Culture War

ABC Bans its Reporters from Wearing Flag Lapel Pins

2008-11-28T13:57:00.003-05:00

Example below collected via email in October 2001,

Dear friend,

Yesterday, the brass at ABC News issued orders forbidding reporters to wear lapel pin American flags or other patriotic insignia. Their reasoning was that ABC should remain neutral about "causes". Since when is support for preventing our death & destruction some sort of a cause? Since when is patriotism to be discouraged. I urge you to boycott ABC and its sponsors and affiliates.

Please forward this to as many as you can.

How can ABC, which according to snopes.com has had this policy since 9/11, honestly say the policy is to make their reporting objective and professional when they are so incredibly bias towards certain presidential candidates and political causes? It's this double standard, their obvious biases, that makes me think their "no flag pin" policy is motivated not by "objectivity" but for political reasons.

I can actually see ABC's point, that some viewers may respond hysterically to a journalist/commentator wearing a flag pin, but c'mon, if I saw a Canadian newscaster wearing a pin of his country, or a Spaniard wearing one of theirs, I wouldn't think they were a government spokesperson.

After all, we're Americans/Canadians (or other free country), individual journalists should have the freedom to follow their own conscience on a decision like this.

Taxing the "Rich"

2008-11-07T22:55:00.001-05:00

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill
for all ten comes to $100.

If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go
something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that’s what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the
bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one
day, the owner threw them a curve.

Since you are all such good customers, he said, I’m going to
reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. Drinks for the ten now cost just $80..

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so
the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free.

But what about the other six men - the paying customers?
How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his
‘fair share?’

They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they
subtracted that from everybody’s share, then the fifth man and the
sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner
suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man’s bill by roughly the same
amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.!

And so:

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first
four continued to drink for free.

But once outside the restaurant, the
men began to compare their savings.

‘I only got a dollar out of the $20, ‘declared the sixth man.
He pointed to the tenth man, ‘but he got $10!’

‘Yeah, that’s right,’ exclaimed the fifth man. ‘I only saved
a dollar, too. It’s unfair that he got ten times more than I!’

‘That’s true!!’ shouted the seventh man.. ‘Why should he get
$10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!’

‘Wait a minute,’ yelled the first four men in unison.. ‘We
didn’t get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!’

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn’t show up for drinks, so
the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to
pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn’t have enough
money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors,
is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get
the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them
for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might
start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier!

David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics, University of Georgia

For those who understand, no explanation is needed !
For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible !

Theodore Roosevelt's Ideas on Immigration

2008-07-26T13:11:00.004-04:00

Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907

We should insist that if the immigrant who comes here does in good faith become an American and assimilates himself to us he shall be treated on an exact equality with every one else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed or birth-place or origin.

But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated with men of his own origin and separated from the rest of America, then he isn't doing his part as an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. . . We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, of American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding-house; and we have room for but one soul loyalty, and that is loyalty to the American people.

New Pledge of Allegiance

2008-07-21T21:26:00.004-04:00

The following poem prayer was penned by an anonymous author, often contributed to a 15 year old kid somewhere. Regardless of its source, I love it. Don't get me wrong. I support the concept of separation of church and state -- you know, preventing the government from controlling churches. No worry about the government or the politically correct crowd trying to crush the spirit of the "golden rule" or that of the 10 Commandments here on my blog site though!

NEW School prayer :
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd. If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now. Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice. !
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state. We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks..
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong. We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd. It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen

2008-07-13T17:47:00.002-04:00

Today's quote is from a guy named Donald Foster. He is a professor at Vassar College. He's a "literary analyst" who discovered a "long lost poem" was penned by Shakespeare and that Joe Klein was the author of "Primary Colors" by analyzing their writing styles and idiosyncrasies. Stuff like that is "write" down my alley!

No one who cannot rejoice in the discovery of his own mistakes deserves to be called a scholar
- Donald Foster

Political Correctness Run Amok

2008-07-11T01:07:00.003-04:00

This is crazy! How much more can I take? Is our society becoming completely unhinged? Can the term "black hole" really be misconstrued?

The FITNA Video and Free Speech on the 'Net

2008-07-08T01:06:00.003-04:00

I was recently sent the link to the video FITNA via my email. It's a graphic 17 minute video by Dutch politician Geerte Wilders. The video's message is that Islam and the Koran are responsible for inspiring terrorism and hatred of other religions, and provides plenty of examples.

Being an American, I believe in free speech and freedom of religion, so I've elected to make it available here considering the nature of this blog. I'm interested in the opinions of those who may view it here for the first time or of those who may have seen it previously, elsewhere.

I don't believe the Koran or Islam is responsible for inspiring Jihadist terrorism, I believe that is the work of radical Islamists and Jihadists who distort, use, and interpret the Koran, the hadiths, and other sacred writings for their own hateful purposes. But, I provide the movie's link for you to make up your own mind.

Faceless Folk Make A Mystery Apperance

2008-07-04T00:33:00.003-04:00

Recently, faceless folk have been showing themselves at high visibility and celebrity events around the world. See the story here:

"The Black National Anthem"

2008-07-04T00:25:00.003-04:00

An artist decides she wants to sing something other then our National Anthem recently in front of Denver's Mayor at his annual "state of the city" event.

LIFT EV'RY VOICE AND SING
also known as "The Black National Anthem"
by James Weldon Johnson

Lift ev'ry voice and sing,
Till earth and heaven ring.
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise,
High as the list'ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.

Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chast'ning rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet,
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past,
Till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might,
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee,
Shadowed beneath thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God,
True to our native land.

quote(s) of the day

2008-06-10T18:40:00.004-04:00

- "A developer is one who wants to build his house in the woods,
An environmentalist is one who already has a house in the woods."

- "The only one who has problems with Islam are the terrorists."

Dennis Miller overhead on his syndicated radio show.

Poem Commemorating President Bush's Birthday

2008-06-07T14:18:00.002-04:00

The following poem commemorates President Bush's birthday. It was penned by my talented and loved sister Sherice:

Ode to President G.W. Bush

I'm in awe of what you bear on the media and on the air.

Unpopular, say all the polls, but I'm afraid that all those souls

Are falling for a strong delusion that might end up in the conclusion

Of the U.S.A. we know. I prayed to God for you, and so

He blessed me with these words to say, be encouraged every day.

Your legacy will bear the proof, the future will unearth the truth.

Decisions that you made were wize, you're a hero in the eyes

of all of us who value freedom, the Words of God, we know you readem,

And it shows upon your face, the life you lead is full of grace.

Happy Birthday

Hillary Under Fire in Bosnia

2008-03-27T19:40:00.001-04:00

A chronicle of Hillary’s Bosnian entrance under fire!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDP_u2YDrFA

Things to Know About YOUR U.S. Dollar Bill

2008-02-16T11:42:00.002-05:00

Take out a one dollar bill, and look at it. The one dollar bill you're looking at first came off the presses in 1957 in its present design. This so-called paper money is in fact a cotton and linen blend, with red and blue minute silk fibers running through it. It is actually material. We've all washed it without it falling apart. A special blend of ink is used, the contents we will never know. It is overprinted with symbols and then it is starched to make it water resistant and pressed to give it that nice crisp look.

If you look on the front of the bill, you will see the United States Treasury Seal. On the top you will see the scales for a balanced budget. In the center you have a carpenter's square, a tool used for an even cut. Underneath is the Key to the United States Treasury.

That's all pretty easy to figure out, but what is on the back of that dollar bill is something we should all know.

If you turn the bill over, you will see two circles. Both circles, together, comprise the Great Seal of the United States. The First Continental Congress requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal. It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get it approved.

If you look at the left-hand circle, you will see a Pyramid. Notice the face is lighted, and the western side is dark. This country was just beginning. We had not begun to explore the West or decided what we could do for Western Civilization.

The Pyramid is uncapped, again signifying that we were not even close to being finished. Inside the capstone you have the all-seeing eye, an ancient symbol for divinity.

It was Franklin’s belief that one man couldn't do it alone, but a group of men, with the help of God, could do anything.

"IN GOD WE TRUST" is on this currency.

The Latin above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means, "God has favored our undertaking."

The Latin below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means, "a new order has begun."

At the base of the pyramid is the Roman numeral for 1776. (MDCCLXXVI)

If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully, you will learn that it is on every National Cemetery in the United States. It is also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery, and is the centerpiece of most heroes’ monuments.

Slightly modified, it is the seal of the President of the United States, and it is always visible whenever he speaks, yet very few people know what the symbols mean.

The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two reasons:
First, he is not afraid of a storm; he is strong, and he is smart enough to soar above it.

Secondly, he wears no material crown. We had just broken from the King of England

Also, notice the shield is unsupported. This country can now stand on its own. At the top of that shield you have a white bar signifying congress, a unifying factor. We were coming together as one nation.

In the Eagle's beak you will read, "E PLURIBUS UNUM", meaning, "one nation from many people".

Above the Eagle, you have thirteen stars, representing the thirteen original colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling away. Again, we were coming together as one.

Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons. He holds an olive branch and arrows. This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns toward the arrows.

They say that the number 13 is an unlucky number. This is almost a worldwide belief.

You will usually never see a room numbered 13, or any hotels or motels with a 13th floor.

But think about this:

13 original colonies

13 signers of the Declaration of Independence

13 stripes on our flag

13 steps on the Pyramid

13 letters in the Latin above

13 letters in "E Pluribus Unum"

13 stars above the Eagle

13 bars on that shield

13 leaves on the olive branch

13 fruits, and if you look closely, 13 arrows.

And, for minorities: the 13th Amendment.

I always ask people, "Why don't you know this?" Your children don't know this, and their history teachers don't know this.

Too many veterans have given up too much to ever let the meaning fade. Many veterans remember coming home to an America that didn't care. Too many veterans never came home at all.

Share this page with everyone, so they can learn what is on the back of the UNITED STATES ONE DOLLAR BILL, and what it stands for... Otherwise, they will probably never know...

See the site below where you can see some of the images that go with the discussion.
http://www.munic.state.ct.us/burlington/us_one_dollar_bill/us_one_dollar_bill.htm

Eleven Rules Not Taught in School

2008-02-12T10:17:00.000-05:00

This list is the work of Charles J. Sykes, author of the book Dumbing Down Our Kids: Why American Children Feel Good About Themselves But Can't Read, Write, Or Add. (The list has appeared in newspapers, although not necessarily in this book.) Many versions omit the last three rules:

Rule No. 1: Life is not fair. Get used to it. The average teen-ager uses the phrase "It's not fair" 8.6 times a day. You got it from your parents, who said it so often you decided they must be the most idealistic generation ever. When they started hearing it from their own kids, they realized Rule No. 1.

Rule No. 2: The real world won't care as much about your self-esteem as much as your school does. It'll expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself. This may come as a shock. Usually, when inflated self-esteem meets reality, kids complain that it's not fair. (See Rule No. 1)

Rule No. 3: Sorry, you won't make $40,000 a year right out of high school. And you won't be a vice president or have a car phone either. You may even have to wear a uniform that doesn't have a Gap label.

Rule No. 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait 'til you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure, so he tends to be a bit edgier. When you screw up, he's not going to ask you how you feel about it.

Rule No. 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping. They called it opportunity. They weren't embarrassed making minimum wage either. They would have been embarrassed to sit around talking about Kurt Cobain all weekend.

Rule No. 6: It's not your parents' fault. If you screw up, you are responsible. This is the flip side of "It's my life," and "You're not the boss of me," and other eloquent proclamations of your generation. When you turn 18, it's on your dime. Don't whine about it, or you'll sound like a baby boomer.

Rule No. 7: Before you were born your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way paying your bills, cleaning up your room and listening to you tell them how idealistic you are. And by the way, before you save the rain forest from the blood-sucking parasites of your parents' generation, try delousing the closet in your bedroom.

Rule No. 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers. Life hasn't. In some schools, they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. Failing grades have been abolished and class valedictorians scrapped, lest anyone's feelings be hurt. Effort is as important as results. This, of course, bears not the slightest resemblance to anything in real life. (See Rule No. 1, Rule No. 2 and Rule No. 4.)

Rule No. 9: Life is not divided into semesters, and you don't get summers off. Not even Easter break. They expect you to show up every day. For eight hours. And you don't get a new life every 10 weeks. It just goes on and on. While we're at it, very few jobs are interested in fostering your self-expression or helping you find yourself. Fewer still lead to self-realization. (See Rule No. 1 and Rule No. 2.)

Rule No. 10: Television is not real life. Your life is not a sitcom. Your problems will not all be solved in 30 minutes, minus time for commercials. In real life, people actually have to leave the coffee shop to go to jobs. Your friends will not be as perky or pliable as Jennifer Aniston.

Rule No. 11: Be nice to nerds. You may end up working for them. We all could.

Rule No. 12: Smoking does not make you look cool. It makes you look moronic. Next time you're out cruising, watch an 11-year-old with a butt in his mouth. That's what you look like to anyone over 20. Ditto for "expressing yourself" with purple hair and/or pierced body parts.

Rule No. 13: You are not immortal. (See Rule No. 12.) If you are under the impression that living fast, dying young and leaving a beautiful corpse is romantic, you obviously haven't seen one of your peers at room temperature lately.

Rule No. 14: Enjoy this while you can. Sure parents are a pain, school's a bother, and life is depressing. But someday you'll realize how wonderful it was to be a kid. Maybe you should start now. You're welcome.
credit: Snopes.com

I'm Growing Green with Age

2008-01-05T03:11:00.000-05:00

This is a pretty cool site and I support it. Just goes to show that conservatives can be tree-huggers too!

http://www.greendimes.com/index.php

2007-11-11T07:44:00.001-05:00

Video: Al Jazeera Cursing Match

Here’s a classic Arab shouting match that degenerates into a pretty humorous cursing session, with a dentally-challenged old cleric confronting a liberal Syrian author on Al Jazeera’s unsanitized Arabic version. (Courtesy of MEMRI TV.)

The original article is here.

Gasps from al Qaeda

2007-10-16T01:15:00.002-04:00

Article published Oct 13, 2007, credit: washington times
Gasps from al Qaeda

October 13, 2007

Jack Kelly - The last days on Earth of Abu Osama al-Tunisi apparently were filled with anxiety: "We are desperate for your help," he said in a letter to al Qaeda chieftains.

A copy of the letter was found by U.S. troops sifting through the rubble of the building in Musayb, about 40 miles south of Baghdad, where on Sept. 25 al-Tunisi had been meeting with two local al Qaeda operatives when an F-16 cut their discussion short.

Al-Tunisi was a key member of the rapidly dwindling inner circle of Abu Ayoub al Masri, the al Qaeda chieftain in Iraq. Another key member, Abou Yaakoub al Masri, an intimate of Osama bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al Zawahiri, was killed Aug. 31 near the northern Baghdad suburb of Tarmiyah.

Al-Tunisi was responsible for bringing foreign al Qaeda recruits into Iraq and placing them in operational cells, U.S. military spokesmen said. That effort suffered a major blow when "Muthanna," the al Qaeda emir for the Iraq-Syrian border region, was killed in early September.

The two al Masris are both Egyptian. Al-Tunisi was, as his nom de guerre indicates, Tunisian. Found near the body of the late Muthanna was a list of 500 foreign al Qaeda fighters. More than 80 percent of the suicide bombings in Iraq have been conducted by foreigners, the U.S. military estimates. Yet Democrats continue to describe the conflict as a civil war.

Al-Tunisi and Muthanna were among 28 local, city or regional al Qaeda leaders killed or captured in September. Two other very big shots nailed last month were Muhammad al Afari, who was responsible for the bloody attack on the Kurdish Yazidi sect in August, and Abu Taghrid, who ran a car bomb network.

Al-Tunisi wasn't alone in calling for help. "Al Qaeda has lost half its leadership over the summer, and American intelligence collectors have amassed a huge number of desperate messages from al Qaeda leaders and operatives," said StrategyPage.

The beat goes on. On Oct. 2, U.S. and Iraqi forces arrested an al Qaeda financier in the Baghdad suburb of Kindi. The financier is said to have had $100 million to disburse to fund terror operations.

The collapse of al Qaeda's networks in Iraq is the chief reason both U.S. casualties and Iraqi civilian deaths plunged in September, despite an increased operations tempo.

"Terror attacks are down by more than half because al Qaeda keeps getting run out of their refuges, and, in desperation, keeps asking each other for help," StrategyPage said. "When the terrorists are unable to escape, they more frequently surrender, rather than fight to the death. This is a sign of falling morale."

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on top of Page One on Oct. 2 printed a story about the plunge in U.S. casualties. But this was an exception. Most news organizations mentioned the casualty plunge on inside pages, if at all. None that I am aware of has reported prominently on the devastating losses of the al Qaeda network in Iraq. "That the media are no longer much interested in Iraq is a sure sign things are going well there," said an Oct. 1 Investors Business Daily editorial.

As the death toll for both U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians plunged, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi continued to talk about "rising levels of violence in Iraq." If the facts on the ground are uncongenial, make up your own.

British Mideast expert Bartle Bull thinks it soon will be impossible to ignore the good news from Iraq. In an article this month in the British magazine Prospect titled "Mission accomplished," Mr. Bull wrote: "With most Sunni factions now seeking a deal, the big questions in Iraq have been resolved positively. The country remains one, it has embraced democracy and avoided all-out civil war."

The Sunnis, even the ex-Ba'athists, have turned on al Qaeda and are seeking a deal, and the predominantly Shia government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is willing to make one, Mr. Bull said. More than 14,000 Sunnis in Anbar Province, once al Qaeda's stronghold, have joined the Iraqi army and police since the troop surge began.

"The Sunni insurgents have recognized that there is little point fighting a strong and increasingly skilled enemy — the United States — that is on the right side of Iraq's historical destiny and has a political leadership that ... responds to setbacks by trying harder," Mr. Bull said.

"There is even less point doing so when you are a discredited minority, as the Sunnis are after 35 years of Ba'athism followed by their disastrous insurgency, and the enemy [the United States] is in fact your main guarantor of a fair place at the national table."

Jack Kelly, a syndicated columnist, is a former Marine and Green Beret and a former deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force in the Reagan administration. He is national security writer for the Pittsburgh (Pa.) Post-Gazette.

2007-10-13T22:30:00.000-04:00

Hope Yet for Iraq?

By Victor Davis Hanson

Iraq for most Americans is now a toxic subject -- best either ignored or largely evoked to blame someone for something in the past.

Any visitor to Iraq can see that the American military cannot be defeated there, but also is puzzled over exactly how we could win -- victory being defined as fostering a stable Iraqi constitutional state analogous to, say, Turkey.

But war is never static. Over the last 90 days, there has been newfound optimism, as Iraqis are at last stepping forward to help Americans secure their country.

I spent last week touring outlying areas of Baghdad and American forward operating bases in Anbar and Diyala provinces, talking to Army and Marine combat teams and listening to Iraqi provincial and security officials.
Whether in various suburbs of Baghdad, or in Baqubah, Ramadi or Taji, there is a familiar narrative of vastly reduced violence. Until recently, the Americans could not find enough interpreters, were rarely warned about landmines and had little support from Iraqi security forces.

But now they are being asked by Iraqis in the "Sunni Triangle" to join them to defeat the very terrorists the locals once championed. Anbar, a province that just months ago was deemed lost by a U.S. military intelligence report, is now in open revolt against al-Qaida.

Why the change?

Officers offered a number of theories. The surge of American troops, and Gen. David Petraeus' risky tactics of going after the terrorists within their enclaves, have put al-Qaida on the run. Likewise, in the past four years, the U.S. military has killed thousands of these terrorists and depleted their ranks.

Sunnis -- angry over their loss of power to the historically discriminated-against Shiites -- discovered their al-Qaida allies to be worse than their Shiite rivals. We forget that jihadists drew in not merely religious fanatics but also repulsive common criminals and psychopaths who extort, butcher and mutilate innocents.

Iraqis of all tribes and sects are also growing tired of the nihilistic violence that is squandering the opportunity for something better than Saddam's rule. The astronomical spike in oil prices has resulted in windfall profits of billions of dollars for the Iraqi government -- and with it the realization that Iraq could someday become a wealthy advanced state.

Iraqis told me that their widely held fear that Americans are going to leave soon has galvanized Sunnis to finally step up to secure their country or face even worse chaos in our absence.

The result is that ordinary Iraqis are increasingly willing to participate in local government and civil defense. Such popular engagement from the bottom up offers more hope than the old 2003 idea that a democratically elected government could simply mandate reform top down from their enclaves in the Green Zone.

So we are at yet another turning point in the constantly changing saga of Iraq. On this recent trip to Iraq, I rode on highways that just a few months ago were nearly impossible to navigate without being blown up by improvised explosive devices. Soldiers now train Iraqi security forces as often as they fight terrorists.

But there is also a new sense of urgency on the part of the military that Iraqis must seize this new opportunity before it fades. Unless the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government steps up to reconcile with the Sunni provinces and begins funding social services, the insurgency will only rekindle.

The Iraqi army must be freed up to police its porous borders with Iran and Syria. That's impossible without a national police force inside Iraq's cities that is both competent and law-abiding. So far the police are not quite either.

The Shiite community must appreciate that it has won the political struggle and finally achieved political power commensurate with its numbers. This majority must now take on Shiite death squads and their sympathizers inside the Iraqi government. Otherwise, an intolerant Shiite-run Iraq will either become a pawn of Iran or fight a perpetual war with the country's Sunni provinces.

Meanwhile, the American military, after four years of hard fighting in Iraq, is strained, its equipment wearing out. America's finest citizens, fighting for an idealistic cause that has still not been well explained to the American people, continue to be killed by horrific murderers.

If the unexpectedly good news about the surge has given Gen. Petraeus another six months to improve further the situation, the political debate at home has changed only from "Get out now!" to "Victory still isn't worth the cost in blood and treasure."

Lost in all this confusion over Iraq is the fact that about 160,000 gifted American soldiers are trying to help rebuild an entire civilization socially, politically and economically -- and defeat killers in their midst who will murder far beyond Iraq if not stopped.

Victor Davis Hanson is a classicist and historian at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and author, most recently, of "A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War." You can reach him by e-mailing author@victorhanson.com.

My Top 10 Reasons Why Russia is not an Ally

2007-09-22T01:49:00.000-04:00

1. This logo and what it represents:

It’s the logo for Vladimir Putin’s ultranationalist paramilitary youth group Nashi.

2.
Number of journalists dead since Putin became president: up to 102
Number of journalists missing since Putin became president: 2
Cases solved? Almost none.

Supporters holding up placards of dead journalists

3. Father of all bombs

4. Murder of ex KGB intelligence officer by a rare poison (but a poison common to the intelligence services)

5. Control of oil transiting its territory but originating in a neighbor's country.

6. Dissolving the cabinet and Prime Minister

7. Penetrations by Russian strategic nuclear bombers of U.S. and Japanese airspace
8. The largest war games ever with China were conducted recently.

9. Its Support of a State Sponsor of Terrorism -- Iran
10. Their recent claims to the North Pole

When Bad Things Happen to ........Zoo People

2007-08-18T17:30:00.000-04:00

This is what happens when you are a zoo-keeper trying to tickle the soft underbelly of a cuddly croc for the amusement of bystanders.

Actually, the zoo worker was trying to administer a shot to the sick croc at a zoo in Taiwan. Doctors were actually able to reattach his arm and he is recovering in a hospital.

I can hear his coworkers back at the zoo once he returns, "hey, Chang I need some help over here, can you give me a HAND!"

This unfortunate incident, unfortunately shed a big light on the zoo, and in all the excitement, this little gem was exposed by folks slightly more qualified in the care and handling of exotic creatures:

Taiwan Zoo Faces Serious Sex Issues

A Taiwan zoo has become the laughing stock for having mistaken a female elephant for a male for 28 years, a newspaper said on Sunday.

The Shoushan Zoo in Kaohsiung, south Taiwan, received two baby African elephants from a US zoo in 1979, believing they were a male and a female, the Taipei Times reported.

Since then, the Shoushan Zoo raised the two elephants, Ali and Annie, as a couple and even held a much-publicized wedding for them in 2002. Annie died in 2003.

Although Annie never gave birth, zookeepers apparently never suspected both animals were females because Ali, now 33 and weighing five tons, was larger, stronger and more violent than Annie.

The truth about Ali’s sexual identity came out after a crocodile at the Shoushan Zoo bit off the arm of a vet who was giving the animal anaesthesia shots in order to treat its illness.

As the public attention focused on that incident, some animal experts pointed out that the culprit was a Saltwater crocodile, not a Nile crocodile as the zoo had described.

Then on April 20, the United Daily News reported the Shoushan Zoo’s mistaking Ali for a boy.

The Shoushan Zoo apologized for the mistake and said it would check the sex of its 683 animals so that the public would not be misinformed again.

Don't Be a Chinese Crash Test Dummy

2007-08-11T02:27:00.000-04:00

Ever wonder why "they don't make 'em like they used to?" Like to only buy American? Do you think the cat food and toothpaste from China are the only two products you should avoid from over yonder? Think America is at risk of losing it's corner of the automotive market from cheap Chinese imports? If we're all lucky, cars made in China won't come within a curb feeler's length of North American shores.

Check out the recent crash test on YouTube. They reportedly had to take out the crash test dummy "in pieces."

Are You a Liberal?

2007-08-01T01:04:00.000-04:00

You may be a Democrat, an independent, or even consider yourself a "moderate," or perhaps you don't even care much about such issues. Regardless, do you want to help answer whether you could be a liberal? If you're not sure or if you're feeling a little introspective, ask yourself the following questions from Dennis Prager to help you decide:

Do you believe the following?

Standards for admissions to universities, fire departments, etc. should be lowered for people of color.
Bilingual education for children of immigrants, rather than immersion in English, is good for them and for America.
Murderers should never be put to death.
During the Cold War, America should have adopted a nuclear arms freeze.
Colleges should not allow ROTC programs.
It was wrong to wage war against Saddam Hussein in the Gulf War.
Poor parents should not be allowed to have vouchers to send their children to private schools.
It is good that trial lawyers and teachers unions are the two biggest contributors to the Democratic Party.
Marriage should be redefined from male-female to any two people.
A married couple should not have more of a right to adopt a child than two men or two women.
The Boy Scouts should not be allowed to use parks or any other public places and should be prohibited from using churches and synagogues for their meetings.
The present high tax rates are good.
Speech codes on college campuses are good and American values are bad.
The Israelis and Palestinians are morally equivalent.
The United Nations is a moral force for good in the world, and therefore America should be subservient to it and such international institutions as a world court.
It is good that colleges have dropped hundreds of men's sports teams in order to meet gender-based quotas.
No abortions can be labeled immoral.
Restaurants should be prohibited by law from allowing customers to choose between a smoking and a non-smoking section.
High schools should make condoms available to students and teach them how to use them.
Racial profiling for terrorists is wrong -- a white American grandmother should as likely be searched as a Saudi young male.
Racism and poverty -- not a lack of fathers and a crisis of values -- are the primary causes of violent crime in the inner city.
It is wrong and unconstitutional for students to be told, "God bless you" at their graduation.
No culture is morally superior to any other.

Those are all liberal positions. How many of them do you hold?

FedEx vs. Government Bureaucracy

2007-07-29T15:14:00.000-04:00

FedEx vs. Government Bureaucracy -- Newt Gingrich

An amazing video clip on YouTube. If you haven't seen this, Newt makes a great illustration of how there is unlimited potential to improve our cumbersome, burdensome, plodding government bureaucracy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15D3ElV1Jzw

An Inconvenient Truth -- A Tale of Two Houses

2007-07-26T23:24:00.000-04:00

I actually learned about the following from my Mom's liberal friend -- what was she thinking??? The following as extracted from the 'net and verified via Snopes.com

LOOK OVER THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FOLLOWING TWO HOUSES AND SEE IF YOU CAN TELL WHICH BELONGS TO AN ENVIRONMENTALIST.

HOUSE # 1:

A 20-room mansion (not including 8 bathrooms) heated by natural gas. Add on a pool (and a pool house) and a separate guest house all heated by gas. In ONE MONTH ALONE this mansion consumes more energy than the average American household in an ENTIRE YEAR. The average bill for electricity and natural gas runs over

2, 400.00 p e r m o n t h . I n n a t u r a l g a s a l o n e (w h i c h l a s t t i m e w e c h e c k e d w a s a f o s s i l f u e l), t h i s p r o p e r t y c o n s u m e s m o r e t h a n

20 times the national average for an American home. This house is not in a northern or Midwestern "snow belt," either. It's in the South.

HOUSE # 2:

Designed by an architecture professor at a leading national university, this house incorporates every "green" feature current home construction can provide. The house contains only 4,000 square feet (4 bedrooms) and is nestled on arid high prairie in the American southwest. A central closet in the house holds geothermal heat pumps drawing ground water through pipes sunk 300 feet into the ground. The water (usually 67 degrees F) heats the house in winter and cools it in summer. The system uses no fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas, and it consumes 25% of the electricity required for a conventional heating/cooling system. Rainwater from the roof is collected and funneled into a 25,000 gallon underground cistern. Wastewater from showers, sinks and toilets goes into underground purifying tanks and then into the cistern. The collected water then irrigates the land surrounding the house. Flowers and shrubs native to the area blend the property into the surrounding rural landscape.

HOUSE # 1 (20 room energy guzzling mansion) is outside of Nashville, Tennessee. It is the abode of that renowned environmentalist (and filmmaker) Al Gore.

HOUSE # 2 (model eco-friendly house) is on a ranch near Crawford, Texas. Also known as "the Texas White House," it is the private residence of the President of the United States, George W. Bush.

Quote of the Day - 26 July

2007-07-26T00:32:00.000-04:00

"I think the most common reaction I get from people, if they actually hear me give an entire speech, is they are amazed at the difference between the media image and the person I am in person."

Newt Gingrich

Quote of the Day!

2007-07-23T23:48:00.000-04:00

"My one ambition and my daily prayer is that I may live long enough to make beautiful the Capitol of the one country on earth in which there is liberty."

-- So dreamed Italian artist Constantino Brumidi who in 1854 embarked on a 25 year career of painting and decorating incredible frescoes on the ceiling of the Capitol Rotunda and on the walls and corridors today's Senators and Congressmen pass by on a daily basis.

"The Apotheosis of Washington" fresco on the ceiling of the Capitol Rotunda is considered Brumidi's masterpiece.
Shown is a segment of the "Frieze of American History" by Brumidi, part of a panorama along the base of the Capitol Rotunda depicting important events in American History (this one showing the landing of the pilgrims).
A conservator restores Brumidi's artwork on a corridor of the Capitol building.

Rudy's 12 Commitments to America

2007-07-23T00:39:00.000-04:00

I don't yet know a lot about Rudy's campaign and platform. I know he's more of a fiscal, hawkish conservative, but more socially liberal. I don't care much for his pro-choice platform, but for a pro-choice politician, he's got a pretty good strategy on how to handle the abortion issue. Anyway, until I saw his "12 Commitments to America," I didn't much care about his run for the presidency. But, after reading these, I'm probably a little bit more of a Rudy fan. What do you think?

Rudy 12 Commitments to America:

I will keep America on offense in the Terrorists' War on Us.
I will end illegal immigration, secure our borders, and identify every non-citizen in our nation.
I will restore fiscal discipline and cut wasteful Washington spending.
I will cut taxes and reform the tax code.
I will impose accountability on Washington.
I will lead America towards energy independence.
I will give Americans more control over and access to healthcare with affordable and portable free-market solutions.
I will increase adoptions, decrease abortions, and protect the quality of life for our children.
I will reform the legal system and appoint strict constructionist judges.
I will ensure that every community in America is prepared for terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
I will provide access to a quality education to every child in America by giving real school choice to parents.
I will expand America's involvement in the global economy and strengthen our reputation around the world.

Deport Them Now!

2007-07-21T16:31:00.000-04:00

I heard about this site on Fox News by Michelle Malkin. It seems like a pretty good cause you may be interested in joining:

Deport Them Now . com

Ruminations

2007-07-21T15:17:00.000-04:00

I think I've decided to start writing more often. I enjoy it and it lets me spill some gray matter onto my screen -- for all to see no less. I'm pretty sure it's therapeutic. Most guys won't admit problems with depression or would acknowledge being in a rut or having a case of the doldrums. I mean who wants to search for a shrink if you're not convinced you need one. There is a creative streak in me that I think needs an outlet, and I think blogging may help fill a void. I think it can help ail me during times when I feel down or at least unmotivated.

I struggle not with what to write, but with what not to write. I'm pretty much sure I won't suffer from "writer's block." It can be fairly easy (at least for me) to just blurt out what you're thinking or feeling at any one time. I just want to choose the right venue. I mean, there are so many things I would want to write about, and the difficult decision is whether I do it all in one blog site -- a personal one where I can write about anything I want; or, should I have tailored ones that address certain subjects. For instance, I'm pretty sure I would get a lot of mileage out of a political and philosophical blog site like the one you're on now -- Culture War. But how credible would that be if I started to share personal reflections on things that had nothing to do with the Culture War? I don't think it would be fair to readers who could care less about the personal trials and tribulations of one man's journeys. They may want to get away from things that remind them of their own sorrows or ups and downs in life by reading some good ole' angry content related to our unique American Culture War (actually I'm a pretty positive, forward looking person, so hopefully there won't be much anger).

I've thought about doing something to help me be more motivated to lose weight. I thought about having a blog site dedicated solely to that challenge. I would want to document my day to day struggle with losing weight and have a site folks could go to "relate" with their own personal challenges. A site where I could have a little give and take. I empathize with their struggles and they with mine, and we have this happy little circle of continuous affirmations and admonitions till we finally arrive "home" to that perfect place we want to be in.

So, is it better to have one "catch all" blog site, or a number of different ones? And, maybe I don't want friends, family, and readers from one blog to know me or follow me to the other ones. What then? I have a feeling there is going to be something strangely comforting, and soothing by intimating personal reflections anonymously.

Anyway, I've got to bolt. It's off to the movies, or whatever. If you have any opinion or advice on what you've read about, please reply and let me know.

Shalom as Debbie would say.

A Mean Spirted Angry Reply to A Forwarded Email

2007-07-21T00:50:00.001-04:00

We're Back!

I had something that motivated me enough to publish it on my blog site. The following is a little give and take with my Mom's ultra, rabidly liberal friend she's had for like...40 years or something. Anyway, my sister mass forwarded one of those emails that was wrongly attributed to -- in this case Jay Leno -- and see the vitriol that came back attacking, not really the content of the original email story, but who else? The lib's favorite target, President Bush. Here's her email response (to the story mentioned at the hyperlink below):

Jay Leno is far too bright to write drivel like this. It's not true that he is its author--see http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/l/leno%20commentary.htm for verification.

Hmmm....wonder why so many Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction. Let me count the ways....

Could it be because the current administration dropped the ball (an accident?) when we could have taken Osama bin Laden when we had the chance?

Could it be because 3,611 young Americans have been sacrificed solely to put money into the coffers of the oil companies (Halliburton, Cheney, and the like)?
Could it be because the surplus left by the Clinton administration has turned into a 7 trillion dollar deficit that we and our descendents will be paying off for years and years?
Could it be because we were deceived into believing that Iraq something to do with 9/11 and that they had weapons of mass destruction--both false?
Could it be because CIA warnings of impending attacks were ignored? (And maybe still are...)
Could it be because of almost daily reports of corruption and lies within the sleazy Republican party?
Could it be because our Constitution has been disregarded and for the past six years?
Could it be because Bush's arrogance and contempt have isolated us from the rest of the world?

This list could go on and on, ad finitum....maybe even to the point of opening the eyes of some die-hard neo-cons to see the truth.

All I can say is that it's a good thing Jesus is a forgiving god...the ones responsible for taking this country in the wrong direction and for killing so many innocent people would never make it into heaven without it.

P.S. Re the "liberal" media...92% of talk shows are conservative based, and 85% of mainstream newspapers and television stations are owned by big business, hardly "liberal" folks.

Name withheld, to well, not piss her off and by extension my Mama, or subject me to getting sued (that's a big hint right there though!!!!)

One thing that bugs me about how she responds to these kinds of things, is to not just politely reply back to the sender, but to share her "wisdom" with everyone on the original "To Line." I don't know whether her angry replies make me mad or just make me want to laugh. I do know that she usually inspires me to write something back, like I did here below:

If it's one thing I can't stand more than phony email stories propagating unabated thru cyberspace, it's bogus and rude replies to them.

It's true that Jay Leno didn't draft the said essay. If you're ever in doubt of this kind of thing, just put some key words from the story into a truth checker like snopes.com. We'll do ourselves a favor by doing this before sharing stories when their authenticity is questionable. So, Jay Leno didn't write it! Somewhere along the long line of people hitting "send" about a million times someone added a Leno joke and others made the mistake of thinking Jay wrote it all. It's easy to see how this can happen via email.

Anyway, regardless of who wrote it, I disagree that it's "drivel." Somone appended a real quote attributed to Jay Leno that was fairly consistent or supportive of the spirit of the author's story -- that is, to tell spoiled, whiny Americans to take a deep breath and reflect on the good life in America and to thank God. Leno's "joke" at the end adds an exclamation to the story -- should we really "take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance" during challenging times? A story that espouses us to be positive in a post-911 world is drivel?

Let's discuss the rest of this nasty response:

Jay Leno is far too bright to write drivel like this. It's not true that he is its author--see http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/l/leno%20commentary.htm for verification.

Hmmm....wonder why so many Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction. Let me count the ways....

It's not uncommon for a citizenry to think this about its country seven years into a government administration. Like the spirit of the original email story, what the hell do we have to bitch about here in this wonderful place we call home? Liberals always leave you wanting....wanting their solutions and vision for the "right direction," their solution to the war on terror.

Could it be because the current administration dropped the ball (an accident?) when we could have taken Osama bin Laden when we had the chance?

Let's see, so President Bush dropped the ball he inherited from Clinton when 9/11 occurred....what...months into Bush's administration? Clinton screwed up by not taking UBL out years ago and by presenting the new administration w/ a legacy of unchallenged terror atrocities (note 1, attached). And by writing "dropped the ball (an accident?)", are you honestly suggesting this was an intentional policy move? Yes, that must be it...We have no more Cold War enemy, so let's keep UBL around to keep the fat cats capitalists fatter and richer, to expand the Military-Industrial-National Security Complex, to keep it churning to the delight of our rich white buddies. How insulting to me and my friends in the military and the intelligence communities!

Could it be because 3,611 young Americans have been sacrificed solely to put money into the coffers of the oil companies (Halliburton, Cheney, and the like)?

This is so naive and bogus! A war for oil! You're better off suggesting it was to avenge Saddam's assassination attempt of Bush Sr. BTW, Halliburton and Cheney are not "oil companies." If the U.S. did control Iraqi oil fields/revenue, why are gas prices so high? Why has there yet to be a profit turned from the Iraqi petroleum industry? If we control their fields, why are petro dollars being used to fund terrorism and war material that kills our troops and those of our allies? So, are we funding the war against our war? Nonsense!

What's the beef w/ Haliburton? Yeah, it's a world-renown construction company. So what that Cheney is on its board. It just happens to be one of the few companies in the world uniquely qualified to rebuild a country's infrastructure. Would you prefer Russia or France, participants in the UN's oil-for-food scam, to rebuild Iraq and to benefit under the protection of American blood?

Could it be because the surplus left by the Clinton administration has turned into a 7 trillion dollar deficit that we and our descendents will be paying off for years and years?

I don't know. Do you think something might of happened shortly after Clinton left office that may have contributed to the deficit? Something like the worst terror strike ever on U.S. soil? Oh, and the worst natural disaster on U.S. soil? Oh yeah, President Bush caused those! I forgot! Since 9/11 a whole new cabinet position has been created, the Dept of Homeland Security was created, the intelligence community was expanded and restructured, the Coast Guard was expanded, a new Northern Command was created in the military to protect us here at home, and New Orleans was rebuilt. We've all seen how despite all this, the deficit is shrinking, we all have gotten to keep more of our hard-earned money (thanks Bush!), the economy is strong, nearly all Americans and well over 12 million illegal aliens have jobs, and we are the most productive nation on earth. Who do you know doesn't have their own car, a computer, a big screen or flat panel t.v., an I-Pod or MP3 player, a DVD player, a cell phone, etc. etc???? Yeah, we're hurting! What president did not operate on a deficit at some point anyway?

I'm also old enough to understand that Presidents most often share the burdens and blessings of macroeconomic policies put in place by the administration before them. And, Economics 101 teaches us the economy is subject to a constant cycle of ebbs and flows, ups and downs.

Could it be because we were deceived into believing that Iraq something to do with 9/11 and that they had weapons of mass destruction--both false?

Saddam was a swore enemy before and after 9/11. One of the world's most notorious terrorists, Abu Nidal, sought and was given refuge in Iraq. What evidence is there that Iraq was NOT a breeding ground and friend to terrorists? In a post 9/11 environment, during a period when the Taliban and Al Queda was being ejected from Afghanistan, Iraq was a problem. WMD's are weapons of mass destruction. They can be chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological in nature. Here's what happens when you come in contact w/ "pretend Iraqi WMDs," you know, the ones that aren't there (note 2, attached).

Could it be because CIA warnings of impending attacks were ignored? (And maybe still are...)

History is replete with examples of Presidents not acting on warning intelligence. Does anyone remember Pearl Harbor? Just ask your self what President was in power during UBL's ascendancy and during a rein of "warm up" terror atrocities by Al Quida? Clinton! What's worst -- a failure to act on a warning, or, a failure to respond adequately to deliberate terrorism? By the way, the Director of Central Intelligence, the former leader of our intelligence community and the CIA during this period is a Democrat.

Could it be because of almost daily reports of corruption and lies within the sleazy Republican party?

"Lies and corruption" is not a hallmark of the GOP. This is pretty much a qualification to be a POLITICIAN. You slander and libel the folks who are Republicans when you call the entire party sleazy. Liberals, and the enlightened Democrats who apparently champion diversity and compassion always hate to hear diverse opinions. So, just get rid of the sleazy Republican Party, let's have one Democratic party, and we'll be one happy country where corruption and lies have magically disappeared. Maybe Hugo Chavez can come run for Presidente.

Could it be because our Constitution has been disregarded and for the past six years?

You need to expand on this? Do you mean terrorist civil liberties have been violated? Do you mean terrorists have been humiliated by a few of our bad apples while our innocent journalists and re-construction contractors are beheaded without much of a peep in the press? Do you mean 12-20 million illegal aliens (AKA as "undocumented Americans" by the libs) have not given more benefits then those for real Americans?

Could it be because Bush's arrogance and contempt have isolated us from the rest of the world?

Maybe it's Bush's principled belief instead of arrogance and contempt. When I think of arrogance and contempt I think of Clinton being pleasured in the Oval Office while he looks in my eye on the t.v. screen saying "he did not have sexual relations" and saying non-sense such as "it depends on what the definition of...is, is.." Talk about sleazy!

This list could go on and on, ad finitum....maybe even to the point of opening the eyes of some die-hard neo-cons to see the truth.

I love being a "neo-con."! Did you know that the term "new conservative" or "neo-con" has its genesis as a result of liberals who came over to the other side!? They broke from their party because it was so screwed up.

All I can say is that it's a good thing Jesus is a forgiving god...the ones responsible for taking this country in the wrong direction and for killing so many innocent people would never make it into heaven without it.

Our leaders are involved in the simple self preservation of our nation and way of life.

Do not be judged, lest you be judged your self.

paraphrasing Matt 7-3:4 "why do you see the speck in another's eye, when you don't see the board in your own?"

Why is that liberals always have issue more with Americans, including their own President, than with our own enemies? Why is their wrath not directed towards the ones that really "killed so many innocent" people, continue to do so, and espouse to continue to do so? Why is there no anger against a religious following whose simple silence speaks volumes about their attitude towards the extremism that threatens the peace and stability of their own religion, their own neighbors and the country they call home?

Name Withheld

P.S. Re the "liberal" media...92% of talk shows are conservative based, and 85% of mainstream newspapers and television stations are owned by big business, hardly "liberal" folks.

Does anyone really question whether liberalism and the antithesis of "political and moral diversity" permeates our t.v. media, Hollywood mass media, newspapers, foundations, and colleges and universities?

What evidence is there that "liberals" don't head up these media conglomerates? And, what's wrong w/ "big business" anyway? We live in a capitalist, free market here in America. In a world of globalization and global competitiveness, shouldn't we welcome the success of American big businesses? Big business pays big tax revenue and employees lots of tax payers. Money and market share goes to the media people want to listen to. Most Americans identify w/ or at least are entertained by these talk shows, and that's why they are as successful as they are. One only needs to chart the path of "Air America" to see what listeners think of liberal talk radio.

Call of the Cow Bell

2006-01-31T00:53:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while, life calls for more cow bells.

http://www.ojaiwan.net/audio/cowbell.wmv

What is Truth and Tolerance?

2006-01-29T13:04:00.000-05:00

Do you ever think liberal-secular society is doing everything it can to turn our society upside down? Good becomes bad, and bad becomes good. You often hear things like “who are you to determine what is good for me,” like many of us don’t have some common ground on which to agree on what is “right and wrong.” The following book looks like it does an excellent job of describing this frequently occurring phenomenon prevalent in today’s “pop-culture” society.

Read about an interesting new book “The Truth About Tolerance: Pluralism, Diversity and the Culture Wars” here:

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Features/2006/01/23/1407636-ap.html

Here’s the amazon review:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0830827870/qid=1138556609/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-3600293-9939031?n=507846&s=books&v=glance

Amoral Euphemism

2006-01-28T02:40:00.000-05:00

Here’s the latest from one of my heros and mentors, Victor Hanson:

http://victorhanson.com/articles/hanson012706.html