WATCH. THIS. VIDEO!!!
Three former terrorists discuss the threat
It is long, but well worth it.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Monday, July 17, 2006
World War Four?
Is the Hezbollah/Hamas vs. Israel throwdown the beginning of World War Four?
There is a debate beginning to brew regarding the scope and significance of the brouhaha in Lebanon right now. One one side are those who say that this is kicking off WWIV, on the other, those who either deny that this is the beginning, or dispute the contention that our opponents rate such consideration.
Obviously, history will be the best judge, but my take is that both points of view are somewhat valid. This is part of the continuing worldwide struggle against Islamofascism, Israel is simply one of the focal points. So yes, in that sense, it qualifies as World War. On the other hand, its hard to construe the military struggle as anything akin to that of World Wars One and Two, or the Cold War. The only reason this "struggle" continues is that the West hasn't mustered the will to deal decisively with the threat.
There is a debate beginning to brew regarding the scope and significance of the brouhaha in Lebanon right now. One one side are those who say that this is kicking off WWIV, on the other, those who either deny that this is the beginning, or dispute the contention that our opponents rate such consideration.
Obviously, history will be the best judge, but my take is that both points of view are somewhat valid. This is part of the continuing worldwide struggle against Islamofascism, Israel is simply one of the focal points. So yes, in that sense, it qualifies as World War. On the other hand, its hard to construe the military struggle as anything akin to that of World Wars One and Two, or the Cold War. The only reason this "struggle" continues is that the West hasn't mustered the will to deal decisively with the threat.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Andrew Sullivan : Hedonist
St. Andrew, a hedonist at heart...
Okay, so here's the lowdown on why Andrew isn't actually a conservative.
He sees everything through the perspective of "how is this going to affect me as a gay man?" Everything. When I've read his Christian writings, I've always gotten the sense that he is gay first, and his faith is secondary. Why do I think that? Because he only speaks of his faith in the context of how the "Christianists" (his term) don't live up to his definition of Christianity, a definition that hinges completely on embracing homosexuality as a valid alternative.
There's more, but the upshot is Sullivan is a hedonist. His worldview revolves around sexual pleasure, and insuring that he can continue to enjoy it with the consenting man of his choice, with full approval and support from society, whether or not society is interested in giving that approval and support.
Okay, so here's the lowdown on why Andrew isn't actually a conservative.
He sees everything through the perspective of "how is this going to affect me as a gay man?" Everything. When I've read his Christian writings, I've always gotten the sense that he is gay first, and his faith is secondary. Why do I think that? Because he only speaks of his faith in the context of how the "Christianists" (his term) don't live up to his definition of Christianity, a definition that hinges completely on embracing homosexuality as a valid alternative.
There's more, but the upshot is Sullivan is a hedonist. His worldview revolves around sexual pleasure, and insuring that he can continue to enjoy it with the consenting man of his choice, with full approval and support from society, whether or not society is interested in giving that approval and support.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Why Andrew Sullivan isn't a conservative...
Why Andrew Sullivan isn't a conservative...
Andrew Sullivan recently wrote another one of his "miff" pieces, wherein he was lamenting the fact that so few conservatives seem to accept him as a conservative, and he made a good argument for being a conservative.
So why don't most conservatives accept him? I had a long, hopefully articulate post composed in my head explaining why, but its late and I'm not up to typing it up.
So, I'll give you the barest of explanations, and come back to flesh it out later.
Andrew Sullivan is not accepted by most conservatives because of why he articulates the positions he does, not due to significant deficiencies in the positions, i.e. its his underlying ideology. Most conservatives likely recognize, if only on a subconscious level, that Sullivan's advocacy of conservative policies is driven not by conservative principles, but by something else.
I invite my readers, all X of you, to chime in on what you think that may be...
Andrew Sullivan recently wrote another one of his "miff" pieces, wherein he was lamenting the fact that so few conservatives seem to accept him as a conservative, and he made a good argument for being a conservative.
So why don't most conservatives accept him? I had a long, hopefully articulate post composed in my head explaining why, but its late and I'm not up to typing it up.
So, I'll give you the barest of explanations, and come back to flesh it out later.
Andrew Sullivan is not accepted by most conservatives because of why he articulates the positions he does, not due to significant deficiencies in the positions, i.e. its his underlying ideology. Most conservatives likely recognize, if only on a subconscious level, that Sullivan's advocacy of conservative policies is driven not by conservative principles, but by something else.
I invite my readers, all X of you, to chime in on what you think that may be...
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Not our baby, baby.
NY State Supreme Court rules on gay marriage
The decision came down, and it was a bit of a surprise. The NY Supremes have said it ain't their job to define marriage, that privilege (burden?) belongs to the legislature. So, the question becomes, will gay marriage advocates manage to get it through their legislature? Inquiring minds want to know...
The decision came down, and it was a bit of a surprise. The NY Supremes have said it ain't their job to define marriage, that privilege (burden?) belongs to the legislature. So, the question becomes, will gay marriage advocates manage to get it through their legislature? Inquiring minds want to know...
AtomicRide
Back from the wrong Road
ahh, back again. So much to say, so little time to say it.
First, some observations.
Waking up in a crashing 18 wheeler sucks. Big time. But not as much as not waking up would suck.
Gay marriage supporters seem to be unable to offer a substantive answer to this question: "Why should the government grant you privileges not enjoyed by your single gay brethren?"
Novacaine is only semi-effective on me. This is a fact that I've been reminded of recently, as the painful process of stapling my "numbed" scalp took place.
Dungeon Masters, aka Game Masters, of role playing games shouldn't allow their players to play evil characters. Challenge me and I'll explain why...
America is an incredibly beautiful country.
Its amazing how much of a mess two toddlers can make with one can of shaving cream, and funny as all get out when its somebody else's toddlers in somebody else's house.
Sometimes, you're the whale, and sometimes you're Jonah. Take it from me, 'tis better to be the whale.
Cars is a GREAT movie.
God IS good.
ahh, back again. So much to say, so little time to say it.
First, some observations.
Waking up in a crashing 18 wheeler sucks. Big time. But not as much as not waking up would suck.
Gay marriage supporters seem to be unable to offer a substantive answer to this question: "Why should the government grant you privileges not enjoyed by your single gay brethren?"
Novacaine is only semi-effective on me. This is a fact that I've been reminded of recently, as the painful process of stapling my "numbed" scalp took place.
Dungeon Masters, aka Game Masters, of role playing games shouldn't allow their players to play evil characters. Challenge me and I'll explain why...
America is an incredibly beautiful country.
Its amazing how much of a mess two toddlers can make with one can of shaving cream, and funny as all get out when its somebody else's toddlers in somebody else's house.
Sometimes, you're the whale, and sometimes you're Jonah. Take it from me, 'tis better to be the whale.
Cars is a GREAT movie.
God IS good.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
AtomicRide
Musings on Greyhound
Anybody who has ridden a Greyhound bus in the last few decades will probably go 'yup, uhuh'.
Every social sciences or psychology/psychiatry major should be required to do a week of riding Greyhound buses, every year during college. Doing so will probably do more to enlighten them about a spectrum of humanity rarely seen on college campuses, as well as teaching them more about tolerance than any seminar, class or teach-in ever will.
Anybody who has ridden a Greyhound bus in the last few decades will probably go 'yup, uhuh'.
Every social sciences or psychology/psychiatry major should be required to do a week of riding Greyhound buses, every year during college. Doing so will probably do more to enlighten them about a spectrum of humanity rarely seen on college campuses, as well as teaching them more about tolerance than any seminar, class or teach-in ever will.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Four Things
So, again, I'm out there surfing through the Blogosphere, and I run across another questionaire type critter, "FOUR THINGS". I've got no idea where it originated, but here's where I encountered it... Squidly
FOUR THINGS
Four Things
Four jobs I've had:
1. First job: shoveling crap
2. Military Policeman
3. Business Systems Engineer for a bank
4. Bookseller at Waldenbooks
Four movies I can watch over and over:
1. Blazing Saddles
2. Raiders of the Lost Ark
3. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
4. Sabrina
Four places I've lived:
1. Floris, Virginia
2. Mountain View/Sunnyvale, California
3. Las Vegas, Nevada
Four TV shows I love:
1. Kim Possible (shut up!)
2. Good Eats (Food Network)
3. Stargate SG-1 (SciFi)
4. 7th Heaven
Ten(?!) highly regarded and recommended TV shows that I've never watched a single minute of:
1. Medium
2. House
3. The Sopranos
4. Six Feet Under
5. David Chappelle
6. Oz
7. Gray's Anatomy
8. Will and Grace
9. The Shield
10. ER
Four places I've vacationed:
1. Sturdevant, Wisconsin
2. Utah Shakespearean Festival, Cedar City, UT
3. Rideaboot: 41 States, DC, and 2 Canadian provinces
4. Taos, New Mexico
Four of my favorite dishes:
1. My spaghetti
2. Homemade tacos, the way Mom used to make them.
3. Rocky Road Ice cream and Cherry Coke floats
4. Sauerbraten (though I rarely get it...)
Four sites I visit daily:
1. http://www.michellemalkin.com
2. http://www.nscale.net
3. http://www.daybyday.com
4. http://www.jewishworldreview.com
Four places I would rather be right now:
1) Sleeping in my bed with my wife's head nestled against my shoulder.
2) Sleeping on the beach in Maui, in the midst of a windsurfing vacation.
3) Riding my motorcycle towards a Swiss cafe for breakfast.
4) Building my house.
FOUR THINGS
Four Things
Four jobs I've had:
1. First job: shoveling crap
2. Military Policeman
3. Business Systems Engineer for a bank
4. Bookseller at Waldenbooks
Four movies I can watch over and over:
1. Blazing Saddles
2. Raiders of the Lost Ark
3. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
4. Sabrina
Four places I've lived:
1. Floris, Virginia
2. Mountain View/Sunnyvale, California
3. Las Vegas, Nevada
Four TV shows I love:
1. Kim Possible (shut up!)
2. Good Eats (Food Network)
3. Stargate SG-1 (SciFi)
4. 7th Heaven
Ten(?!) highly regarded and recommended TV shows that I've never watched a single minute of:
1. Medium
2. House
3. The Sopranos
4. Six Feet Under
5. David Chappelle
6. Oz
7. Gray's Anatomy
8. Will and Grace
9. The Shield
10. ER
Four places I've vacationed:
1. Sturdevant, Wisconsin
2. Utah Shakespearean Festival, Cedar City, UT
3. Rideaboot: 41 States, DC, and 2 Canadian provinces
4. Taos, New Mexico
Four of my favorite dishes:
1. My spaghetti
2. Homemade tacos, the way Mom used to make them.
3. Rocky Road Ice cream and Cherry Coke floats
4. Sauerbraten (though I rarely get it...)
Four sites I visit daily:
1. http://www.michellemalkin.com
2. http://www.nscale.net
3. http://www.daybyday.com
4. http://www.jewishworldreview.com
Four places I would rather be right now:
1) Sleeping in my bed with my wife's head nestled against my shoulder.
2) Sleeping on the beach in Maui, in the midst of a windsurfing vacation.
3) Riding my motorcycle towards a Swiss cafe for breakfast.
4) Building my house.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Normblog Quintile 1
So, I find a reference over at Michelle Malkin's blog about a profile done on her by Norman Geras, over at normblog. I mosey over there, read it and about a dozen others, and as myself, "why hasn't Norm asked me to sit for a profile?"
Immediately, the snarky, yet accurate Cranial Department of the Obvious says back to myself, "because nobody ever reads your blog, boonerhead."
How can I ever get profiled? Well, in the immortal tradition of all wannabes, I'll just interview myself. I've scoured my questions from normblog, where most of the profiles I read use the same questions, especially at the top.
AND NOW, WE BEGIN!
Why do you blog? > Because I'm supremely confident that what I have to say is important enough for other folks to read, and insecure enough to want to find out if other folks actually think the same.
What has been your best blogging experience? > Setting up my blog. Considering the 4 posts I've got so far, there's not much opportunity for "best experiences" yet, eh?
What has been your worst blogging experience? > Forgetting my username and password to get in to edit my blog.
What would be your main blogging advice to a novice blogger? > Post to your blog frequently enough that you don't forget your username and password.
What are your favourite blogs? > Michelle Malkin's, Michael Yon. There are a lot of others that I frequent, I'll slowly add them to my links...
Who are your intellectual heroes? >Thomas Sowell, C.S. Lewis for clarity, my brother Toasty0 for quality challenges to my thinking, John Locke, and a variety of others.
What are you reading at the moment? >Blogs, opinion pieces, and not much else. At this immediate moment, I'm flat broke.
Who are your cultural heroes? > Norman Rockwell, an artist who believed in the positive side of art. Louis L'Amour, a master of essential storytelling. Johnny Hart.
What is the best novel you've ever read? > Best? That's hard to say. Some of the most memorable include Crime and Punishment, Jack Chalker's Well of Souls books, Ivanhoe, Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game and Xenocide, C.S. Forester's Hornblower, and Edgar Rice Burrough's John Carter of Mars novels. One problem is I have read thousands of novels. However, if I was to seriously consider which has had the most impact on me, I'd have to say the books of Jim Kjelgaard, which I read in grade school. His philosphy on "the art of living" deeply affected me.
What is your favourite poem? > I'm no sure if I have one, poetry has never really done much for me.
What is your favourite movie? > ahh, this is much easier. Blazing Saddles. I definItely lean towards comedies.
What is your favourite song? > "Amazing Grace" and "America the Beautiful". My favorite compositions are Bach's "Jesu, the Joy of Man's Desiring", and Copelands "Fanfare for the Common Man."
Who is your favourite composer? > Johann Sebastian Bach.
Well, that's enough for now. If I'm going to do this in quintiles, I'll need leave some for the next installments. (and hopefully shamelessly get more traffic via trackbacks or the like....)
Immediately, the snarky, yet accurate Cranial Department of the Obvious says back to myself, "because nobody ever reads your blog, boonerhead."
How can I ever get profiled? Well, in the immortal tradition of all wannabes, I'll just interview myself. I've scoured my questions from normblog, where most of the profiles I read use the same questions, especially at the top.
AND NOW, WE BEGIN!
Why do you blog? > Because I'm supremely confident that what I have to say is important enough for other folks to read, and insecure enough to want to find out if other folks actually think the same.
What has been your best blogging experience? > Setting up my blog. Considering the 4 posts I've got so far, there's not much opportunity for "best experiences" yet, eh?
What has been your worst blogging experience? > Forgetting my username and password to get in to edit my blog.
What would be your main blogging advice to a novice blogger? > Post to your blog frequently enough that you don't forget your username and password.
What are your favourite blogs? > Michelle Malkin's, Michael Yon. There are a lot of others that I frequent, I'll slowly add them to my links...
Who are your intellectual heroes? >Thomas Sowell, C.S. Lewis for clarity, my brother Toasty0 for quality challenges to my thinking, John Locke, and a variety of others.
What are you reading at the moment? >Blogs, opinion pieces, and not much else. At this immediate moment, I'm flat broke.
Who are your cultural heroes? > Norman Rockwell, an artist who believed in the positive side of art. Louis L'Amour, a master of essential storytelling. Johnny Hart.
What is the best novel you've ever read? > Best? That's hard to say. Some of the most memorable include Crime and Punishment, Jack Chalker's Well of Souls books, Ivanhoe, Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game and Xenocide, C.S. Forester's Hornblower, and Edgar Rice Burrough's John Carter of Mars novels. One problem is I have read thousands of novels. However, if I was to seriously consider which has had the most impact on me, I'd have to say the books of Jim Kjelgaard, which I read in grade school. His philosphy on "the art of living" deeply affected me.
What is your favourite poem? > I'm no sure if I have one, poetry has never really done much for me.
What is your favourite movie? > ahh, this is much easier. Blazing Saddles. I definItely lean towards comedies.
What is your favourite song? > "Amazing Grace" and "America the Beautiful". My favorite compositions are Bach's "Jesu, the Joy of Man's Desiring", and Copelands "Fanfare for the Common Man."
Who is your favourite composer? > Johann Sebastian Bach.
Well, that's enough for now. If I'm going to do this in quintiles, I'll need leave some for the next installments. (and hopefully shamelessly get more traffic via trackbacks or the like....)
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Okay, so I've been away for a while....
In the spirit of Thomas Sowell, here's some "Random Musings" on current events and popular culture.
Did any of the illegal immigrants participating in the May1 protests turn to the Reconquista types next to them and say "why in the world would I want to 'reconquer' the American Southwest and return it to Mexico? I'm here because Mexico, (or El Salvador, or Guatemala, or ...) our home, which I love, is an armpit of corruption!"
The Republican Party seems to be lost, clueless, and comprised of primarily of idiots. Completely tone deaf on immigration, spending like Democrats, going wobbly on the War On Terror, their only hope is the undeniable fact that, compared to the Democrats, they are sane and sober.
Gas prices are "soaring." Must be eeeeeevil Big Oil. Or maybe its simply the inescapable result of China's and India's increasing consumption combined with no appreciable increases in supply?
The Duke lacrosse team "rape" fiasco demonstrates once again the utter irrationality of the legal culture surrounding rape. Rape shield laws are prima facie unconstitutional, as they reduce the defendants ability to "confront his accuser", and they are unconstitutional because they treat the rape accuser as a superior form of witness than your garden variety assault victim, which means that the guarantee of equal treatment is violated.
Did anybody hear that our air is cleaner now than its ever been? Nah, such a story is neither sexy, nor fits into the enviro agenda.
Modern locomotives are remarkably quiet!
The Pontiac Solstice is a schweet looking lit'l car, but I'd rather have the new Mazda "Miata". Of course, why Mazda dropped the "Miata" name and reverted to simply "MX-5" is can only be explained by the mysteries of the marketing mind.
Laptops put out a lot of heat.
George Bush, aka "W", is disappointing because of his remarable ability to sell short the conservative agenda, yet I still thank God that he's in the White House rather than Kerry or Gore.
Not a "random musing", but a bedrock observation: God is good.
In the spirit of Thomas Sowell, here's some "Random Musings" on current events and popular culture.
Did any of the illegal immigrants participating in the May1 protests turn to the Reconquista types next to them and say "why in the world would I want to 'reconquer' the American Southwest and return it to Mexico? I'm here because Mexico, (or El Salvador, or Guatemala, or ...) our home, which I love, is an armpit of corruption!"
The Republican Party seems to be lost, clueless, and comprised of primarily of idiots. Completely tone deaf on immigration, spending like Democrats, going wobbly on the War On Terror, their only hope is the undeniable fact that, compared to the Democrats, they are sane and sober.
Gas prices are "soaring." Must be eeeeeevil Big Oil. Or maybe its simply the inescapable result of China's and India's increasing consumption combined with no appreciable increases in supply?
The Duke lacrosse team "rape" fiasco demonstrates once again the utter irrationality of the legal culture surrounding rape. Rape shield laws are prima facie unconstitutional, as they reduce the defendants ability to "confront his accuser", and they are unconstitutional because they treat the rape accuser as a superior form of witness than your garden variety assault victim, which means that the guarantee of equal treatment is violated.
Did anybody hear that our air is cleaner now than its ever been? Nah, such a story is neither sexy, nor fits into the enviro agenda.
Modern locomotives are remarkably quiet!
The Pontiac Solstice is a schweet looking lit'l car, but I'd rather have the new Mazda "Miata". Of course, why Mazda dropped the "Miata" name and reverted to simply "MX-5" is can only be explained by the mysteries of the marketing mind.
Laptops put out a lot of heat.
George Bush, aka "W", is disappointing because of his remarable ability to sell short the conservative agenda, yet I still thank God that he's in the White House rather than Kerry or Gore.
Not a "random musing", but a bedrock observation: God is good.
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