repeatedly and consistently, Ben Hammersly & others -many others- cannot get it into their heads. Hamas et all are dangerous!

The cuban embargo is soley for the benefit of the Miami diaspora? Hello? Castro is not nice, and he has never been nice to the US, and he would nuke us if he could. In any case, the US has the right to not trade wherever it doesn't want to trade, and why this should be any skin off Ben's nose is beyond me.

If you are even-tempered and articulate, do go there and present some thoughts. I don't think I'm calm, cool and collected enough. Were I dicatator, we would have total isolation and we would have it now. Either that or I'd start collecting tribute from every damn nation that accuses us of imperialism or hegemony. As long as we're getting all the grief, we may as well get the benefits.

Probably a good thing I'm not a dictator.

An Aside
- or
Puffed Up With Pride

This proselytizing/witnessing/evangelizing stuff is dangerous. One nice comment, & I feel like I'm somebody, hot stuff. The cool thing is God knew it was coming.

Went to church yesterday - I don't usually, but sometimes I do. I have not been baptized, but would like to be. So I talked to the preacher about it after church. I don't want to become a member of any particular church at the moment and am not even set on a preferred denomination, but I would like to be baptized in the presence of other christians. The preacher (baptist) kept harping on the repent and accept Jesus bit, which is important but I've done that. Now I want to be baptized. I couldn't get my point across. This poor preacher so badly wanted to save me. I was tempted to lie and say I was a cocaine-addicted prostitute involved with gun-running just so he could led me to God and have that feather in his cap. It would have made him so happy.
I left there a little bemused and more than a little frustrated - also unbaptized and nothing scheduled.

But I don't think there was any harm in the old guy - he just wanted to shine so brightly for the glory of God so badly he couldn't see that fireworks weren't really required at that moment.

I wouldn't have had that encounter if my battery hadn't failed after church. I wasn't actually planning on talking to the preacher just yet, but since I was stuck there while some very nice church members jiggled my cable, I figured I might as well. God stuck me at church, and highlighted a pitfall that I need to avoid.

Thanks, God. You know I have lots of pride, so this should help me hopefully keep my ego under control. If not, maybe it will at least help others see one of the problems that can arise when they look to your creatures for guidance. God, help me squash my eqo and where I fail, turn it to Your advantage and protect others from taking my foolishness too seriously. But also God, THANK YOU for the blessing of Serenity and her support. Her questions make me question and I will get closer to You through the knowledge she is forcing me into, plus she's just nice. Lead me not into temptation - deliver me from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the glory, and the power forever.

It's blooming

hard

to post this stuff. It's very personal.

Gulp.. here goes . .

I want to blog about God but I'm a-scared. It's the weirdest thing, and not like me at all, but I had a strong urge to blog publicly about my path to and with God. I blame it on Serenity; that lady has been asking good, honest questions that deserve good, solid answers.

Well, I can be honest but goodness and solidity are often beyond my mortal ken. What if I say something about God here that's really stupid or smug? I don't want to turn anyone away from that path thru my own silliness, which I have in abundant supply.

I'm a mortal, fallible, finite human being. When such a one as myself connects with the immortal and infinite, how can I pretend to 'know-it-all?' How could that portion of Thee that connects with the mortal me be the same immortal portion connecting with another, different, mortal? Bits & pieces, sure, some experiences may coincide, but overall it's a very individual thing.

So I'll probably be God-blogging, but don't take my word for it. If you have questions about God, take them to God, first and last. Other mortals may provide a helpful guide, but we are fallible and will let you down. I will pray for the Holy Spirit to guide my fingers on the keyboard - do you pray also, to receive what God wants for you and to discard the nonsense.

That's all for now.

Cheers

The Best Sherlock Holmes has gotta be Vasily Livanov, from the Russian TV series 1979 - abt 1982, I think. Ladies, this gentleman is hot. or at least he was in '79.

You can pick them up sometimes on e-bay. Do a search for Russian Sherlock Holmes. If you get a DVD, make sure it's NTSC format if you live in the US/Canada. PAL format won't work, unless you're a techie genius and have all the doo-dads. If you don't know what NTSC and PAL are, and you live in the states, you definitely need NTSC. They're in Russian with English subtitles, but I assume you can read or you wouldn't be here.

Vasily is a tad on the short side for Sherlock, but otherwise purrrrfect - the most human and least annoying Sherlock. Vitaly Solomon's Watson is also several steps above the rest - not the dumb cluck, but warm, brave, bright and loyal. It's probably no coincindence that the script stays very close to the canon.

& the music KICKS!! When it's on, it's good stuff with a Victorian feel, and adds to the scene. But in spots, they also make a fascinating and rare use of no music in this series, and it really brings home the Victorian pre-electronic era. In 'Red on White,' (which includes 'The Speckled Band'), Helen Stoner goes into her narrative while the only background noise is the clock ticking. It's not only realistic, but very compelling as you pick up her fear that time is running out.

A side note is the presence of Queen Victoria pictures in every place of business. Sherlock was pre-fall of the USSR, so when this was produced each place of business was required by law to have a picture of Lenin above the desk. Did the writers think such laws applied universally, or were they leary of drawing attention to the absence of such laws in other countries?? Because overall, they seem to have tried very hard to be a historically accurate as possible. Well, such are the glories of socialism.

Anyway, great series and well worth your time. So why are the only foreign movies one hears about dreary, depressing, artsy-phartsy films? Why didn't Hollywood bring Vasily over here (hubba hubba!!)? All the drivel they spout about multi-culti, let's see some foreign hunks in good movies. Mel Gibson's okay, but his films are frankly pretty dreary and heavy-duty.

sigh. I feel cheated by Hollywood hegemony.

Wow.

I see by my stats that I had a visitor from the Islamic Republic of Iran yesterday. The Internet is simply amazing . . . .gives me chills.

Whoever you are, welcome. Be careful on the Internet in that country you're living in, please. God bless.

Bush Bypasses Congress


Good job.

Sidestepping a two-year congressional battle, President Bush is promoting federal Judge Charles Pickering of Mississippi to an appeals court, at least temporarily, in a slap at filibustering Senate Democrats who question the nominee's civil rights record.

Such appointments, which need no Senate confirmation, are valid until the next Congress takes office, in this case in January 2005.

"Again, I call on the Senate to stop playing politics with the American judicial system and to give my nominees the up-or-down votes they deserve," he said.

Democrats used the appointment to try and paint Bush as insensitive to minorities, a theme they are expected to revisit during the election campaign.

Democrats have used the threat of a filibuster to block six U.S. Appeals Court nominees this congressional term: Pickering, Alabama Attorney General William Pryor, Texas judge Priscilla Owen, Hispanic lawyer Miguel Estrada and California judges Carolyn Kuhl, nominated June 22, 2001 and still not voted on and African-AmericanJanice Rogers Brown.

Frustrated at the delays, Estrada withdrew his nomination in September.

Bold text was added by me, a few facts that seemed pertinent but somehow didn't make into the 'bias? what bias?' news report.

The trick question is, even if we do get a few republicans in, will they lean towards the traditional (I'm starting to think mythical) republican concept of limited government and high individual freedom, or will they continue to accept democrat's oppression as long as they can slip in a few oppressive measures of their own?

I sure wish the Libertarian party hadn't gone whack-job over the issue of civil defense; I voted for Harry Brown in 2000 but will probably vote Bush in '04. The only politician I can really stand is Ron Paul.

QUIZ DAY! YAY!

That's "Primogen Persnickety" to you . . .

What the heck is a primogen? Well, whatever it may be, I get to be one. I took a nifty quiz which I have removed from this blog because I couldn't get it to fit, but here's what it said:

THE WORLD IS MINE!

Name: Persnickety

You will conquer: the United States of America (but their government in exile is still holding out in the Statue of Liberty's head).

Your title will be: Primogen

You will suceed by: Duex ex Machina

Your enforcers will be: Orcs (millions of them! nothing beats orcs!).

Your first act as ruler: Ban any movie with Dog/Ape/Boobs/Party/Dumb/Dude/Cat/Punk/Ernest/Twin/Titanic or Adventure in the name.




This quiz took a big load off my mind. I had been worried about what would happen to the US. But now I see that I'll be driving Norman Mineta, Ted Kennedy and Barbara Boxer into exile and the idea pleases me greatly. Once they're all inside Lady Liberty's head, we'll be sending that statue back to France. YEESSSSSS!!

I found this quiz over at Sugar White Sand. Go forth and conquer!!

Classical Values is well-stocked up on Friday quizzes, but darn I really hated my results. He's got a country quiz, but I came up LIBYA! So I retook it - and came up Sudan!! Puh-leeze, I refuse to be Libya or Sudan. The third time I came up Taiwan, which is cool. Taiwan is a gutsy, independent country in spite of some tremendous pressures not to be (f*%& you, Jimmy Carter).

While you're there, read Encouraging Malignancy, a disturbing and interesting post.

ACHTUNG!

Go read this post on just one impact of McCain-Feingold.. Then write your representative and your senators. Links provided in the previous sentence will even give you e-mail addresses, if available.

Please, please, pretty please with sugar on top, write your congress critters and instruct them to instruct the IRS to withdraw proposed Revenue Ruling 2004-6.

I told Jim Davis his damn bill was unconstitutional. Gott danged sonsabitches - & I'm using this language as a Christian - what the hell were they thinking!?!

Please write, call, email, fax - whatever suits your fancy - but DO IT, dammit!

& then start pondering what we, as citizens, can do if they once again ignore us.

God bless and have mercy on the USA, as she pisses her blessings away.


Update: The GOA action button will provide a form letter and send to your congress critters if you put it your zip code. You can get phone numbers and snail mail addresses from here. Congress critters need to get their response to the IRS in by Jan 26 so HURRY UP!

Update II: hat tip to Argghhh!!! via my favorite cuddly puppy. Sorry, so mad I forget to issue credit where credit is due.

Huh?



Well, well, well . . this is interesting. Kind of cool, because I'm ranked #3,333. It's a pretty, symmetrical sort of number isn't it? but more than kind of weird, because I never registered in the ecosystem. Perhaps someone I've linked to registered my site so that my link to their site would count?? Perhaps . . seems odd, though.

It doesn't say what kind of a fish. I hope it's not a suckerfish or a clownfish. I wouldn't exactly be insulted by angelfish, but it's probably not applicable in this instance. Perhaps a humble guppie?

It damn sure better not be a crapper.


Update: Well, I was a flippery fish, briefly. Somebody had me on twice, and fixed their mistake. : (

Update 19 Feb 04: OK, today I am an amphibian . . it appears that linking to my own post for reference moved me up a notch in the ecosystem. Interesting.

Declaratory and Restrictive Clauses

The Conventions of a number of the States having, at the time of adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added, and as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution;

The above language is tucked in just before Amendments I - X to the US Constitution, commonly called the Bill of Rights. In my dream world, every single US citizen would take a good, hard look at 'declaratory and restrictive clauses.' For the umpteenth time, you as a US citizen get jack shit from the government in terms of rights. These amendments outline rights that you, as a free human being, are born with. The government doesn't give you a nose; you were (most likely) born with a nose. Likewise, the government does not 'give you' the right to speech, to self-defense, to be secure in your own home. Like the twittering birds, you are free to exercise your vocal cords as you see fit; like the mama grizzly, you can defend yourself and your loved ones; like the mole in its burrow, you can keep out interlopers. Anything less, and your status is lower than that of a mere animal.

A GOVERNMENT CANNOT GIVE YOU RIGHTS; IT CAN ONLY USURP THEM!

Savvy?

Furthermore:


Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

The mere absence of mention in the Constitution doesn't mean you don't have a particular right.

This very fundamental American concept is not being taught in schools. Large portions of the adult population who were taught seem willing to forget it if it means they can get a bigger chunk of the government-entitlement pie. Yet it is this very concept that gives you the dignity only to be found in a freeman.

A government cannot give you rights; it can only usurp them. A good government will help you protect your rights, but it can never, never ever 'give' you rights.

Spread the word.

Good Read

The article How to Deconstruct Almost Anything is in Popdex's Top 100, so you may have already read it. If not, go now!!

I tip my hat to this person's patience and perseverance.

"People kept saying the most remarkable things using the most remarkable language, which I found I needed to put down in writing because the words would disappear from my brain within seconds if I didn't. Are you familiar with the experience of having memories of your dreams fade within a few minutes of waking? It was like that, and I think for much the same reason. Dreams have a logic and structure all their own, falling apart into unmemorable pieces that make no sense when subjected to the scrutiny of the conscious mind. So it was with many of the academics who got up to speak."

Hussein Status

Well, well, well. So Pentagon lawyers are veering towards POW status for Saddam. The headline and article imply that the decision has already been made and that trial must therefore be held by [spit] international court or the US.

The Geneva Conventions say POWs can be tried only for crimes against humanity by an international tribunal or the occupying power, which in this case is the United States.

However, I would bet you dollars to doughnuts that we could do a prisoner exchange with Iraq. Who wants to go to Iraq and shoplift, so we can get arrested and be exchanged? I am kind of weenie; I'll go but only if someone else pays for it and it's guaranteed to work.

O well. He's got cancer and hopefully he will die within a few years anyway. I would like him to stay alive long enough for the truth to come out in detail in an open forum.

Mischief

In an earlier post, I expressed some curiousity as to what types of harmless pranks kids were playing these days. Looks like they are managing to make good - er - interesting use of modern technology

Actually, I'm not sure if it's really kids playing pranks, or if it's BK corporate lawyers trying to fend off future 'BK made me eat it' lawsuits.

Update: & then there's this, rather sweet prank.

I'm glad the minister involved sees it for what it is . . . & a little sorry that the BK kids, once caught, will probably find themselves in hot water. Maybe it's because I was such a brat myself, but I do think that, especially in the teen years, you need some sort of outlet such as harmless mischief provides. Yeah, probably the BK kids shouldn't use profanity. I will agree with that, but also point out that they hear it every time they turn around, from adults and from movies that adults pay good money to see. I betcha 90% of the complainers are guilty of spreading profanity around, either with their own mouths or with their money going in support of Hollywood. Ya get what ya pay for . . .

WOO HOO!

It's Friday! That means quiz day at Classical Values, plus time for the Friday Five. Shall I cheat shamelessly and use the same answers for both sets?

Sure!


Friday Five Questions
What one thing are you most looking forward to . . .

1. ...today?

Today I shall don my shades and swagger!


You are the Consummate Hipster. Newbies bow to
you, everyone else just stares, as you swagger
down the street with "Little Green
Bag" stuck in your head.


What Kind of Hipster Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla


2. ...over the next week?

Avoiding reality sounds like a pretty good plan.


'Tis a great mystery, but somehow you have come to
belong in Jane Eyre; a random world of love,
kindness, madness, bad luck and lunatic
ex-wives. There really isn't much to say about
the place you belong in. It's your place, and
though it seems far from reality largly due to
how random the events are, you seem to enjoy
it. You belong in a world where not too many
people understand you, and where you can be
somewhat of a recluse.


Which Classic Novel do You Belong In?
brought to you by Quizilla


3. ...this year?

I'm torn over which goal to strive for by year's end. Shall I cut off someone's head, or should I make love to him and then eat him, black-widow style? Buy stock in ketchup . . .

Quiz
created by Polly Snodgrass.

WATER OF AIR. You're aloof, depressed and seasoned. You'd make a good psychologist, executioner, black widow, arsenic poisoner, heretic queen or commentator. You're too witty for your own good. Have to get up early in the morny morn to fool you, as you spot lies a mile away. And WOE TO THOSE who dare attempt such a stupid move. You're Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween, when she cuts Michael's head off. You're Anne Robinson, the host of The Weakest Link!

4. ...over the next five years?

Having dispatched the riff-raff (see q. 3 above), I shall then save the world:

What Famous Leader Are You?

5. ...for the rest of your life?

I'm not terribly concerned about the long term. I will wander down the river, in search of my shadow self, until the End Times.

What Classic Movie Are You?

Happy Friday!!

A New Web Toy!

New to me, anyway. I found Waypath via The Trommetter Times. Among other things, Waypath has this nifty little tool that lets you put in subjects and see how active that subject currently is on the Internet. Looks like lost socks was the hot topic over Christmas, but global warming has quite a spike at the end of the graph.



Excellent! A new way to waste time!

The Truth Shall Out?

Fox News is giving Jeff at Alphecca a belated Christmas present in the form an editorial that may cheer him up (I hope).

Too bad Jeff and John Lott are the only ones keeping an eye on this.

Sign Spotted on East Chelsea Church:

Merry Christmas
to All
Even the ACLU

Mischief

When I was a wee little teenager, lo these many moons ago, I and my fellows used to play the occasional prank.

Like fer instance, the ubiquitous prank phone calls. We'd pick numbers at random out of the phone book:

Prankster: Good afternoon, ma'am, this is the Blankenstack Marketing corporation. We were wondering if you have time to take a short survery on major appliances.

Beleagured Innocent: Oh all right, go ahead.

P: Thank you ma'am. Is your refridgerator running right now?

BI: Yes, of course.

P: Hadn't you better go catch it? HA HA HA {click}

____________________________________________________________

Or calling a drugstore

P: Hello, do you have Prince Albert (pipe tobacco) in a can?

DS: Yes, we do.

P: Hadn't you better let him out?

____________________________________________________________

If you had several friends, you could pick a phone number and have various people call throughout the day asking for Marsha or Tom or whatever.

P: Hi, could I speak to Marsha?

BI: There's no one here by that name.

P: Oh, I'm sorry wrong number.

repeat sporadically all day long. At the end of the day, someone who has not dialed the BI's number calls:

New P: Hi, this is Marsha. Are there any messages for me?

_____________________________________________________________

Now that everyone has caller ID, what do kids do for harmless mischief? Is there such a thing?

Probably the worst thing we did involved actual theft. We were driving aimlessly about and saw a little buddha lawn statue made of white cement or concrete. One of the boys really wanted it, who knows why. "I gotta have it, c'mon." "No, you don't, we're not stopping." 3 blocks later he's still whining about it - but then we saw another one. They must have been on sale somewhere. Anyway, this one was exactly the same - same size, same position, only instead of white it was black. So we did the only thing a group of teenagers could possibly do.

We switched 'em.

What sort of (relatively) harmless pranks do kids play today?

Sign Spotted on CR 580:

I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not so sure.