Friday, August 31, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Well Said
This pretty much sums up my view, although I tend to be a bit harsher.
I have never believed that the American people are unwilling to take casualties in war. I do think that they are unwilling to take casualties in a war they do not believe is justified, or that is being badly run. And who can blame them?
...
To my mind, our prosecution of the war in Iraq has been only slightly less incompetent than that. George W. Bush is not so childish that he thinks that you can kill people by pointing your finger at them and saying "BANG!" But he is childish enough to think that looking tough is a substitute for serious thought and careful planning; that striking an attitude is all you need to do to get what you want.
I have never believed that the American people are unwilling to take casualties in war. I do think that they are unwilling to take casualties in a war they do not believe is justified, or that is being badly run. And who can blame them?
...
To my mind, our prosecution of the war in Iraq has been only slightly less incompetent than that. George W. Bush is not so childish that he thinks that you can kill people by pointing your finger at them and saying "BANG!" But he is childish enough to think that looking tough is a substitute for serious thought and careful planning; that striking an attitude is all you need to do to get what you want.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Showing the People our Balls
The U.S. military said Monday it regretted any offense it may have caused by giving out a soccer ball with the word Allah written on it as part of a public relations exercise in Afghanistan.
At least one of several balls dropped by helicopter to children in eastern Khost province had a small picture of the Saudi Arabian flag. The flag features in Arabic script the Islamic declaration of faith, which contains the words Allah and the Prophet Muhammad.
Villagers were “upset and angry” when they saw the ball, said Khost Gov. Arsalah Jamal.
“They wanted to demonstrate, but we explained to them it was a mistake,” he said.
Muslims treat with the utmost respect any printed matter containing verses of the Koran or the name of Allah or his prophet on it. Most would find the idea of kicking a ball emblazoned with those two names as deeply offensive.
here
Even I know better than to do this. Every time I look at the way the wars are being run, I keep asking myself, "just how many clowns are going to get out of this car?"
At least one of several balls dropped by helicopter to children in eastern Khost province had a small picture of the Saudi Arabian flag. The flag features in Arabic script the Islamic declaration of faith, which contains the words Allah and the Prophet Muhammad.
Villagers were “upset and angry” when they saw the ball, said Khost Gov. Arsalah Jamal.
“They wanted to demonstrate, but we explained to them it was a mistake,” he said.
Muslims treat with the utmost respect any printed matter containing verses of the Koran or the name of Allah or his prophet on it. Most would find the idea of kicking a ball emblazoned with those two names as deeply offensive.
here
Even I know better than to do this. Every time I look at the way the wars are being run, I keep asking myself, "just how many clowns are going to get out of this car?"
Ask Miss South Carolina!
This is what happens when media training goes wrong.
In her defense, I can tell she's trying in her own way to bring the answer back to her talking points, which seem to have something to do with the poor, Iraq, South Africa and lip gloss.
(via)
Monday, August 27, 2007
Her Name was Bertha, Bertha Butt, one of the Butt sisters
a blast from the past. More specifically, a song from 1972 or so:
"Troglodyte"
(As recorded by Jimmy Castor Bunch)
JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH
What we're gonna do right here is go back
Way back into time
When the only people that existed were Troglodytes
Cave men, cave woman, Neadrothol, Troglodytes
Imagine the average cave man at home
Listening to his stereo
Sometimes he'd get up and dance
He'd move something like this "dance dance"
He'd get tired of dancing alone and look in the mirror
And say "gotta find a woman"
"Gotta find a woman, gotta find a woman, gotta find a woman"
Then he'd go down to the lake where all the girls
Would be swimming or washing clothes or something
And he'd grab one by the hair
You can't do that today fellas
'Cause it might come off
You have a hand full of hair
And she'd be swimming away from you
This was a big woman, big
Her name was Bertha, Bertha Butt -- one of the Butt sisters
She looked down on him
And started to crush him
Then she began to play him
He looked up at her and said "sock it to me"
"Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me"
She looked down on him
And said "I'll sock it to you daddy"
And you know what he said
He started it all way back then
I ain't gonna lie to you
He said "right on, right on"
Hot pants, hot pants
Uh uh uh.
(c) Copyright 1972 by Jimpire Music.- HIT PARADER, October 1972
"Troglodyte"
(As recorded by Jimmy Castor Bunch)
JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH
What we're gonna do right here is go back
Way back into time
When the only people that existed were Troglodytes
Cave men, cave woman, Neadrothol, Troglodytes
Imagine the average cave man at home
Listening to his stereo
Sometimes he'd get up and dance
He'd move something like this "dance dance"
He'd get tired of dancing alone and look in the mirror
And say "gotta find a woman"
"Gotta find a woman, gotta find a woman, gotta find a woman"
Then he'd go down to the lake where all the girls
Would be swimming or washing clothes or something
And he'd grab one by the hair
You can't do that today fellas
'Cause it might come off
You have a hand full of hair
And she'd be swimming away from you
This was a big woman, big
Her name was Bertha, Bertha Butt -- one of the Butt sisters
She looked down on him
And started to crush him
Then she began to play him
He looked up at her and said "sock it to me"
"Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me"
She looked down on him
And said "I'll sock it to you daddy"
And you know what he said
He started it all way back then
I ain't gonna lie to you
He said "right on, right on"
Hot pants, hot pants
Uh uh uh.
(c) Copyright 1972 by Jimpire Music.- HIT PARADER, October 1972
Bill Nye Will Be Joining Us in Hell
Oh Bill, you damned, damned scientific you,
Bill Nye, the harmless children's edu-tainer known as "The Science Guy," managed to offend a select group of adults in Waco, Texas at a presentation, when he suggested that the moon does not emit light, but instead reflects the light of the sun.
As even most elementary-school graduates know, the moon reflects the light of the sun but produces no light of its own.
But don't tell that to the good people of Waco, who were "visibly angered by what some perceived as irreverence," according to the Waco Tribune.
Nye was in town to participate in McLennan Community College's Distinguished Lecture Series. He gave two lectures on such unfunny and adult topics as global warming, Mars exploration, and energy consumption.
But nothing got people as riled as when he brought up Genesis 1:16, which reads: "God made two great lights -- the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.
"The lesser light, he pointed out, is not a light at all, but only a reflector.
At this point, several people in the audience stormed out in fury. One woman yelled "We believe in God!" and left with three children, thus ensuring that people across America would read about the incident and conclude that Waco is as nutty as they'd always suspected.
This story originally appeared in the Waco Tribune, but the newspaper has mysteriously pulled its story from the online version, presumably to avoid further embarassment.http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/04/06/04062006wacbillnye.html
Bill Nye, the harmless children's edu-tainer known as "The Science Guy," managed to offend a select group of adults in Waco, Texas at a presentation, when he suggested that the moon does not emit light, but instead reflects the light of the sun.
As even most elementary-school graduates know, the moon reflects the light of the sun but produces no light of its own.
But don't tell that to the good people of Waco, who were "visibly angered by what some perceived as irreverence," according to the Waco Tribune.
Nye was in town to participate in McLennan Community College's Distinguished Lecture Series. He gave two lectures on such unfunny and adult topics as global warming, Mars exploration, and energy consumption.
But nothing got people as riled as when he brought up Genesis 1:16, which reads: "God made two great lights -- the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.
"The lesser light, he pointed out, is not a light at all, but only a reflector.
At this point, several people in the audience stormed out in fury. One woman yelled "We believe in God!" and left with three children, thus ensuring that people across America would read about the incident and conclude that Waco is as nutty as they'd always suspected.
This story originally appeared in the Waco Tribune, but the newspaper has mysteriously pulled its story from the online version, presumably to avoid further embarassment.http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/04/06/04062006wacbillnye.html
Bedtime for Gonzo
I had wondered why the Senate had given in on the President's unconstitutional wiretapping program, even if only for the next six months. I had half-suspected that Bush had given them Gonzales because, pretty much, that would be the only horse worth trading. It seems that intuition was astute and I should have listened to it more carefully.
Now it gets very interesting. I wonder if part of the deal was an agreement from the Senate to confirm Bush's next choice. Seems likely as Gonzales, and his refusal to prosecute contempt of congress charges, was the only thing standing between the President and any real oversight. Assuming Congress does it job, it's now possible to get Rove up on the hill. Also, props to the White House for a) releasing this on a Monday to avoid the Sunday news shows and b) doing this on the weekend before Labor Day. Should be interesting.
Also, on another note, I'm back from 2 weeks of moving, travel and general tomfoolery.
Now it gets very interesting. I wonder if part of the deal was an agreement from the Senate to confirm Bush's next choice. Seems likely as Gonzales, and his refusal to prosecute contempt of congress charges, was the only thing standing between the President and any real oversight. Assuming Congress does it job, it's now possible to get Rove up on the hill. Also, props to the White House for a) releasing this on a Monday to avoid the Sunday news shows and b) doing this on the weekend before Labor Day. Should be interesting.
Also, on another note, I'm back from 2 weeks of moving, travel and general tomfoolery.
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