Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Marie Claire article on white trash donut loving deserter

"Why I Went AWOL"

Some snippets:



The possibility of running away didn't occur to Kim at that point. But it did to her husband, Mario. He retreated to his computer, his usual hideout in times of stress.


He must be a real piece of work. Retreated back into his world of WOW?

Kim met Mario as a teen at the Wal-Mart, where they both worked. They'd dreamed of a future with educations and real careers, but Kim became pregnant at 20, and another baby quickly followed. She and Mario lived with Kim's parents, whose dislike of Mario made the situation unbearable.


Was he the greeter or the fat ass in electronics? I'm sure her parents loved taking them in after he knocked her up and then managed to knock her up a 2nd time living off of her parents.

Kim and Mario got married, and she saw the military as her only option. Becoming a soldier would mean a steady income, benefits, a roof over their heads.


Got married after the 2nd child or when?

"Mario wanted to go instead of me," she says, but both were overweight, and Kim thought she would be able to shed the necessary pounds more quickly.


Holy fuck what a man.

The $8,000 signing bonus seemed like a fortune. Kim bought a tan sofa and chair ("microfiber suede,"


Good job on pissing away that $8k there Kim. How much did you budget for jelly donuts?

Today in Toronto, Kim, who is due to give birth this month to her third child, works a night shift in a bakery, thanks to a temporary work permit.


You live in a subsidized shoe box and you have yet another child?

Mario works at a McDonald's during the day.


You want fries with that? Seriously is anyone surprised at this point?

During my visit, Kim kisses Mario, a lumbering teddy bear of a guy, three times before leaving the apartment


Or maybe a sloth?

Later, she hurries down the street on her way to a favorite doughnut shop that reminds her of one back home in Texas.


Speaking of jelly donuts.

A homeless woman approaches and asks for change. "Sorry, dear," Kim apologizes, offering directions to a government-run food pantry instead. It's been a while since Kim has had to get groceries at the pantry herself


So Canada supplies your housing and your food at times?

She still keeps her fatigues, which she wears sometimes for antiwar rallies,


I would like to see her squeeze that fat ass into them.

That evening over a take-out dinner, Kim's kindergartner, Christian, suddenly puts down his pizza to announce, "My mommy was a soldier. She had to make a choice: Go home or die." Kim freezes midbite, her eyes widening. Christian prattles on. "She chose to come home to her family. She didn't want to die. Her job was guarding the gate. Now someone else does it."


I am sure our soldiers are thankful every day that her ignorant ass is not responsible for their perimeter security.

Mario tentatively opens the door. The stranger hands him a boxful of donated toys for the kids — gifts from a local charity.


I am so glad these ignorant fat ass over breeding losers are now suckling on the government teat of Canada instead of ours. I'm sure her family is very proud and her COC is glad to see her gone as well.

Funny thing is I have seen Marie Claire on the shelf and I am pretty sure Kim here couldn't wedge that flabby ass of hers into anything they feature on the cover so why are they wasting ink on this white trash deserter?

All I could think about reading this steaming pile of shit was:

Winning the info war 101

IDF Spokesperson's Unit on YouTube




I wonder how the MSM reported on the pile of bodies afterward. Probably something along the lines of Gaza picnic ruined by IDF.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

OJ's in trouble now

OMG I won't get paid to not work anymore?

UAW members in 'jobs bank' lose options

Members fear it is the beginning of the end for the whole Jobs Bank program that pays workers when there is no work.


Happy New Year dickheads but on the bright side you still get your discount at the UAW golf course your dues paid for.

Do we really need to spend money on no brainer studies?

Gastric Bypass Halts Diabetes in Obese Teens

Hey fat ass loose weight it may help your diabetes.

Obese kids who snore more sleepy in the daytime

Hey Fat ass loose weight it may help your sleep apnea.

Many Teens Don't Keep Virginity Pledges

Teens who take virginity pledges are just as likely to have sex as teens who don't make such promises -- and they're less likely to practice safe sex to prevent disease or pregnancy, a new study finds.


So since you didn't waste any time teaching them about safe sex not only will they get knocked up but might even get a nice STD.

Gasp: Louisville will have no black judges

Kentucky's largest county will be left with no black judges presiding in any of its trial courts after two African-American district judges retire in January.

The Commission on Racial Fairness is working on a resolution that points out the importance of diversity on the bench.


So blacks represent 19% of Jefferson County but what % of the Jefferson County lawyers are black? How about making sure you have the best candidate period for the job.

Monday, December 29, 2008

The Turtle Man

Everybody has to have a hobby

I have seen an alligator snapping turtle in Louisiana that was the size of a manhole cover so I don't think this would be for me.

Army Ranger busts conman falsely collecting for Veterans charity

story

Good job Ranger Ford!

Saturday, December 27, 2008

RIP Major John P. Pryor

John P. Pryor, 42, surgeon and soldier

John P. Pryor, 42, of Moorestown, the dedicated leader of the University of Pennsylvania's trauma team and a decorated major in the Army Reserve who wrote eloquently about the painful parallels between battlefield deaths and urban homicides, was killed on Christmas by enemy fire in Iraq while serving as a combat surgeon.

Dr. Pryor deployed Dec. 6 and was with a risky frontline surgical unit when he was killed by shrapnel from a mortar round. It was his second tour of duty in Iraq.

"Since an early age, Dr. Pryor was involved in the care of the sick and injured," he wrote of himself in the third person. "He was certified in CPR when he was 14 years old, joined the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Ambulance Corps at 17, and became a N.Y. State Emergency Medical Technician at 18," adding that it was "emotionally very challenging" to balance his dedication to family and country. "He hopes and prays," he wrote, "for forgiveness from his family and colleagues."

Friday, December 26, 2008

Lumenok lighted arrow nock

The downside to hunting with my crossbow is I almost never recover the bolt and the one I did find was sunk to the nock in the dirt. I think I will pick up a 3 pack of these for next year.

More on the Muslim head scarf bullshit in GA

Muslim scarf arrest prompts court worker training

What do they need training for they did their job enforcing the courtroom rules.

City court workers including a municipal judge in an Atlanta suburb will undergo sensitivity training after police arrested a Muslim woman for refusing to remove her religious headscarf before attending a hearing.


Bullshit.

Akil Secret, an attorney representing Valentine, said a lawsuit is likely.

Meanwhile, police dispute details of the incident.

Valentine said she was accompanying her nephew to a traffic citation hearing when officials stopped her at the metal detector and told her she couldn't enter the courtroom with the headscarf, known as a hijab.

Valentine said she objected and turned to leave, but officers stopped her.

She later was brought before Rollins, who ordered her held for contempt of court.

Rollins did not return a call from The Associated Press Wednesday.

But a department news release says Valentine argued with authorities, called the judge racist and repeated expletives until an officer grabbed her wrist.

Authorities say Rollins found her in contempt for fighting with one of the officers, not for wearing a scarf. However, police released Valentine after Whisenant determined there had not been a fight.


Lawsuit my ass in the original article her own husband admitted what happened.

Valentine's husband, Omar Hall, said his wife was accompanying her nephew to a traffic citation hearing when officials stopped her at the metal detector and told her she would not be allowed in the courtroom with the head scarf, known as a hijab.

Hall said Valentine, an insurance underwriter, told the bailiff that she had been in courtrooms before with the scarf on and that removing it would be a religious violation. When she turned to leave and uttered an expletive, Hall said a bailiff handcuffed her and took her before the judge.


Sounds like she is one in need of training. Yes more sensitivity training is going to help us misguided Americans accept Muslim women in head scarfs while they unleash a barrage of obscenities.

I have one for you. How about you and your scarf go fuck yourself.

A lawsuit......of course there is nothing in their religion of peace against acting like a twat and suing people.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Christmas is killing the planet?

Scientists warn Christmas lights harm the planet

I bet my Christmas tree lights are not as harmful as all the toy boxes I just tossed in my burn barrel. Suck on that AlGore! Bwahahahaha

Merry Christmas

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Q&A with Henry Waxman via NYT

Do you drive a hybrid car?

No. I have a 2002 Toyota Camry.

I’m surprised you don’t drive an American car.

This car was made in Kentucky by Toyota. The last time I bought an American car, they had to ship it in from Canada.



Questions for Henry Waxman

Speaking of high powered green lasers

Teens Arrested for Shining Laser at Police Helicopter

BURBANK -- Five teenagers were arrested Saturday night on felony charges of shining a laser at a law enforcement aircraft, according to Burbank police.

The teens, ages 13 to 16 could be sentenced to up to three years in prison and have to pay a $2,000 fine if convicted.

Investigators say police were on an aerial patrol Saturday night around 9L30 p.m. when their helicopter was hit by a green laser beam. Officers on the ground tracked down a group of teens with a hand-held laser.

Pointing a laser at an aircraft is dangerous because it could temporarily blind the flight crew, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.


Temporarily my ass the green ones are high powered enough it could cause permanent retina damage.

US sending shipment of hats to Afghanistan?

Green Beret deployment to Afghanistan sparks controversy

Edited: Looks like they have changed the title now.

One complaint I have heard for some time now is that there is too much Big Green machine in Afghanistan now and that things were going much better early on when Special Forces were in the lead role. Afghanistan is just the situation they have been training for since the days of Vietnam.

Greatest iPhone app ever iBoobs

Via Gizmodo

Muammar Gaddafi thinks Obama should return return to the Monroe Doctrine

GADDAFI: Provoking Russia The gamble of poking the bear

I bet he would like that.

I like hores

Giant catfish blender?

Nation's First 'Underwater Wind Turbine' Installed in Old Man River

The nation's first commercial hydrokinetic turbine, which harnesses the power from moving water without the construction of a dam, has splashed into the waters of the Mississippi River near Hastings, Minnesota.

The 35-kilowatt turbine is positioned downstream from an existing hydroelectric-plant dam and — together with another turbine to be installed soon — will increase the capacity of the plant by more than 5 percent. The numbers aren't big, but the rig's installation could be the start of an important trend in green energy.


That is very interesting but this part down toward the end of the article is more interesting to me.

Verdant has been testing its own turbine design to capture tidal flow in New York's East River, but it hasn't been easy.

"Verdant has spent more money on permitting their East River project that than they did on hardware," said Roger Bedard, a researcher at the Electric Power Research Institute, who has studied water-current–based energy generation.


So the major obstacle was not the technology but the permitting?

Monday, December 22, 2008

Clown strip-searched by airport security clowns

PC Konk the clown strip-searched by airport security guards - because they thought he was a terrorist

If Dave Vaughan had been a terrorist aiming to wreak havoc in mid-air, he didn't make a very good job of slipping aboard the plane unnoticed.

After all, he was wearing a flashing police helmet, a red nose and size 48 shoes.

But even in his guise as PC Konk the clown, he was not above suspicion by airport security chiefs - who strip-searched him just in case.

What was I saying about letting the Biden gaffes begin?

Biden Reinforces the Point

Vice President Cheney had a little fun at his successor-to-be's expense today, telling Fox News Sunday that he didn't take Joe Biden's criticism of his tenure too seriously because Joe Biden doesn't know the Constitution from a hole in the ground.

Rick Warren the Prop 8 flap etc etc

The election is over and Cali voters said no to gay marriage. Apparently what the LGBT folks need at this point is a big cup of STFU but no.

With all that is going on with the economy and a 2 front war to deal with the Human Rights Campaign (what a bullshit name) thinks in they need to be top priority in the first 100 days.

If the LGBT folks would get their head out of their ass (and whatever else they have shoved up there)and realize that picketing Warrens church and acting like ass clowns in general is not helping their cause it might be helpful to them. The media seems to pimp the gay agenda at every opportunity and for the general public having it shoved down your throat on tv on a nightly basis will only make them more sick of hearing about them.

Personally I think sodomy laws should be repealed because so long as its 2 consenting adults I really don't care what you do in your own home. But I still see sexuality as a choice and if you make the choice to be gay marriage is not for you. Civil unions will give you what you need so just deal with it. I do not think the US Constitution should be amended but that it should be dealt with at a state level as Cali has done.

Don't ask don't tell does need to be looked at as 15 years have passed now and the UK and Israel allow gays to serve. It is ironic that witches are okay in the Army but gays are not. But Obama has a full plate for the first 100 days so maybe you just need to cool your jets a bit.

Barney opens his cock holster

Gay Congressman Barney Frank rips selection of Rev. Rick Warren for inauguration

The first openly gay member of Congress said Sunday it was a mistake for President-elect Barack Obama to invite the Rev. Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration.

“Mr. Warren compared same-sex couples to incest. I found that deeply offensive and unfair,” Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., said in a broadcast interview.


I would wager that most of Mr Warrens faith find the idea that Barney sucking cock being socially acceptable behavior deeply offensive and on equal terms with incest. I think they even have a book to back that up.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Kentucky Firefighters who exposed themselves at an Elementary School keep jobs

Firfighters disciplined for recent exposure
City commission overrules staff's recommendation for dismissals


Two members of the Henderson Fire Department have been disciplined for exposing themselves during a fire prevention program at South Heights Elementary School, according to documents obtained under the Kentucky Open Records Act.

Fire Chief Terry Lewis, in memos bringing disciplinary charges against them, said no school children saw anything untoward.
........................
The bizarre behavior appears to stem from a 2005 movie called "Waiting," which depicts a day in the life of the staff of a fictional restaurant. An integral part of the movie's plot is a game that male staff played in which they exposed themselves to other male staff in order to humiliate them.


First of all the Gleaner needs spell check. Whats a firfighter?

So the hosedraggers have been watching "Waiting" and exposed themselves to each other behind a curtain where the kids did not see it. This is not the firehouse its a school and I cannot imagine anyone else getting away with such things in a school. Way to set an example of behavior to both the hosedraggers and the city commission

Proposed KY Garbage-to-ethanol plant granted state incentives

A state board has approved up to $15 million in incentives for a proposed plant here that would turn garbage, shredded tires, coal and factory wastes into ethanol fuel and electricity.

Evansville-based Powers Energy Two of Kentucky LLC proposes to build a plant on the Henderson-Webster county line near the Big Rivers Electric Corp. power plant complex. The site was previously considered for a now-defunct corn-to-ethanol project.


Garbage-to-ethanol plant granted state incentives

I'm sure Valley Watch will oppose this as well.

AP twists Muslim head scarf story

Was she jailed for wearing the scarf in the courthouse or was it something else?

Ga. judge jails Muslim woman over head scarf

A Muslim woman arrested for refusing to take off her head scarf at a courthouse security checkpoint said Wednesday that she felt her human and civil rights were violated. A judge ordered Lisa Valentine, 40, to serve 10 days in jail for contempt of court, said police in Douglasville, a city of about 20,000 people on Atlanta's west suburban outskirts.
............
Valentine, who recently moved to Georgia from New Haven, Conn., said the incident reminded her of stories she'd heard of the civil rights-era South.

"I just felt stripped of my civil, my human rights," she said Wednesday from her home.


Awww that judge sounds like a meanie. But wait whats the very last line of the article?

Hall said Valentine, an insurance underwriter, told the bailiff that she had been in courtrooms before with the scarf on and that removing it would be a religious violation. When she turned to leave and uttered an expletive, Hall said a bailiff handcuffed her and took her before the judge.


Hey now wait a minute why is that at the very end? Was she in contempt for wearing the scarf or being a twat?

So when the AP prints this garbage in India I wonder how well it plays out.

In US, woman jailed over head scarf

ATLANTA: A Muslim woman was arrested for refusing to take off her head scarf at a courthouse security checkpoint. A judge ordered Lisa Valentine
to serve 10 days in jail for contempt of court, said police in Douglasville, a city of about 20,000 people in Atlanta.

Valentine violated a court policy that prohibits people from wearing any headgear in court, police said. She said she was released after the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations urged federal authorities to investigate the incident.


That's all it says with no mention of her reaction to the bailiff.

Daytona beach residents can sleep a little safer tonight

7 Women Arrested In Treasure Coast Sex Sting

A whore house in a massage parlor? What will they think of next.

I hope they didn't charge the full $2300 for sex with a 62 year old woman because that would really be criminal.

Biden unleashed upon the world

Muzzle off, Biden breaks his record silence

The muzzle is off let the gaffes begin.

The mighty hammerhead now served in soup

The next stop for the shark is the taxidermist.

That's after the fins are sold.


Why is the sale of shark fins still legal?

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Update: Bristol Palin's future MIL arrested over Oxycontin

Seriously addictive stuff.

Palin soap opera: Drug in Levi's mom's case is oxycontin

Darwinism alive and well in China

China face transplant patient dead: doctor

A Chinese man who received a rare face transplant in 2006 has died, his doctor and a government official confirmed Saturday, highlighting the risks of a recent groundbreaking US operation.

Li Guoxing, 32, died in July at his rural home in rugged southwestern China after forsaking immune-system drugs in favor of herbal medicine, his surgeon Guo Shuzhong told AFP.

"His death was not caused by the surgery. Our operation was a success. But we cannot rule out a connection with the immune system drugs," said Guo, a surgeon with Xijing Hospital in the northern city of Xian who operated on Li in April 2006.


You think?

Small victory for coal?

E.P.A. Ruling Could Speed Up Approval of Coal Plants

Officials weighing federal applications by utilities to build new coal-fired power plants cannot consider their greenhouse gas output, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency ruled late Thursday. Some environmentalists fear the decision will clear the way for the approval of several such plants in the last days of the Bush administration.


One can only hope since many of these plants have been on the shelf longer than Bush has been in office.

Via Jihad Watch; Muslim Congressman's Hajj paid for by Muslim Brotherhood front group

If this group paid for his trip it needs a serious inquiry.

His expenses were paid for by the Muslim American Society of Minnesota.


Muslim Congressman's Hajj paid for by Muslim Brotherhood front group

Friday, December 19, 2008

Scratching

Guess that answers my question on the jobs bank

UAW to ask Obama to remove 'unfair' labor rules

The UAW today said it is pleased that the Bush administration approved bridge loans to prop up General Motors Corp. and Chrysler during the economic downturn but is concerned that the restructuring conditions outlined in the terms of the loan unfairly single out hourly workers, and said it will work with the Obama administration to remove conditions it views as unfair.


So basically Bush helps the Big 3 limp along until Obama comes in and then its back to business as usual in Detroit. Meanwhile the UAW thinks by changing voting rules they have a chance to break into the nonunion automakers that are kicking the Big 3's ass. Thing is those that work at Toyota don't want any part of the UAW so good luck with that.

Don't stop to help says Cali Supreme Court

California Supreme Court allows good Samaritans to be sued for nonmedical care

The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a young woman who pulled a co-worker from a crashed vehicle isn't immune from civil liability because the care she rendered wasn't medical.

The divided high court appeared to signal that rescue efforts are the responsibility of trained professionals. It was also thought to be the first ruling by the court that someone who intervened in an accident in good faith could be sued.


Moral of the story is don't stop just keep going. Not only could you be sued for trying to help but they may just be trying to carjack you.

Both opinions have merit, "but I think the majority has better arguments," said Michael Shapiro, professor of constitutional and bioethics law at USC.

Shapiro said the majority was correct in interpreting that the Legislature meant to shield doctors and other healthcare professionals from being sued for injuries they cause despite acting with "reasonable care," as the law requires.

Noting that he would be reluctant himself to step in to aid a crash victim with potential spinal injuries, Shapiro said the court's message was that emergency care "should be left to medical professionals.


If it was meant to shield "professionals" then it wouldn't be called a Good Samaritan law. Well no shit that an ambulance chaser would be reluctant to offer aid other than a business card.

Ted Haggard: "At this stage in my life, I am a loser,"

Just this stage Ted?

Disgraced evangelical leader Ted Haggard says in a new documentary that he still struggles with his sexuality yet is committed to his marriage for the sake of his children.
............
"The Trials of Ted Haggard," directed by Alexandra Pelosi, daughter of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is set to air Jan. 29 on HBO. The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Haggard has agreed to promote the documentary.


So now he is thinking about his children when he does a documentary their friends can watch.

Great pictures of Chinese sailors fighting off Somali pirates with (empty?) beer bottles and Molotov cocktails

Desperate Chinese sailors fight off Somali pirates with beer bottles and Molotov cocktails

Kudos to the crew.

Bristol Palin's future MIL a meth head?

Sherry L. Johnston, the mother of Bristol Palin’s fiancé, was arrested Thursday night on drug charges.

Johnston was arrested at her Wasilla home and charged with six felony drug counts. Alaska state troopers then searched the Johnston home for further evidence of narcotics. She was charged with second-degree misconduct for allegedly manufacturing narcotics and a fourth-degree misconduct related to possession.


Bristol Palin's future in-law arrested

Not sure what other narcotic you can make in your kitchen but the charges just don't seem right here.

Teen pregnancy and now meth making wow some serious white trash up there.

Blago: "Hate the game not the playa"

That's what I got out of it anyway.

I will fight. I will fight. I will fight until I take my last breath. I have done nothing wrong,"


When would that last breath be?

The Kipling quote was entertaining.

"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you. If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you and make allowance for their doubting too. If you can wait and not be tired by waiting or being lied about, don't deal in lies. Or being hated. Don't give way to hating."

Duggar clown car spews 18th child

Growing Duggar Family Welcomes 18th Child

ROGERS, Ark. — An Arkansas woman has given birth to her 18th child.

Michelle Duggar delivered the baby girl by Caesarean section Thursday at Mercy Medical Center in Rogers. The baby, named Jordyn-Grace Makiya Duggar, weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and was 20 inches long.

"The ultimate Christmas gift from God," said Jim Bob Duggar, the father of the 18 children. "She's just absolutely beautiful, like her mom and her sisters."

The Duggars now have 10 sons and eight daughters.

Jim Bob Duggar said Michelle started having contractions Wednesday night. She needed the C-section, her third, because the baby was lying sideways. Jim Bob said both baby and mother were doing well Thursday night.

"We both would love to have more," he said.


More?

Big 3 bailout...on the bright side

The UAW "jobs bank" will be history.

Auto Makers to Get $17.4 Billion

The White House announced a $17.4 billion rescue package for the troubled Detroit auto makers that allows them to avoid bankruptcy and leaves many of the big decisions for the incoming Obama administration.


So does this mean the next administration can change the rules of this bailout?

Hizbullah Spying Through 'Facebook'

Hizbullah Spying Through 'Facebook'

According to the intelligence community in Israel, Hizbullah terrorists are becoming increasingly computer savvy, using Facebook to learn more about IDF soldiers, potential targets for kidnappings.

A soldier who serves in an intelligence unit was recently sentenced to 19 days in a military jail for posting a photo of his base on Facebook.


For fucks sake.

kentucky doctor indicted on drug charges

Augusta doctor indicted on drug charges



One of this rural community’s only doctors was trading powerful narcotics for sex and money, according to a federal indictment handed down today.
Advertisement

The 65-year-old Dr. Milton Brindley has been under a federal investigation for more than two years. His office on the river town’s Main Street was raided by federal agents in June 2007 along with Brindley’s historic and stately home, named White Hall.

A grand jury sitting in London, Ky., indicted Brindley on multiple charges of dealing drugs. including eight counts of distributing a controlled substance. In convicted, Brindley faces up to 20 years in prison.

The federal government is also seeking the forfeiture of more than $35,000 found in his home office and Hummer H2 and pornographic videos – with titles such as “Bare Behind Bars” – seized from Brindley’s office. Authorities said he would sometimes trade drugs for pornography.


Irony is the tag line of the movie.



Wonder if anyone will hear the Doc screaming?

Physician, heal thyself

or do us all a favor and jump off a tall bridge.

Doctor pleads not guilty to 27 charges Pediatrician accused of sex with minor, trafficking

That is one creepy looking Doc.

/shudder

A glimmer of hope

White House considers 'orderly' bankruptcy for auto companies

A very small glimmer of hope.

But alas...

The White House mention of bankruptcy, orderly or otherwise, was not welcomed by many in the industry. There is widespread fear potential buyers will abandon any automaker that files for bankruptcy protection due to worries about vehicle resale values, warranty support and parts availability.

"Bankruptcy, structured or not, would destroy demand for that company's vehicles and put dealers out of business," said Annette Sykora, chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association.


Really?

Big 3 bankruptcy wouldn't make shoppers avoid U.S. cars

Next excuse please.

Of course the real reason they want a bailout instead is because chapter 11 would allow renegotiation of UAW contracts and shedding of some useless dealerships.

The economic Civil War?

"...and so the war came."

Velociman skewers "The economic Civil War: The South's attempt to kill the North's auto industry is the latest battle in an ongoing conflict. It's time for a Third Reconstruction to put an end to it. By Michael Lind"

Obviously Mr Lind needs to travel more and perhaps try to pull his head out of his yankee ass.

I still say a Tundra or Camry is more an American car than any pile of shit the UAW currently assembles.

Mayors' infrastructure request laden with pork?

From CNN: Mayors' infrastructure request full of pork, critic says

A report to Congress that requests $73.2 billion to pay for infrastructure projects around the country includes plans for a polar bear exhibit, an anti-prostitution program, a water park ride, zoos, museums and aquatic centers, CNN has found.


Raise your hand if you are shocked.

Among the many requests is one for a $4.8 million polar bear exhibit at the Providence, Rhode Island, zoo. The zoo's director said it's needed to boost attendance.


How much does a polar bear cost anyway or is it the snow machine driving up the cost?

CNN also found in the U.S. Conference of Mayors' report a proposed $20 million minor league baseball museum in Durham, North Carolina; $6.1 million for corporate jet hangars at the Fayetteville, Arkansas, airport; $20 million for renovations at the Philadelphia Zoo; and a $1.5 million program to reduce prostitution in Dayton, Ohio. Officials in those cities told CNN the projects were needed.

"People make judgments about the safety of a community by the level of social disorder. Street-level prostitution is clearly a social disorder," said Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl, defending his city's proposal to hire social workers and provide residential treatment programs for prostitutes.

Those projects -- plus money for aquatic centers, museums, bike paths, zoos, skateboard parks, dog and equestrian parks, police department stun guns, tree planting and murals -- total $376.5 million.


Police dept stun guns and anti-prostitution programs?

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Kentucky Gun Control putting steel on target

Man killed in break-in, shooting

One man died and another was injured in a fight at an apartment complex near Shillito Park Wednesday night.

Police received a call at 10:41 about shots fired at Shillito Park Apartments, 3500 Beaver Place Road near Nicholasville Road at Man o' War Boulevard, said Lexington police Lt. Michele Young.

When paramedics arrived, they found a man shot and worked on him, Young said, but he eventually died.

The man who died was one of two men who broke into an apartment at the complex, Young said.

The suspects got into the apartment and shots were exchanged with the resident of the apartment, she said.

The resident was injured and taken to the University of Kentucky Hospital, she said.

The second suspect was last seen running toward Shillito Park, Young said.


Was it a fight or a break in? That first line is a bit misleading. If shots were exchanged sounds like the burglars was armed as well and breaking into an apartment with someone home. Does not sound like they had good intentions.

Kentucky Early-release injunction rejected

Early-release injunction rejected

The state can continue a program under which more than 1,800 convicted felons have been released from prison earlier than under previous rules, a circuit judge ruled Wednesday.

Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip J. Shepherd denied a request for a temporary injunction to shut down the program.
Click Here!

Prosecutors have argued that releasing the inmates puts the public at risk.

This year, lawmakers put language in the state budget to change how the Department of Corrections calculates when people get out of prison. The goal was to cut spending on prison costs.


You way remember me mentioning this asinine tidbit in this post
How could the punishment ever fit the crime?


Justice and Public Safety Secretary J. Michael Brown, whose cabinet includes the Department of Corrections, said he was pleased Shepherd found the public is not at greater risk because of the release program


Maybe if budget is an issue we can replace this assclown with a monkey. They admit 30% of those released will commit more crimes like the asshole that killed those 2 little girls this summer and to make matter worse they will get "street credit" against their original sentence.

From Wired: Oil Is Not the Climate Change Culprit — It's All About Coal

Oil Is Not the Climate Change Culprit — It's All About Coal

Well that doesn't sound good for coal or does it. Read all the way down to the bottom of the article and you find this gem:

The real global warming culprit — as James Hansen and his colleagues at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies have long argued — is burning coal to generate electricity.

"Oil and gas by themselves don't have enough carbon to keep us in the dangerous zone [of global warming] for very long," said Pushker Kharecha, a scientist and colleague of Hansen at NASA GISS.

While both Kharecha and Caldeira stopped short of saying that the world's oil usage didn't matter, Caldeira seemed to capture their joint sentiment when he called the combustion of oil a "second-order effect."

Liquid fuels are so relatively insignificant that no matter what, nothing we put in our cars is likely to change the basic story of climate change. Even if oil ran out tomorrow and humans began converting coal in its solid form to a liquid you could put in a car — a worst-case scenario for environmentalists — the global warming contribution of that fuel is almost negligible.


Negligible.

Coal-to-Gas Facility proposed for Western Kentucky

ConocoPhillips and Peabody Energy Select Site in Muhlenberg County, Ky., to Develop Coal-to-Gas Facility

ConocoPhillips and Peabody Energy today announced the filing of an air permit with the Commonwealth of Kentucky to site a state-of-the-art coal-to-natural-gas facility near Central City in Muhlenberg County. The filing is a major step toward advancing development of the project into the next phase of evaluation.

The facility, to be known as Kentucky NewGas, is expected to produce enough energy to provide for nearly three quarters of a million Midwest homes. If approved, the project could also re-energize the regional economy by creating 1,200 skilled jobs during a four-year construction process, 500 long-term jobs and nearly $100 million in regional economic benefits each year.

"Greater use of Kentucky coal in clean energy projects is the ultimate solution for re-energizing our regional economy, creating thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in direct economic benefits over the long term," said Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear. "Projects like this demonstrate Kentucky's global leadership in advancing clean energy projects, and they enjoy rock solid support: More than 80 percent of Kentucky residents support coal gasification, which mirrors strong national support for coal."


I have read elsewhere it could take up to 2 years for the permits to get ironed out. Maybe if Gov. Beshear favors this project we could fast track these permits.

Of course not everyone is happy about energy dependence or jobs for Western Kentucky:

Opposition emerges

Environmentalist John Blair of Valley Watch in Evansville said he was "thrilled" that Peabody is dropping the Thoroughbred power plant project, which he and other groups had fought in court.

But he questioned the economics of making synthetic gas, and said "(coal) gasification has been one of the dirtiest processes ever." Blair pledged to fight the Kentucky NewGas project with the same energy Valley Watch fought the Thoroughbred power plant.


I haven't seen much that assclown is in support of. Never mind that:

The companies say the plant would have less than 5 percent of the emissions of a traditional coal-fired power plant and would be capable of capturing carbon dioxide for permanent underground storage if federal laws someday require.

Wolverine: Origins

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Monday, December 15, 2008

Special

Supreme Court allows lawsuits over 'light' cigarettes ads

Court allows lawsuits over 'light' cigarettes

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Monday handed a surprising defeat to tobacco companies counting on it to put an end to lawsuits alleging deceptive marketing of "light" cigarettes.

In a 5-4 split won by the court's liberals, it ruled that smokers may use state consumer protection laws to sue cigarette makers for the way they promote "light" and "low tar" brands.


I'm sorry but anyone that thinks they are safe because they smoke lights should not be allowed to breed.

Another example of quality from British NHS

New mother forced to travel 200 miles between four hospitals to give birth... only to see her premature twins split up

An expectant mother was ferried 250 miles between four different hospitals only to have one of her twins separated as soon as they were delivered.

Angela Breeds, 30, was told she needed a Caesarian section when doctors discovered one of her unborn babies was too small and not getting enough nutrition.

But what should have been the most thrilling moment of her life turned into a five-day ordeal because the hospitals either did not have the right scanning equipment or incubators needed.


I will gladly pay my premiums thank you very much.

But look at this stunner in the comments:

Bed occupancy in neontal intensive care units is unpredictable and the same saga can happen anywhere. The doctors have done their best to ensure safe deliveries of the twins. Cogratulation Miss Breeds and I do not think it is tiring to shuttle between the 2 hospitals to see your babies.
- Ali Elsanousi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 15/12/2008 17:46


Thanks for your input Ali. I'm sure you don't think its a hardship at all.

Greek rioters use lasers against police



Greek rioters use lasers against police as violence over boy's death continues into second week

Certainly very dangerous for the officers as they are using the high powered green lasers that could do serious eye damage. On the bright side the beam provides a target for a CS grenade or rubber bullets which both seem warranted.

Winter Sucks

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Another Task Force Ranger poser busted


Invalid valor: Vet lied about his service


Boasting a military record that included two Purple Hearts, decorations for valor and combat service in Somalia with the Army Rangers, Brian Culp seemed the perfect war hero to be honored last year as grand marshal in LaVernia's patriotic parade.

..................


“I have a copy of the joint meritorious unit award that was awarded to all the Rangers in Somalia in support of Operation Gothic Serpent, aka ‘Black Hawk Down,' and his name is not on it. I can state with 100 percent certainty, he was not there,” said former Ranger Raleigh Cash of Illinois, who participated in the Somali operation.

Cash said that when he confronted Culp by phone last year, the story changed. Culp said he had been deployed with a different Army unit that was sent in to help the Rangers. But this story didn't check out either.

..................

For Culp, the long trail of fiction and perhaps delusion may have ended Dec. 4 when he pleaded guilty to three federal misdemeanor charges: falsely claiming to have earned a Purple Heart, falsely claiming to have earned a Bronze Star with valor, and creating a counterfeit military identification.

He will be sentenced Dec. 29 in San Antonio and faces up to three years in prison.

Sometime soon, Culp also finally will gain formal recognition from the brotherhood of Rangers he so desired to claim. A place of dubious honor awaits him on a Web site belonging to an association of former Army Rangers.


Ranger Cash helps nail another assclown. I look forward to seeing his sentence and his name on the wall of shame.

You can visit Ranger Cash's memorial website at http://www.bravo57.com/

The right to arm bears

Dispute stalls bear hunt season

Wildlife officials want to bar hunters who use old-fashioned muzzleloading rifles or bows and arrows from taking more powerful firearms along as backup. Some state lawmakers think that violates a constitutional right to bear arms.


First off I have to say I fully support the right to arm bears. Second I think any found guilty of poaching a bear to sell the gall bladder to the Chinese should have his removed with a rusty spoon dipped in bear scat.

Kentucky also bars carrying a pistol while bow hunting for deer even if you have your CDWL (Concealed Deadly Weapons License). I have always disagreed with that because you never know what sort of drunken idiot you are likely to encounter on your own property. Having recently encountered several brazen coyotes this year deer hunting with my crossbow Fish and Wildlife will just have to deal it.

Kentucky does not seem to support suitable numbers of bears for a 2 day hunt. I would imagine that those in KY F&W undoubtedly know that but some office dwelling puke is pushing this hunt. I myself have no interest in hunting black bears in Kentucky or anywhere else unless the numbers get substantially better than current levels.

I have a friend who paid for a Canada bear hunt and came back with a pitiful story of the hunt. The guide set him up on a small hill and told him to watch a stump in the clearing below around daybreak. Sure enough a black bear came out at daybreak and he shot and killed it. When he got brave enough to venture down the hill he found a hollow stump filled with Twinkies. I'm surprised the bear wasn't wearing a name collar.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

A Christmas message from Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist

Kansas church seeks to join Washington state holiday display fray

Those that know me know I am against religious displays in government buildings. Religion has a place and time but the State Capital building is not it. Putting religious displays in such places will do nothing but open a Pandora's box. Well now its too late the box is open and inside is a steaming pile of shit named Fred Phelps.


According to Spokesman-Review reporter Rich Roesler, the first part of Westboro's proposed message:

"You'd better watch out, get ready to cry, You'd better go hide, I'm telling you why 'cuz Santa Claus will take you to hell. He is your favorite idol, you worship at his feet, but when you stand before your God He won't help you take the heat. So get this fact straight: you're feeling God's hate, Santa's to blame for the economy's fate, Santa Claus will take you to hell."


Congratulations dumb asses that is going to look great next to the nativity scene that you just had to put there. When it comes down to it the Capital Building belongs to the taxpayers so they have just as much right as anyone else once you set the precedence.

Looks like the hallway is getting crowded:

The Westboro Baptist Church's message would be near a Nativity set, three signs mocking atheism, and an atheist sign that celebrates the winter solstice, while also taking a shot at religion as "myth and superstition" that enslaves minds, all in the state Capitol's third-floor hallway.

The Westboro request is under consideration by the state Department of General Administration, which also has a request for a display depicting "The Spaghetti Monster" and "a Christian woman in Bellevue who wants to erect a sign offering blessings on all people."

"Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster" is a parody of the Kansas education-board decision to teach "intelligent design" as an alternative to Darwinist evolutionary concepts in biology classes.

Also under consideration is a request for a "Festivus" pole, a reference to the mock holiday "Festivus for the Rest of Us" popularized by the "Seinfeld" sitcom in the late 1990s.


/sigh

Kentucky Cigarette tax go for launch?

Cigarette tax gets plenty of support at town meeting


Gov. Steve Beshear's town meeting here on the state budget crisis got a little smoky Thursday, as the proposed cigarette tax hike drew the most public comments.

However, only one of the approximately 100 people at North Middle School questioned the wisdom of raising the tax, saying it might put Kentucky merchants in border cities at a competitive disadvantage.

Beshear said that's not necessarily so. "We're the third lowest state in the country at 30 cents," and his proposal is to raise it 70 cents, which would still be 19 cents lower than the national average. All the states to the north have higher taxes, he said, saying only merchants that border Missouri and West Virginia might find themselves at a disadvantage.

Essentially, Beshear said, a tax on tobacco "is an easier sell than any other tax out there right now" and Kentucky may be forced to raise its sales tax if the economy gets too much worse.

Five other people spoke on the issue Thursday and were all in favor of the idea, especially state Rep. David Watkins, D-Henderson, who pre-filed a bill last week to raise the tax 70 cents. He sponsored an identical bill last year that failed in the Senate.
"


Keep up the good fight Dr Watkins. I do hope when this passes it can be worded so that the extra money can go to offset the cost of the Medicaid program and not into the black hole of the general fund.

Previous post on the subject here.

Reuters headline: U.S. says lacks intelligence to fight pirates in Somalia

U.S. says lacks intelligence to fight pirates in Somalia

MANAMA (Reuters) – The United States lacks the intelligence needed to pursue the fight against pirates on Somali soil, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Saturday.

His comments came days after the U.S. delegation at the United Nations circulated a draft resolution that would give countries the right to pursue pirates on land as well as at sea.

Analysts say that pursuing pirates on land is crucial to any military response to attacks that have targeted dozens of ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean in recent months.


As usual the UN is moving at lightning speed on this.

Just because your paranoid doesn't mean someone isn't out to get you

Maybe the Iranians are not as paranoid as we thought?


UAW 1 White House 0

Administration unwilling to see automakers fail

Its official now after 8 years of supporting you between the Wall Street bailout that we will never see again and the now Big 3/UAW bailout you make me fucking sick. You couldn't let it ride until Obama came in office? Its 40 days they would have to wait WTF?

Meanwhile:

UAW lashes out at senators in Southern states with foreign car plants after auto aid bill dies

Their top targets were Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who led negotiations on a compromise; and Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., who has been a vocal critic of the loans.

Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama all house auto assembly plants from foreign automakers, and union officials contend the senators want to drive UAW wages down so there would be no reason for workers at the foreign plants to join the union.

"They thought perhaps they could have a twofer here maybe: Pierce the heart of organized labor while representing the foreign brands," UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said at a Friday morning news conference in Detroit.


That is the most pathetic thing I have ever heard. I have friends and family that work at Toyota of Georgetown KY and Toyota of Princeton IN and none of them want any part of your crooked UAW. They make more than their Big 3 counterparts without dumping money into the UAW coffers.

Toyota could crush the Big 3 and I wish they would just go on and do it. They also seem forget that KY has a GM plant in Bowling Green and a Ford plant in Louisville. Just tour the Corvette factory and you will quickly see why GM cannot compete with Toyota.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Welcome Home Air Force Maj. John Lee McElroy

RIP Sir.

Kentucky airman killed in Vietnam to be buried

Forty years after his death in a daring rescue mission in Vietnam, a Kentucky airman will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery in what his son calls a "Christmas family miracle."

Air Force Maj. John Lee McElroy, of Eminence in north-central Kentucky, will be interred next Thursday with his crewmates, who died when their C-130 aircraft was shot down on Mother's Day in 1968 while evacuating soldiers from a military base being overrun by enemy forces.

In May 1968, McElroy's crew volunteered to fly into a Special Forces base being overrun by enemy forces, his son said. Other aircraft had already been shot down trying to evacuate troops, he said.

The C-130 left the base with about 150 South Vietnamese soldiers and their families aboard, he said.

Thanks for nothing W

White House readies new rescue for auto industry

At a news conference on Friday, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger accused GOP senators who blocked emergency loans of trying to "pierce the heart" of organized labor.


As much as the UAW function like a vampire sucking the life out of the Big 3 my preferred method of destruction would be to ...




Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who played a leading role for Republicans, told reporters at the Capitol that the talks came close to success but failed when the UAW refused to commit to lowering its pay-and-benefits package in 2009 so it would be "at parity" with the Japanese companies.

He also laid blame at the feet of the administration. "I think it being known that the White House at the end of the day would probably blink probably helped keep us from a deal," he said.


You think?

Of course the UAW didn't budge since they knew the Bush administration was going to cave. They only have to make until Jan 21st when Obama is sure to give the UAW/Big 3 whatever they ask for get some stones W.

Maybe we need someone else to deal with the UAW and Big 3 management.

American Spectator author Bill Croke links poaching with video games?

As someone who games and hunts undoubtedly more than Mr Croke I think he is talking out of his ass.

My own experience observing kids playing video games (in the Salmon, Idaho Public Library, no less) are that they always seem to involve human characters hunting down and shooting other human characters with automatic weapons, while being shot at themselves.

Is that a fact Mr Croke?

Interestingly, a call to the Salmon, Idaho Public Library revealed that they do not, in fact, carry video games which obviously casts some doubt over how thorough Croke has really been in his "research" for this piece. "We do not carry games, just books, DVDs, CDs, and books on tape," said the nice lady who answered the phone.

Hmm another media clown busted for making things up.

That's no moon. It's a space station

Oh wait it is the moon.

No, you can not see Neil Armstrong's footprint. But go ahead and look: The full Moon of Dec. 12th is the biggest and brightest full Moon of the year.

It's no illusion. Some full Moons are genuinely larger than others and this Friday's is a whopper. Why? The Moon's orbit is an ellipse with one side 50,000 km closer to Earth than the other: diagram. In the language of astronomy, the two extremes are called "apogee" (far away) and "perigee" (nearby). On Dec. 12th, the Moon becomes full a scant 4 hours after reaching perigee, making it 14% bigger and 30% brighter than lesser full Moons we've seen earlier in 2008.

Middle East car dealerships order 15,000 Toyota Sequoia SUVs

Toyota plant lands $675 million contract

A Christmas angel has shined on Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana (TMMI) big time, to the tune of an overseas order for 15,000 Sequoia SUVs.

The order, for car dealerships in the Middle East, totals between $650 million to $750 million.

Kelly Dillon, Toyota's manager of public affairs and purchasing, confirmed the order.

She said officials of Gulf Coast Cooperative, which represents six of the nine different independent auto companies in the countries wanting the vehicles, recently visited the Toyota operation in Gibson County to assess the quality of the Sequoia.


I can't imagine why they would choose the Toyota over something from the Big 3.

New UAW PR Campaign



h/t Boing Boing

Anti Theft Measures

Say what you want about Joe Biden

Biden — not Obama — gets new pooch

At least he got a real dog. Plus he did not give into any political correctness bullshit and adopt from a shelter. I think if people want to adopt from shelters that is fine but pressuring people to do it is bullshit. The article I linked to didn't make it past the 2nd comment before someone brought that up.

For some kids there really is a Santa

10 Members of ODA 3336 3rd SF Group Receive Silver Star for Afghan Battle

10 Green Berets to Receive Silver Star for Afghan Battle

A harrowing, nearly seven-hour battle unfolded on that mountainside in Afghanistan's Nuristan province on April 6, as Walton, his team and a few dozen Afghan commandos they had trained took fire from all directions. Outnumbered, the Green Berets fought on even after half of them were wounded -- four critically -- and managed to subdue an estimated 150 to 200 insurgents, according to interviews with several team members and official citations.

Today, Walton and nine of his teammates from Operational Detachment Alpha 3336 of the 3rd Special Forces Group will receive the Silver Star for their heroism in that battle -- the highest number of such awards given to the elite troops for a single engagement since the Vietnam War



Very intense article.

As Ford and Staff Sgt. John Wayne Walding returned fire, Walding was hit below his right knee. Ford turned and saw that the bullet "basically amputated his right leg right there on the battlefield."

Walding, of Groesbeck, Tex., recalled: "I literally grabbed my boot and put it in my crotch, then got the boot laces and tied it to my thigh, so it would not flop around. There was about two inches of meat holding my leg on." He put on a tourniquet, watching the blood flow out the stump to see when it was tight enough.

Then Walding tried to inject himself with morphine but accidentally used the wrong tip of the syringe and put the needle in this thumb, he later recalled. "My thumb felt great," he said wryly, noting that throughout the incident he never lost consciousness. "My name is John Wayne," he said.


Congratulations gentlemen and thank you for your service.

Teen girls fired from KFC for bathing on the job

Well okay so they were in the dish washing sink together and taking pictures they posted on their myspace pages. I hope their 15 minutes is over and they do not end up getting to reenact this scene in Maxim when they turn 18 or we will be seeing this sort of thing all over.

But I can't help but wonder if business went up or down at that location?

Pics at the link

Kentucky automobile dealers were surprised, confused and saddened

Ky. auto dealers disappointed by McConnell's opposition to bailout

The majority of Americans oppose the bailout and he knows most of us are still angry over the Wall Street bailout. What is so difficult to understand here?

I love reading comments on that website my state is so full of union assclowns.

The union would not budge as usual because they are only in the business of taking. Lets see how well they do when GM files chapter 11.

By the way Toyota has a plant in KY and IN and I consider those cars more American than the garbage that the Little 3 now peddle.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

RIP Bettie Page


Bettie Page dies at 85

I really wanted to get an autographed print of this by Bettie and Olivia de Berardinis. I doubt I can afford one now.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Its over for the Big 3 "Car Czar" to be named

If there ever was a sure fire way to ensure the problem will never be solved its to appoint a "czar".

Pelosi: "car czar" could be named this week, Volcker eyed

If you think GM management does a piss poor job just wait til Washington starts calling the shots. Glad I own a Toyota.

Juveniles convicted home invasion and beating an elderly woman get treated to taxpayer funded trip to Obama inauguration

Only in the Cali justice system

Last reported to being measured for tuxedos. I'm sure the elderly woman and her family are thrilled with the use of their tax dollars in a state currently begging for a federal bailout.

Monday, December 08, 2008

More Somali wierdness in Minnesota

I have been following the story about the missing Somali men over at the Gateway Pundit. Maybe Minnesota should be thankful that after training for Jihad in Somalia that the bomber returned in chunks and not to wage Jihad here. If they can be recruited so easily in Minnesota to fight in Somalia they could very easily come home to wage Jihad here. Time to find out who is funding them but lets not look at any of the local Muslim groups we may offend someone.

I would think returning to Somalia to join the pirates would be a slightly better career move than suicide bomber but hey cleansing the gene pool one assclown at a time.

The Palm Pistol hangun for the disabled

Medicare to Cover Prescription Handguns?

We recently reported about a new 9mm handgun that was designed for folks suffering from arthritis and other disabilities affecting the hands. Constitution Arms, the manufacturer of the firearm, is reporting that the FDA has formally designated the gun as a medical gadget.


The Palm Pistol

Prescription only?

h/t instapundit

Rights group berates West over Somalia failure

Via CNN

The United States and other Western powers have "exacerbated Somalia's downward spiral" and must revise their policies in the east African country, a Human Rights Watch report has warned.

The report, released Monday, blames the policies under President George W. Bush for "breeding the very extremism that it is supposed to defeat."

"The new administration of U.S. President Barack Obama should urgently review U.S. policy in Somalia and the broader Horn of Africa and break with the failed approach of his predecessor," the report said.

It also cites key European governments for failing "to address the human rights dimensions of the crisis, with many officials hoping that somehow unfettered support to abusive TFG (Somali transitional government) forces will improve stability."


Somalia has been a war zone since the time of President George H W Bush. The best thing for Somalia and the Somali people would be to erase Mogadishu from the map along with the Somali pirate port of Eyl. Somalia will in all likely hood never be a complete country again with the hundred of clans ruling their own turf. Maybe Human Rights Watch should take its ass down there and try to teach some love and understanding. The Somali pastime is chewing khat and shooting each other.

I have friends that were in Somalia in 1992 when Bush the elder was pressured to send troops to end the famine. Funny that most of what I hear is that nobody in Mogadishu seemed to be starving but it was those outside the city. I also have friends that were there in 1993 when Clinton pressured by the UN and ill advised by Les Aspin thought that it was possible to nation build there. The same Les Aspin who denied the equipment commanders on the ground requested such as armor and AC-130 gunship support. No many believe that AC-130's were not provided in Somalia but that is only partly true. AC-130's were providing air cover until the day Task Force Ranger arrived when they were promptly removed and only returned after the Battle of the Black Sea on Oct 3-4 1993.

It is my worry of the Obama administration that his cabinet will be filled like Clintons. People who never served and do not understand or trust the military with a few token members with prior service who will tell the administration what it wants to hear.

If Somalia is to be the new training ground for terrorism it must be dealt with and certainly the pirates are now a much larger threat to international shipping. I understand the locals nearly shit their pants whenever the AC-130 would fly over screaming "AC" and taking cover. Maybe a few nighttime flybys of the port of Eyl would get their attention

Fred Thompson on the Economy

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Extreme Farming

Obama New Deal breakdown

Obama unveils 21st Century New Deal


—ENERGY: “[W]e will launch a massive effort to make public buildings more energy-efficient. Our government now pays the highest energy bill in the world. We need to change that. We need to upgrade our federal buildings by replacing old heating systems and installing efficient light bulbs. That won’t just save you, the American taxpayer, billions of dollars each year. It will put people back to work.”


I hope before they go installing a new heating system they figure out if it would be cheaper to replace the building. But no this is our government they will no doubt upgrade the entire building just to tear it down next year and name it after dear leader.

—ROADS AND BRIDGES: “[W]e will create millions of jobs by making the single largest new investment in our national infrastructure since the creation of the federal highway system in the 1950s. We’ll invest your precious tax dollars in new and smarter ways, and we’ll set a simple rule – use it or lose it. If a state doesn’t act quickly to invest in roads and bridges in their communities, they’ll lose the money.”


How about a nice Interstate 69 and a bridge?

—SCHOOLS: “[M]y economic recovery plan will launch the most sweeping effort to modernize and upgrade school buildings that this country has ever seen. We will repair broken schools, make them energy-efficient, and put new computers in our classrooms. Because to help our children compete in a 21st century economy, we need to send them to 21st century schools.”


Oh yeah that's what our failing schools need is a splash of paint, some fancy new bulbs and more laptops so the kids can check their myspace pages. Would be very helpful if some of the computer teachers actually knew more about them than the students.

—BROADBAND: “As we renew our schools and highways, we’ll also renew our information superhighway. It is unacceptable that the United States ranks 15th in the world in broadband adoption. Here, in the country that invented the Internet, every child should have the chance to get online, and they’ll get that chance when I’m president – because that’s how we’ll strengthen America’s competitiveness in the world.”


How about pushing the technology that transmits broadband via power lines to rural America?

—ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS: “In addition to connecting our libraries and schools to the Internet, we must also ensure that our hospitals are connected to each other through the Internet. That is why the economic recovery plan I’m proposing will help modernize our health care system – and that won’t just save jobs, it will save lives. We will make sure that every doctor’s office and hospital in this country is using cutting edge technology and electronic medical records so that we can cut red tape, prevent medical mistakes, and help save billions of dollars each year.”


Ok here is the problem with this. Many hospitals have already gone to electronic documentation and there are multiple software systems. If we are talking about developing software for these systems to communicate and subsidizing the implementation that would be great. Government should not be footing the bill for hospitals to go electronic because it is in the hospitals best interest to do so. Hospitals can trim costs with electronic systems with faster billing and making sure everything is done to get full reimbursement.

Sen Dodd calls for GM CEO Rick Wagoner to resign

Key senator calls for GM head to step down

An influential senator drafting a multibillion-dollar bailout for Detroit's Big Three automakers said Sunday that the head of General Motors should step down, while President-elect Barack Obama accused car industry executives of a persistent "head-in-the sand approach" to long-festering problems.

Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., chairman of the Banking Committee, said GM CEO Rick Wagoner "has to move on" as part of a government-run restructuring that should be a condition of financial life support for the auto industry.

"I think you have got to consider new leadership," Dodd said on CBS' "Face the Nation."


Head in that sand like you guys watching Fannie and Freddie crash and burn? How about you resign first Senator Dodd.

Twitter to save the GOP?

Last night I got a chance to look over the article at Hot Air; Has the remaking of conservative infrastructure begun?

Down in the comments I found one that stated almost perfectly what I thought of the idea.

Posted by ErikTheRed

I didn't have a Twitter account but I signed up and downloaded the app for my iPhone. maybe later after I get some sleep I will check it out further. Technology could be a friend to the GOP but message has got to be there first. Going to be hard to get back on message of small government after the last 8 years.

Odd response to Greek riots

Rioters rampage through Greek cities

The story itself wasn't really that interesting until down towards the end.

Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos promised there would be a thorough investigation into the teenager's death and pledged to punish anyone found responsible.

"It is inconceivable for there not to be punishment when a person loses their life, particularly when it is a child," Pavlopoulos said. "The taking of life is something that is not excusable in a democracy."


Not excusable in a democracy? Seriously what the fuck? A gang attacks cops so it would be ok for "children" to possible kill one of the police but god forbid one of the "children" be injured or killed.

Pop told me of a lesson he learned the hard way in Vietnam. Whats the difference between a 30 year old with a gun and a 13 year old with a gun? Not a damn thing. When you think they may kill you in an assault what does age, race, gender or anything else have to do with it?

Congrats to Congressmen Anh "Joseph" Cao and John Fleming

In the 2nd Congressional District, which includes most of New Orleans, Republican attorney Anh "Joseph" Cao won 50 percent of the vote to Jefferson's 47 percent and will become the first Vietnamese-American in Congress. His only previous political experience was an unsuccessful 2007 bid for a seat in the state legislature.

In the 4th Congressional District in western Louisiana, Republican John Fleming squeaked past Democrat Paul Carmouche in the race to replace retiring 10-term Rep. Jim McCrery, R-La. Only a few hundred votes separated the two.


Meanwhile Jefferson doesn't seem to think its in any way his own fault.

In a speech that was gracious but stopped short of concession, Jefferson blamed low voter turnout for his showing and said supporters may have thought he was a shoo-in after he won a Nov. 4 primary in the predominantly black and heavily Democratic district.

"I think people just ran out of gas a bit," he said. "People today flat didn't come out in large numbers."

Greg Rigamer, a New Orleans political consultant, said his analysis showed turnout in predominantly white sections of the district was double that in black areas. He said that helped push Cao to victory over Jefferson, who became Louisiana's first black congressman since Reconstruction when he took office in 1991.

"This is quite a feat," Rigamer said of Cao's victory.

Shinseki named VA secretary

Blah Blah Blah from the AP and all the other old dying media.

No old media article I have seen yet mentions he is the one that took the black beret from the Rangers who earned it and gave it to the entire Army as Army chief of staff.

Pakistan Gunmen burn $10 million worth of NATO vehicles

Pakistan Gunmen blasted their way into two transport terminals in Pakistan on Sunday and torched more than 160 vehicles destined for U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan, in the biggest assault yet on a vital military supply line, officials said.


Maybe Pakistan is not the best place to stage supplies if they cannot/will not protect them?

The attackers fled after a brief exchange of fire with police, who arrived about 40 minutes later, he said.

The nine other guards who were on duty but stood helplessly aside put the number of assailants at 300, Khan said, though police official Kashif Alam said there were only 30.


30 or 300? That is a pretty wide range there.

Self Reliance

Patients as popsicle

I once packed a patient who had suffered an acute MI (heart attack) and was on the vent into a body bag with ice leaving only the head sticking out. The cardio thoracic surgeon at another facility wanted him packaged and shipped that way via EMS. You should have seen the look on the medics face when he saw the "package".

Now from the AP:

It took five shocks to get Cynthia Crawford's heart to start beating again after she collapsed at Ochsner Clinic a few weeks ago. A dramatic rescue, to be sure, yet it was routine care that she could have had at any hospital.

What came next, though, was not.

As she lay unconscious, doctors placed her in an inflatable cocoon-like pool that sprayed her naked body with hundreds of icy-cold jets of water, plunging her into hypothermia.

"Like jumping in the North Sea," said the cardiologist leading her care, Dr. Paul McMullan.

Days later, Crawford was recovering without the long-term harm she might have suffered.


The rest Study will examine whether frigid water can slow tissue death from heart attack

Product website: Life Recovery Systems

Friday, December 05, 2008

Ghosts of Christmas past part 2



I think this was Christmas 1978?

AP news story as usual based on nothing

AP Enterprise: Deaths loom over self-defense laws

An Associated Press review found a growing number of cases but no clear trend yet in how the law is applied or how cases will be resolved in court.


Well maybe they should wait for a trend before doing a non story stringing together unrelated shootings.

Self defense should not be that complicated. If you are in fear of your life or protecting the life of another its pretty straight forward. Laws requiring you to retreat are asinine.

The guy shooting someone coming out of his neighbors house was wrong and that's very dangerous. I'm glad it wasn't the neighbors kids practicing a fire evacuation plan.

Someone snatching a case of beer and running out of the store is a no brainer as well. The only reason the clerks life was in danger at the time of the shooting was because he chased the guy.

Castle doctrine laws are need to prevent home owners from being prosecuted for protecting themselves. Like this post I made back back when the law was passed in Kentucky about a paraplegic indicted for shooting an intruder.