December 08, 2006
A tree frog has miraculously come back to life after being accidentally frozen solid in a freezer in Australia.Amazing.The tiny frog was found covered in a layer of ice in a walk-in freezer - at -18C - at a Darwin cafeteria.
But - after defrosting - it fully recovered and started breathing again, reports the Australian Daily Telegraph.
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Chris Bowers at MyDD.com yesterday:
Do I think that Bush has committed impeachable offensives? Probably. However, I would rather pursue a course of legislative action that would keep our caucus close to united, help large numbers of actual Americans, have a legitimate chance of passing both branches of Congress, conduct actual investigations and oversight and, if those investigations prove worthy, close by censuring Bush. I think is the appropriate and responsible way to act, a way that will help people, tarnish Bush, keep us popular, and keep our majorities. That is why you won't see me pushing for Bush's impeachment on this blog, or anywhere else, over the next two years.Certainly there's dissent among the ranks when you read through the comments that follow. But other than possible censure based on investigations, Bowers is essentially "cutting and running" from his previous support for getting Bush at all costs.
Interesting. When finally presented with a chance of Democrats exercising power, some in the nutroots may be succumbing to the fear of losing it. The big question is: will the ground troops who have invested so much of themselves into this effort buy it? Most of them have never been all that concerned with what was the "appropriate and responsible way to act." We shall see.
In any case, it will definitely be fun to watch.
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December 07, 2006
On the Left, we have a gay activist group beating the drum about how sad it is for Mary that her father's evil boss and his Right-Wing minions are denying her and Heather the right to be happy.
Family Pride, which advocates on behalf of gay and lesbian families, noted that Virginia last month became one of 27 states with a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.A couple of points here. First, beyond the President's support for a Constitutional Amendment legally defining marriage as between one man and one woman (which probably doesn't have a prayer of ever happening), the Administration has done nothing to deny Mary Cheney and Heather Poe anything. The people of the Commonwealth of Virginia made that call."Unless they move to a handful of less restrictive states, Heather will never be able to have a legal relationship with her child," said Family Pride executive director Jennifer Chrisler.
The couple "will quickly face the reality that no matter how loved their child will be. ... he or she will never have the same protections that other children born to heterosexual couples enjoy," Chrisler said. "Grandfather Cheney will no doubt face a lifetime of sleepless nights as he reflects on the irreparable harm he and his administration have done to the millions of American gay and lesbian parents and their children."
Secondly, if groups like Family Pride weren't so aggressive in pursuing a redefinition of marriage, then bans such as the one that passed in Virginia would be viewed as unnecessary as a defensive measure. Support for the kind of legal rights afforded under a civil unions statute would be much easier to achieve. But anything short of complete legalization and validation of gay marriage is unacceptable to these folks.
And notwithstanding Family Pride's protestations, I'm sure "Grandfather Cheney" will be more likely facing a lifetime of joy at the prospect of another grandchild, rather than the "sleepless nights" that Ms. Chrisler no doubt hopes will plague him.
On the Right, there are some expressing dismay:
Janice Crouse of Concerned Women for America described the pregnancy as "unconscionable.""Unconscionable" is not exactly the word you should expect about a pregnancy from someone who claims to champion the value of human life. And Ms. Crouse might be surprised to find that Mary Cheney's desire to have a child probably has nothing to do with "encouraging" people who don't even need encouragement if they truly desire the same thing."It's very disappointing that a celebrity couple like this would deliberately bring into the world a child that will never have a father," said Crouse, a senior fellow at the group's think tank. "They are encouraging people who don't have the advantages they have."
My point here is that people can have differing opinions on the issue of gay marriage. But when public policy advocates on both sides are more focused on treating such occasions as opportunities to advance their own cause than allowing Cheney and her family to enjoy the moment and repecting their privacy, it really disgusts me. And shame on CNN for seeking these people out to give them that opportunity.
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December 06, 2006
Especially good news for the men of neighboring Sweden, who may be quite interested.
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Paris Hilton says she wants to have children — soon.GO AWAY! Far away.The partying heiress says that hanging around with her new best friend, Britney Spears, and Spears' two tykes has made her want to reproduce.
“It’s been my dream to have four babies by 30,” the 25-year-old heiress announced, reports Life & Style Weekly. And Hilton thinks she’s highly qualified for motherhood, explaining: “I look after animals, so I’d have a lot to give my kids.”
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This one will have many Dems scratching their heads and the nutroots screaming at the top of their lungs. Don't get me wrong, I'm pleasantly surprised that he won't be pushing "Operation Cut And Run", but who saw this coming?
Well, Pelosi for one.
But when asked what he told Pelosi about his thinking on Iraq, Reyes replied: “What I said was, we can’t afford to leave there. And anybody who says, we are going pull out our troops immediately, is being dishonest … We’re all interested in getting out of Iraq. That’s a common goal. How we do it, I think, is the tough part. There are those that say, they don’t care what Iraq looks like once we leave there. Let’s just leave there. And I argue against that. I don’t think that’s responsible. And I think it plays right into the hands of Syria and Iran.”So how do you anti-war Lefties like your Speaker now? Inquiring minds want to know.
***UPDATE: Curt at Flopping Aces clipped some reax from the peanut gallery at DU. As expected, vile and frothing at the mouth.END UPDATE***
Ed Morrissey points out that this is yet another example of how Pelosi has spent the last month seriously undermining her own credibility:
"Pelosi stripped Harman of the chair that she gave Reyes primarily because of her support of the war in Iraq and a lack of partisan animus on Harman's part. While Reyes promised to vigorously pursue the issues of the warrantless NSA surveillance of international calls and other counterterrorism efforts by the Bush administration, clearly the Democrats expected someone less inclined to keep troops in Iraq, let alone add to the contingent. Even Harman has not gone on record in support of an expansion of troop levels.This is pretty significant. Because the more split this thin majority is over the next two years, the less damage they can do.So why did she replace Harman? It seems obvious that the decision had much more to do with personal issues than with policy. Democrats may want to rethink her Speakership in light of the series of strange decisions she has made in the wake of their victory. The rule of personal whim has just about destroyed their momentum and may have set up the House caucus for a devastating split at the moment of their greatest unity in a generation."
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December 05, 2006
Consider the lastest episode with Gwyneth Paltrow. Here we have an actress who is quoted - possibly erroneously - by the international media as saying something that is considered by probably a majority of her fellow Americans to be somewhat insulting.
OK. Now here's my reaction. Are you ready? more...
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December 04, 2006
Not only is Glavine a solid arm in the rotation but I've always liked him, even when he was striking out Mets as a member of the Braves. Some fans hold a bit of a grudge against him because of his role with the player's union and the strike of '94 but Glavine has always been a class act. The head office in Flushing entered into a gentleman's agreement with the future Hall-of-Famer last year when they renegotiated his contract (something Glavine was not obliged to do), in which both parties would not act on their respective off-season options in order that Glavine could consider an opportunity to sign with Atlanta, if there was one.
The Mets had asked Glavine to give them a definitive answer before the start of the winter meetings in Orlando so they'd know whether or not they needed to pull the trigger on a deal for his replacement. Glavine could have reneged and waited for Atlanta to clear some salary, but he acted in good faith with the Mets and re-signed last Friday.
The strain caused by Tom's separation from his kids during the school-year portion of the MLB season has been tough. As a father, I can completely sympathize. And if the team had just given him some more run support a couple of years ago, he may very well have already hit his 300-win goal which is his stated trigger for retirement. It's extremely likely that number 300 will occur sometime this summer and it'll be nice for him to hit it as a Met, making his years here in New York that much more meaningful.
Welcome back, Tom. We would have missed ya.
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Here you go. Now you can sing those songs, over and over...
OK, full disclosure here. I have a six-year old who is an absolute Wiggles freak. So a major change like this is going to have a profound ripple effect in my home life.
I hope that Greg's health issues are not serious. Clearly the grueling schedule has taken its toll. And I wish Sam Moran the best of luck. He's got big shoes (and a big shirt) to fill.
The biggest winners in this situation: eBay sellers. Take my word on that one.
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December 02, 2006
And this week's Diane Lane Netflix Pick of the Week:
Synopsis:
Experience the extraordinary tale of Lucy Marsden, who in 1984 at the age of 99 became the nation's oldest living widow of a confederate soldier. This is her dramatic story told in her own words through flashbacks and reminiscences. Spanning almost a century, Lucy's portrayal of American society is a truly breathtaking masterpiece. From the heartache of the Civil War and despair of the Great Depression, this tale will leave you marveling.
Gary's take: Diane Lane from young girl to old woman. Especially entertaining for American History fans. Be aware that this was originally a miniseries, so you're looking at movie of Peter Jackson length. You might have to break it up into two sittings.
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December 01, 2006
At the end of the last episode of Season Two, the time line jumped ahead one year from the settlement of "New Caprica" to the invasion of the Cylons.
So what happened during all that time? Apparently, LOTS. In particular there was a little horizontal hootchie-cootchie between Lee "Apollo" Adama and Kara "Starbuck" Thrace. And it also looks like there's some unresolved anger issues between the two. We'll get some good stuff through flashback.
Skye at Midnight Blue has a spoiler clip. Go on. You know you want to. There's also a Jamie Bamber beefcake shot for you ladies. And in other news, starting in January the show moves to Sunday nights at 10pm.
Tonight's episode is "Unfinished Business" - 9pm on Sci-Fi. Be there!
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It was good to see my favorite couple working out their differences in the boxing ring. The flashbacks were..ahem..illuminating.
Loved the scene between Tigh and Ellen when he asks when was the last time he told Ellen he loved her.
Ahh..Adama and Roslin...I hope those two did more than cuddle!
John Hinderaker at Powerline gives his assessment:
McCain has a conservative voting record, but is widely mistrusted by the Republican base because of his support for restrictions on citizen political activity, his occasional squishiness on issues like tax cuts, and his general willingness to sell out the party when it suits his purposes.In other words, for the GOP's base, each of these front-runners would represent a compromise nominee. George Allen is done and Bill Frist is out. Yes, there is Newt - the Conservative dahling - but as Hinderaker notes he just carries too much baggage: "As someone memorably said, Newt's flaw is that he has never in his life had an unspoken thought. That's fine for an idea man, which is what Gingrich has become since leaving Congress; not so fine in a Presidential candidate."Giuliani is widely admired for his solid stance on the war on terror, his history as a crimefighter, and his leadership qualities and administrative talents. But Giuliani is a social liberal. Not a moderate, a liberal. I can live with that, as long as I'm convinced he will be solid on judges. But can the Republican base? I don't know.
Romney is an impressive guy in many ways, but a relative newcomer to the national scene. His positions on the social issues appear to have "evolved" since he ran for Governor of Massachusetts. And his Mormon faith may turn out to be an issue; I don't know.
There are other credible Conservatives out there who can (and will) run but I don't think they'll get very far because the Big Three (as I will refer to McCain, Giuliani and Romney going forward) are already dominating the pursuit of available resources in terms of support, money and campaign infrastructure. The issue of the GWOT will still be of as much importance (perhaps more so) in selecting a Commander-In-Chief in 2008 as it was in 2004. And my guess is that this is what will ultimately unite Republican voters behind a nominee, once the fighting is over.
None of the Big Three are taking anything for granted. And Captain Ed notes that McCain is even poaching support among Republican Governors - Romney's territory.
On the Dems' side there is Hillary and everyone else (mostly candidates who ran before and lost). The x-factor, I suppose, is IL Sen. Barack Obama. NRO's Rich Lowry sees him as a safety net for Democrats who are growing weary of Her Shrillness and all the baggage she brings to the table. But in terms of pure political power, Hillary isn't going to go away and already has everything she needs to claim the mantle in 2008 - everything that is, except the delegates. But she can muscle them to her side during the primaries. As of now, it's her party until she says otherwise. She hasn't spent the last six years padding a resume of Senatorial prestige just to be pushed aside by some untested punk from Illinois.
[Sidebar: This reminds me of the infamous quote from Dr. Evil in the first "Austin Powers" movie: "I didn't spend six years in Evil Medical School to be called 'mister', thank you very much". End Sidebar]
As for the General Election, the winner will depend on the unaffiliateds, the independents, the "moderates". And this is where Hillary has a big disadvantage. These voters are getting sick and tired of having a President that a huge bulk of the population hates. Yes, I mean "hates", as in rage-inducing wrath. During the Nineties you had the Clinton-haters and over the last six years it's been the Bush-haters. So, all things being equal, they will crave the candidate who is the least partisan (or most bi-partisan), the least polarizing and who at least appears to be the most reasonable.
Not convinced? Just approach a friend, relative or acquaintance who is by and large not very politically-charged and start ripping into the most high-profile leaders of either party and watch the "Oh, jeez" eye-rolling. They've had enough of it. In that sense, I think any of the Big Three has a good chance in the General Election. The task for Conservatives is to vote for the one they find most acceptable but line up behind the eventual winner even if he isn't their first choice. The key is electing a Commander-In-Chief who will prosecute the GWOT decisively and aggressively. If we don't have that in January 2009, how much does all the rest really matter?
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November 30, 2006
Where the Republican majority best resembled the Prussian Army - disciplined, unified and determined - the Democratic majority in the upcoming Congress is disunited, dispersed and divided into myriad caucuses and special interest groups. One could purchase the Republican majority wholesale by making a deal with the speaker and the majority leader. But to get the Democratic majority in line, one has to buy it retail -- caucus by caucus.For the sake of the country, I hope he's right. Apparently the "Blue Dogs" will be a particular force to be reckoned with. And as a block of 44 votes in the House, it'll be damn near impossible for Pelosi to push anything near and dear to the moonbat brigade. And this can only mean one thing: war between them and the nutroots.First, one has to go to check with the Black Caucus -- hat in hand -- to see if one's bill has enough liberal giveaways to round up its forty or so votes. Thence to the Hispanic Caucus for a similar screening. Then, with one's legislation weighted down with liberal provisions added by these two groups, one has to sell it to the Democratic Leadership Council moderates and, even worse, to the Blue Dog Democrats -- the out and out conservatives.
If you are fortunate enough to pass these contradictory litmus tests, you then have to go to the environmentalists, the labor people, and even the gays to see that your bill passes muster. Only then can you begin to hope for House passage.
The result of this labyrinth is that the relatively moderate bill you first sought to pass ends up like a Christmas tree, laden with ornaments added to appease each of the caucuses. Unrecognizable in its final form, it heads to House passage.
Nancy Pelosi will face the same obstacle. By the time her legislation emerges from the lower chamber, it will bear little resemblance to what she had in mind, liberal as that might have been. As Clinton said, after he watched the mangling of his legislative program by the various caucuses in the House, "I didn't even recognize myself."
Once the highly amended liberal legislation emerges from the House, it will make easy fodder for a Senate filibuster. So left leaning that it stands no chance of attracting 60 votes, it will be dead-on-arrival.
Pass the popcorn!
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The comedy show has already started. You will need several bags of popcorn since you don't want to miss a minute of it. 
A Different Christmas PoemGod bless them all.
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear, "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light.
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right, I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
"My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam', And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while, But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another, Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.
Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.""So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright, Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least, Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done, For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just tell us you love us, and never forget To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone, To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead, To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."
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It was a solemn pledge, repeated by Democratic leaders and candidates over and over: If elected to the majority in Congress, Democrats would implement all of the recommendations of the bipartisan commission that examined the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.And it's not like they even had that many campaign promises. They basically ran on "vote for us, we're not them". In the coming weeks and months we should be finding out about more serious concerns - the pledges that they didn't campaign on but made to their special interest group supporters.But with control of Congress now secured, Democratic leaders have decided for now against implementing the one measure that would affect them most directly: a wholesale reorganization of Congress to improve oversight and funding of the nation's intelligence agencies. Instead, Democratic leaders may create a panel to look at the issue and produce recommendations, according to congressional aides and lawmakers.
Because plans for implementing the commission's recommendations are still fluid, Democratic officials would not speak for the record. But aides on the House and Senate appropriations, armed services and intelligence committees confirmed this week that a reorganization of Congress would not be part of the package of homeland-security changes up for passage in the "first 100 hours" of the Democratic Congress.
Captain Ed puts it plainly:
People should take note of the reforms that the Democrats wish to pursue in this next session of Congress. They want to clear out the Republicans from the levers of power, but offered John Murtha for Majority Leader, along with his pork-barrel extortive politics and the legacy of Abscam. They promised a tough and competent effort on national security, but offered a disgraced and impeached former judge to run the Intelligence Committee. Democrats pledged to take immediate action on all of the Commission's recommendations, but they will balk at any meaningful reform that limits the power of their master appropriators, including Murtha himself.At least Pelosi and Co. can say they were for the recommendations before they were against them.In other words, the Democrats plan on using Intelligence budgets the same way that both parties have used them in the past: as a means to perform favors for powerful friends. Those who believed they voted for change in the midterms might find themselves vindicated; it looks like Congress will change for the worse, and in record time at that.
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November 29, 2006
If you've heard them all from their original source, there's no getting around it. You're OLD! And you watch too much television.
h/t: Eric The Viking
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Clearly, from it's tone the letter in question is aimed in particular at the blame-America-first, appeasement-on-demand, Kos-ified, Bush-hating, hug-the-world-into-submission, Left-wing moonbats among the population.
However, as a citizen of the U.S., I'd like to respond.
Dear President Ahmadinejad,And God bless the United States of America.Allow me to adapt a quote from a famous work of literature that comes from the Western culture that you now disingenuously "reach out" to yet publicly disdain at every opportunity:
"We will have peace...When you hang from a gibbet at your window for the sport of your own crows. This country will have peace with you and your Islamofascist regime."
Put more simply, suck my balls.
Love and Kisses,
Gary (the Ex-Donkey)
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Not that he stood a chance in hell anyway. If he had decided to run, I'd say he needed to see a doctor - a psychiatrist.
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November 28, 2006
Let the bloodletting begin.
UPDATE:
Hastings speaks:
"I have been informed by the speaker-elect that I will not serve as the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in the 110th Congress," he said. "I am obviously disappointed with this decision." Hastings won election to Congress in 1992, after having been impeached and removed from office as a federal judge. He concluded his statement by saying, "Sorry, haters, God is not finished with me yet."And the money shot to this fiasco:
"It's ugly," said one Pelosi aide. "It's just really, really bad."Heh.
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Surprise, surprise.
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