September 15, 2006
A Serbian man needed emergency surgery after he had sex with a hedgehog on a witchdoctor's advice.I'm not going to touch that one with a ten foot...er...pole.Zoran Nikolovic, 35, from Belgrade, says the witchdoctor told him it would cure his premature ejaculation.
But he ended up in an operating theatre after the hedgehog's needles left his penis severely lacerated.
A hospital spokesman said: "The animal was apparently unhurt and the patient came off much worse from the encounter. We have managed to repair the damage to his penis."
Posted by: Gary at
02:00 PM
| Comments (1)
| Add Comment
Post contains 135 words, total size 1 kb.
Will he be drawing a line in the sand over terrorism legistlation in the Senate?
Stay tuned...
On a related note, NBC's David Gregory got into it again yesterday with Tony Snow, prodding the White House Press Secretary over the President's attempt to clarify provisions in the Geneva Convention.
On the Imus In The Morning radio show this morning, the host asked David Gregory about his questions to Snow. Gregory raised concerns that the President is trying to redefine the torture guidelines of the Convention. Imus asked, "So what?"
Gregory responded that if the U.S. did this it might set a precedent for other countries to do the same. "Which countries?" asked Imus.
The White House Corresponded responded (and I'm paraphrasing here) that there is concern about a war with Iran, for example.
Imus (who loves Gregory) asked him point blank: "Do you think that if we got into a war with Iran, and if they captured some of our soldiers that Iran would comply with the provisions of the Geneva Convention? What are you, an idiot?"
Gregory was incredulous. I laughed my butt off.
Posted by: Gary at
10:30 AM
| Comments (2)
| Add Comment
Post contains 204 words, total size 1 kb.
The Democrats' mistake--ironically, in a year all about Mr. Bush--is obsessing on Mr. Bush. They've been sucker-punched by their own animosity.Back in 1984, former VP Fritz Mondale asked his fellow Presidential candidate Gary Hart, "Where's the beef?""The Democrats now are incapable of answering a question on policy without mentioning Bush six times," says pollster Kellyanne Conway. " 'What is your vision on Iraq?' 'Bush lied us into war.' 'Health care? 'Bush hasn't a clue.' They're so obsessed with Bush it impedes them from crafting and communicating a vision all their own." They heighten Bush by hating him.
One of the oldest clichés in politics is, "You can't beat something with nothing." It's a cliché because it's true. You have to have belief, and a program. You have to look away from the big foe and focus instead on the world and philosophy and programs you imagine.
Mr. Bush's White House loves what the Democrats are doing. They want the focus on him. That's why he's out there talking, saying Look at me.
Because familiarity doesn't only breed contempt, it can breed content. Because if you're going to turn away from him, you'd better be turning toward a plan, and the Democrats don't appear to have one.
Which leaves them unlikely to win leadership. And unworthy of it, too.
He could just as easily ask the same question of his party, twenty-two years later.
Posted by: Gary at
09:45 AM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 267 words, total size 2 kb.
September 14, 2006
Oil is traded in contracts for future delivery, and companies that take physical delivery of oil are just a small part of total trading. Large pension and commodities funds are the big traders and they're seeking profits. They've sunk $105 billion or more into oil futures in recent years, according to Verleger. Their bets that oil prices would rise in the future bid up the price of oil.$1.15? Holy crap!That, in turn, led users of oil to create stockpiles as cushions against supply disruptions and even higher future prices. Now inventories of oil are approaching 1990 levels...
...As it stands now, the recent oil-price slump has brought the national average for a gallon of unleaded gasoline down to $2.59, according to the AAA motor club. In the Seattle area, prices per gallon have fallen to $2.856 currently from $3.071 a month ago, a decline of 7 percent, according to AAA.
Should oil traders fear that this downward price spiral will get worse and run for the exits by selling off their futures contracts, Verleger said, it's not unthinkable that oil prices could return to $15 or less a barrel, at least temporarily. That could mean gasoline prices as low as $1.15 per gallon.
Other experts won't guess at a floor price, but they agree that a race to the bottom could break out.
I'm starting to regret pre-paying my home heating oil for the winter. Sigh.
But if gas prices were to fall even as far as $1.50 per gallon, the resulting savings would act like a tax cut and increase discretionary income. On an individual basis, this isn't all that much but multiply the savings by about 150 million drivers across the U.S.
That's a lot of beer money.
Bet yer lookin' at the poll in the sidebar a little differently right now, huh?
Posted by: Gary at
03:10 PM
| Comments (1)
| Add Comment
Post contains 333 words, total size 2 kb.
Posted by: Gary at
12:15 PM
| Comments (4)
| Add Comment
Post contains 12 words, total size 1 kb.
This part picks up just after the break-up of the Millenial terror plot that was to have taken place on December 31,1999. The first major event is the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole in October 2000. The Clinton Administration is winding down in its last few months in office and the President is focused on Middle East peace talks rather than retaliation - even though the opportunity is there.
Again, Richard Clarke continues to be portrayed as a frustrated advocate for going after Bin Laden and his network but no one wants to listen to him. We, the audience, share in his frustrations. Clarke continues to serve in the Bush Administration, which is by no means given a pass by this film. Clarke's focus is redirected away from counter-terrorism in a "restructuring" of the NSA. It took almost eight months in office before National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice is prepared to present a plan for dealing with Bin Laden. Of course, by then it was too little, too late.
Clinton apologists have no reason to complain that their guy was treated shabbily to the benefit of his successor. They will anyway.
This stage of the story emphasizes the "wall" that barred information sharing between the FBI and CIA, as illustrated by a CIA operative's meeting with Agent John O'Neill. The CIA has pictures of suspects of the Cole bombing that may be in the U.S. However, he won't share the identities of these men nor will he let O'Neill's staff keep the pictures.
Political correctness ruled the day. And if there is one perfect example of idiocy that the 9/11 commission uncovered in its findings, it is this ridiculous impediment to communication that most contributed to our inability to prevent the attacks. This policy, immortalized by the infamous "Gorelick Memo", has since been discarded. Thank God for that.
The film ends with a re-enactment of the events of that morning as many of the players, upon hearing the news, know immediately that it must have been the work of Bin Laden.
Actually, the fact that Democrats raised such a fuss over "The Path To 9/11" probably resulted in the mini-series registering such high ratings. As I stated in my previous post on part one, the importance of this presentation was its focus on the mindset this country had on September 10th and how we can never allow ourselves to return to that mindset.
This is THE issue of our time: the protection of America from further attacks and the destruction of those forces who would launch and support those attacks, wherever they may be. This is a war and it's being fought all over the world, on many different fronts. Even the enemy acknowledges this. I encourage Democrats to pull their heads out of their sphincters and get with the program. There's no use in whining about a film that they think makes them look bad. They're doing a good enough job of that all on their own.
Posted by: Gary at
12:00 PM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 524 words, total size 3 kb.
Lamont's campaign got a boost Wednesday from former President Carter, who offered a blistering critique of Lieberman's support for the Iraq war. "He was one of the originators of public statements that misled the American people into believing that the Iraqi war was justified," the former Democratic president said on CNN's "Larry King Live."Don't expect these words of criticism to count for much coming from the worst President in the history of the United States. If anything, it'll reinforce the support Lieberman already enjoys. Oh boy, I hope Lamont can get more of these "boosts" over the next two months."He's joined in with the Republican spokespersons by saying that Democrats who disagree are really supporting terrorism," Carter said. "So for all these reasons, I've lost my confidence in Joe Lieberman and don't wish to see him re-elected."
Lamont, a multimillionaire businessman who spent about $4 million of his own money in the primary, is tapping his personal fortune once again. He has written checks totaling $1.5 million for his general election bid, his campaign confirmed Wednesday. Lamont gave his campaign $1 million on Sept. 11. He wrote a $500,000 check on Aug. 22.
He may not be able to afford them.
Posted by: Gary at
09:45 AM
| Comments (1)
| Add Comment
Post contains 214 words, total size 1 kb.
Richards is best remembered nationally as the feisty keynote speaker at the 1988 Democrat Convention in Atlanta who said that "poor George" H.W. Bush was "born with a silver foot in his mouth."
I'd be lying if I said that - back then - I didn't get a good belly laugh out of that one. Unfortunately for Mass. Governor Michael Dukakis, that was the high point of the Democrat's campaign.
From what I've read, she was a terrific lady who was not afraid to speak her mind. No stranger to personal hardships, she always tackled adversity by laughing at it. That's a life lesson we could all stand to learn.
R.I.P.
UPDATE: 1.30PM
Coming as no surprise to me, the President spoke kindly of her today.
"Ann loved Texas, and Texans loved her. As a public servant she earned respect and admiration," Bush said in a statement. "Ann became a national role model, and her charm, wit, and candor brought a refreshing vitality to public life."Gracious, as always.
Posted by: Gary at
08:45 AM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 195 words, total size 1 kb.
September 13, 2006
The Braves are now OFFICIALLY eliminated from the pennant race.
Excuse me a moment...ahem...BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!...OK, back to this post.
Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog.com posts an open letter to Braves Manager Bobby Cox:
"I have spent most every minute of the last 12 years swearing and screaming your name, taunting your relief pitchers, mocking your batters, and praying for your bus to stall on its way to the stadium – and now that your journey is over, I find myself grateful for all of the emotions you exposed me to. You see, it takes a lot to dislike a team as much as I’ve disliked you – and, in some ways, you’ve made me the rabid fan that I am.Mets fans, our long National (League) nightmare is officially over. Braves fans, you shove those styro-foam tomahawk chopper thingies right up your poop chutes (and let's hear that stupid chant while you do it).So, thank you, Bobby – and here’s to hoping you become as bitter towards me and the Mets over the next 14 years as we’ve become towards you and the Braves.
Have a happy and uneventful October, and weÂ’ll see you next April."
*** Apologies to my relations in Norcross, GA who know I'm only teasing. ***
Posted by: Gary at
04:30 PM
| Comments (1)
| Add Comment
Post contains 243 words, total size 2 kb.
The Treasury Department said that with just one month to go in the budget year, the deficit totals $304.3 billion, down from $354.1 billion during the same period a year ago.It's those damn tax cuts for the rich!!The Congressional Budget Office is forecasting that the deficit for the entire year will be $260 billion, which would mean that September will see a sizable surplus. [note: the Federal Gubment's Fiscal Year End is September 30th]
Posted by: Gary at
02:40 PM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 74 words, total size 1 kb.
Talk about a competitive environment! Why?!?!?!! Why?!?!?!?! Why?!?!?!?!?
Posted by: Gary at
02:20 PM
| Comments (1)
| Add Comment
Post contains 23 words, total size 1 kb.
It's still early but not a single poll since the primary in August has had Lamont leading (though he has been close). Lamont has less than eight weeks to convince non-Moonbats in CT to move in his direction. The closer we get to November 7th, the harder that task will be. It's not a name-recognition problem considering the amount of national press this race has received.
And with races tightening up in PA, OH, and MD, the DSCC has to decide how much resources they are willing to keep pouring into this match-up.
It may not be long before Ned Lamont and his nutroots supporters find themselves on their own.
UPDATE: 4:15PM
First the sizzle, then the fizzle.
I ran across this article in The Weekly Standard while I was away on vacation. The web hype for Ned Lamont's candidacy doesn't seem to be able to translate into a lead against an independent Lieberman. In light of this point, I quote Louis Wittig who compares the internet buzz that built up "Snakes On A Plan" to that of the Liberal blogosphere. In both cases, expectations end up falling short (ahem, Dr. Dean?). Wittig makes an excellent point:
The problem is that most people, both insiders and outsiders, misunderstand the internet's advantages and limitations.The nutroots keeps waiting for this Liberal "revolution" to take Washington by storm because they're under the delusion that they represent the majority point of view in America.It's perfectly understandable when political junkies and box office watchers conclude that web buzz augurs big things, but it's also perfectly backwards. We look at the humming activity of the blogosphere and assume the cadre of online enthusiasts behind it constitutes the tip of an off-line iceberg. It is assumed that for every posting on MyDD, or SoaP rap on YouTube, there must be dozens of people out there itching for impeachment of python gags.
Reality is just the opposite. People go to the blogosphere because they can't find a sizable number of people in their everyday, off-line lives that are as enthusiastic as they are. The blogosphere gathers together atypical fans and brings them together in what quickly becomes a broadband echo chamber. The louder and more intense the online community gets, the farther it's likely drifting from what is happening offline.
But whenever reality hits back at them, they seem unable to accept the idea that they really are nothing more than a fringe. And they resolve to just try harder for the next election.
Posted by: Gary at
12:23 PM
| Comments (1)
| Add Comment
Post contains 471 words, total size 3 kb.
I watched part one last night. Sunday was reserved for watching the Giants blow their first game to the Colts and Monday was my wedding anniversary, so I'm just now getting to it.
First point: The film is well made. The pacing is not too slow or too fast. The editing and cinematography keep you riveted. The use of hand-held cameras gives it an air of authenticity.
Second point: The portrayal of Richard Clarke is very positive (so far). He's actually one of the few higher up White House types that take this threat seriously. Why is Clarke so upset about this film? Doesn't make sense. Maybe he objects to being played by Milton, the red stapler guy from Office Space?
Third point: No, Sandy Burglar and Maddy Albright are not presented in a favorable light but neither is George Tenet or anyone else at a level of significant responsibility. Their words and actions (or lack thereof) are not so much indicative of individual character flaws as they are of a particular mindset that our government had at the time.
The film is more of an examination of what happens when you treat counter-terrorism as a "Law and Order" episode. We did this from Nixon to Bush 43, until 9/11/01. At that point, the current President and his cabinet realized that this is really a war - one like we've never fought before - that requires treating it like one.
It also provides a better understanding of the vastness of the terror network and how hard so many people have worked to track it down. The people in the CIA, FBI and other agencies who get their hands dirty understood the threat. It's the politicians and the bureaucrats who didn't. The agents didn't fail us, their bosses did. I'm amazed at what they were able to accomplish even in that restrictive environment.
If we give these folks the tools that they need and support what they do, we will defeat the terrorists almost every time. As Harvey Keitel's John O'Neill says "Nobody bats 1.000." But we need to recognize what we're dealing with and accept what we need to do to fight it.
If our government holds true to a "post-9/11" perspective we have a chance. To go back to a "pre-9/11" mentality would be suicide. And the problem with Democrats is that they desperately cling to a "pre-9/11" mentality. They prefer treating terrorists as criminals with Constitutional rights. They'd rather have court victories than military victories. They think negotiation is a viable tool in dealing with these animals. We can never go back to that old mindset.
And this reason above all others - the reminder that this approach is what doomed us to failure - is why Democrats should be most worried about this film, not the affect it will have on individual legacies and reputations.
Only by accepting responsibility and demonstrating that lessons have been learned can Democrats ever hope to convince the American people that they can be trusted with their safety. By demanding that "The Path To 9/11" be pulled in an attempt to cover-up their shortcomings, they have done more damage to their credibility than any movie ever could.
Posted by: Gary at
11:10 AM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 552 words, total size 3 kb.
I can't tell yet whether this new focus is going to be a load of fun or the source of the worst brain-freeze headache in the history of 7-11.Interesting stuff.
Posted by: Gary at
09:20 AM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 51 words, total size 1 kb.
Novak, attempting to set the reocrd straight writes: "First, Armitage did not, as he now indicates, merely pass on something he had heard and that he 'thought' might be so. Rather, he identified to me the CIA division where Mrs. Wilson worked, and said flatly that she recommended the mission to Niger by her husband, former Amb. Joseph Wilson. Second, Armitage did not slip me this information as idle chitchat, as he now suggests. He made clear he considered it especially suited for my column."What say you, Mr. Fitzgerald?Novak slams Armitage for holding back all this time.
UPDATE: 3:50PM
Novak's full column is up at the Chicago Sun-Times' website.
Posted by: Gary at
08:45 AM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 163 words, total size 1 kb.
September 12, 2006
Posted by: Gary at
04:12 PM
| Comments (4)
| Add Comment
Post contains 11 words, total size 1 kb.
No, it's not a Bush-Rove election surprise. The President doesn't deserve credit anymore than he deserves the blame for rising prices.
Too many people who are ignorant of economics fail to grasp this concept. Fortunately, however, the Democrats plan of using this as a club to beat the GOP over the head with is evaporating before their eyes.
Now there is plenty of blame to go around for the long-term situation, like squishy Liberals (in both parties) who manage to torpedo ANWR drilling bills every year. Imagine what prices would be today if we went in that direction ten years ago.
Posted by: Gary at
11:00 AM
| Comments (1)
| Add Comment
Post contains 127 words, total size 1 kb.
He offered words of optimism, hope and encouragement. He spoke of the courage, strength and spirit that this country has always shown in times of crisis.
What the majority of Americans saw was an example of leadership.
What Democrats saw will no doubt inspire in them anger and rage. Based on their experiences within their own party, Democrats have a hard time recognizing leadership. While they are all very familiar with being roused, stirred-up and driven to indignation, they have very little experience in being led.
The President layed out his case for fighting this war against Islamic Fascism - on all of its fronts.
For the majority of Americans whose outlooks are based in reality, this case - whether they liked hearing it or not - makes sense.
For the Left, however, it was a challenge to their fantasy of a false peace rooted in isolationism and head-in-the-sand denial. And they will react as they typically do. Years from now, when their children are grown they will ask, "Mommy? Daddy? What did you do during the great ideological struggle of the twenty-first century?" And they can hold their heads up high, look them in the eyes and say "I posted thousands of childish, obscene comments on weblogs!"
How does that old saying go? If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem?
President Bush concluded his address to the nation with a call for unity.
Most Americans remember the kind of unity this country shared in the weeks following 9/11 and they long for it again. They recognize how important this is in a time of war.
Democrats will reject this call out of hand. After all, they are engaged in a different war - a political war to take back control of the Federal government. For them, a sense of unity offsets any political advantage they might hope to exploit. Democrats are calling this a "political speech". This should come as no surprise. Surely, to those who would make the war a political issue, it was.
Yes, we have two perspectives out there. Our enemies are hoping one of them will prevail. It's not all that hard to figure out which one.
Posted by: Gary at
09:00 AM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 395 words, total size 2 kb.
September 11, 2006
Posted by: Gary at
10:55 PM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 25 words, total size 1 kb.
However, Confederate Yankee made a post today that expressed exactly what I was thinking but in a more eloquent manner than I ever could. Here I share a portion that really nails it.
"Five years later, American Democrats have more hate in their hearts for their own President than they do for the terrorists that killed almost 3,000 of their countrymen. They refuse to confront terrorism. Some would rather blame America and the world they think they understand, rather than face up to the fact that the world we all thought we knew was just an illusion. They are in catastrophic psychological denial, and cannot face the fact that "the other" they have spent their lives providing moral equivalence for were the ones who attacked our country.And these are the stakes heading into November 7th.It is so much easier to blame Bush than face the fact that we were attacked because we are the beacon of freedom for the world, and the greatest threat to radical Islam. It is so much easier to blame Bush, than realize that decades of denial led us to that horrific moment. If they can only blame Bush for that day—and every day since that their worldview has been shown to be vapid, self-serving, and a fraud—then their denial can go on, and "reality-based community" can continue to live in a world that has refuses to learn, to adapt, to change.
The Left refuses to learn from 9/11 and knows no way forward. It is why they grasp so insistently to the past, clinging to what was and what might have been, instead of moving forward to forcefully determine what should be and what must be done to secure our freedoms for the future. It is they that childishly insist for the "Perfect War" theory, stating a belief that any war not fought with perfect foresight and accuracy is wrong, while knowing securely no war has ever met their standard.
They show that they hate the present and don't understand the lessons of the recent past. They strive for stagnation and stasis and blaming ourselves, but they offer no hope for the future.
They blame Americans for radical Islamic plans for world domination. They vilify our troops instead of the terrorists they fight. They attack western governments fighting for freedom instead of eastern governments and the terrorists they sponsor that are fighting for oppression and destruction of our way of life.
The Left offers America and true liberalism a death sentence, seeking to repeat the failed policies of 30 years in denial.
We will not listen to them again.
That, perhaps, is their greatest fear of all."
Read the whole post here.
Posted by: Gary at
04:30 PM
| Comments (3)
| Add Comment
Post contains 508 words, total size 3 kb.
124 queries taking 0.0956 seconds, 293 records returned.
Powered by Minx 1.1.6c-pink.
