moved

this blog has been moved... the new site will be www.mytwiztedreality.com ... hopefully ill post more often and keep it up to date Read more!

moving

i will be moving to a new blog site soon, probably even my own domain linked to a wordpress acct... we shall see soon, updates will follow

UPDATE: im gonna be moving to my own domain powered by wordpress software, ill post the domain soon Read more!

still living free from the storm

ok so... the federal government is STILL paying for the 'victims' of Hurricane Katrina... at what point will the government tell people to get off their asses and get a damn job... i mean for fuck sake!!! how long could any of you live without a job? apparently if you are poor and a 'victim' you can live for 3 or 4 years... the last time i got evicted, i managed to keep my job while living on the floor at my parents house... the last time i lost my job unexpectedly, i got another one within about two days... and the last time my neighborhood got hit by a hurricane... well there wasn't any serious damage to my house... but if it had been leveled, you bet your ass i would have gotten a new place to live by working my ass off... but thanks to FEMA, you don't have to:

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=35730

* Temporary housing assistance programs for Gulf Coast hurricane victims living in apartments, trailers or mobile homes have been extended by 18 months until March 2009. The current extension expires on August 31, 2007.
* GCR, HUD and FEMA are working on a plan whereby HUD would take over management of the rental housing program on behalf of FEMA beginning on September 1, 2007. GCR, HUD and FEMA are working on the mechanics of the new arrangement and will consult with Congress on the most appropriate structure for transferring management responsibilities.
* Beginning in March 2008, individuals in both the rental housing and trailer/mobile home programs will pay a portion of the cost, which will begin at $50 per month and incrementally increase each month thereafter until the program concludes on March 1, 2009.
* Beginning immediately, FEMA will allow residents of its mobile homes and travel trailers to purchase their dwellings at a fair and equitable price.
* Families and individuals in both the rental and trailer/mobile home programs will be given complete information, supportive services, resources and ample time to prepare themselves for the end of temporary, subsidized housing.

ahh well at least they are finally going to start charging them $50 a month... i wonder when they will start asking them to pay back all the free housing money they have taken advantage of so far?

Read more!

Survival

Interesting word survival is... As a country I don't think we can survive...

Other countries, including our enemies train their children to kill, be soldiers, and promote their morals at all costs including death... We teach our children that fighting is wrong, that everyone in the world is good, and that gay relationships are normal....

They teach their kids to have families with lots of children... We fight for a womans right to have an abortion...

They fight to make their religion the primary focus of every part of their lives... We fight to keep religion out of government and schools...

They hold rallies and marches in the streets shouting death to America and Israel... We argue that people in our own country should be allowed to burn our own flag...

They demand that women remain covered so as to keep them pure... We celebrate the life and death of a drugged out sluts and music/sports stars that beat their wives... We also fight for the rights of pedophiles and even pass laws saying that it is against free speech to block pornography in public libraries

They attack at all costs, fighting and killing whomever stands in their way, then they decry the innocents as martyrs and blame their death on the enemy... We make our troops so laden down with rules and regulations that they hesitate to fire even when they are being attacked, and the prosecute them and send the to jail when they make mistakes...

They use any weapon they can to attack, from chlorine tankers to airplanes, anything they can use to cause the death of their enemy is a valid tool... We build massively powerful weapons capable of killing thousands of enemy at once, and we let the rot away in storage saying that they are too destructive

They publicly behead their captives as a way to show how serious they are.... We fight over giving our captives trials under US laws that do not apply to foreign nationals. then we argue that making captives stand on one foot for hours, playing loud music, water boarding, barking dogs, and even harsh language is torture and is not to be used even if it can save the lives of our soldiers

They consider every one of the people that dies for their cause to be a hero and hold that they have a special place in the afterlife... and the fight for the rights of people that want to protest and insult their families at their funerals, saying that free speech trumps the honoring of a hero... We argue, bicker and start to fall apart as a country when the number of war dead doesn't even come close to the number of people that die every day from traffic accidents in the united states

They believe that anyone not of their faith is less than human and that they should be killed, enslaved or converted to their religion at the tip of a sword... We argue that our own citizens should be more sympathetic, compassionate and tolerant of other peoples and religions...

They consider women and children of their enemies to be valid targets... We get outraged when one of our bombs kills a sing child even though that same bomb also killed fifteen of the enemy...

Like it or not, agree with it or not... These people have declared a holy war on us... Weather or not we agree with it or recognize it is irrelevant... They consider themselves to be at war with us and will do anything they can to further the goals of that war... Leaving them alone or trying to be diplomatic with them will not change that... They will promote their war until the last one of them dies, they have proven it over and over again... These are the same people that will attack a main battle tank with rocks... They do not care about their own lives, only that they kill their enemy when they die...

As I have said time and again, the only solution that can work will be for members of their own population to stand up against them and demand change... Any other outcome will probably result in massive chemical, biological and nuclear attacks on major cities around the world... Read more!

back

so after a little hiatus, im back... im gonna try to update more often Read more!

So this is how you integrate into a society?

new document here is designed to "teach" schools in Britain how to accommodate Islamic students... no mention of how the children will adapt to the school... nahh, that wouldn't be right...

(PDF warning!!! its 72 pages long)

the thing that gets me the most is that the black population of Europe and America fought for hundreds of years to be treated as equal to the whites... the Muslims now are demanding that they are special and deserve accommodations and treatment not given to other people... apparently some people are more equal than others...

from the document:

this is apparently a quote of a brittish law, which we will touch on later

Local education authorities shall have regard to the general principle that, so far as is compatible with the provision of efficient instruction and training and the avoidance of unreasonable public expenditure, pupils are to be educated in accordance with the wishes of their parents.

now i point out the statements "efficient instruction" and "unreasonable public expenditure"

School ensures that the meat supplied is from a reputable halal supplier.
Storage, preparation and serving of halal food is done separately from non-halal meat or meat products to avoid cross contamination, for example, utensils used in the preparation and serving of halal food are not mixed with those used for non-halal food.

hmmm, already starting to see the cost go up....

In accommodating prayer requirements, schools need to allow pupils to use an appropriate classroom or area for the purpose of prayer. Care should be taken to avoid allocating rooms that may have displays with distracting imagery, such as posters of the human body in a science laboratory. Schools should be aware that some pupils may request separate prayer facilities for boys and girls, as they may feel more comfortable praying in a single-gender group.

yep, theres something else that will cost money

Cleanliness and ritual washing (Wudu) is an essential prerequisite for all daily prayers and takes a few minutes to complete. Muslim pupils who wish to pray will need access to washing facilities to perform Wudu, which includes the washing of their hands, mouth, face, arms to the elbow, and feet. This state of purification becomes nullified when one goes to the toilet or breaks wind.
After visiting the toilet, Muslims are required to wash their private parts with water to meet cleanliness requirements, hence pupils will need to use water cans or bottles that are easily accessible from a storage space in or near the washing area.

how much you wanna bet that the showers in the school gym will not be sufficient for a washing area? yup, heres another cost...

The Friday prayer has a special significance and importance. It has to be performed in congregation and replaces the Zuhr prayer. It is obligatory for males and optional or recommended for females. It is different from the normal prayer in that it is shortened and has to be preceded by a sermon (Khutbah). The Friday prayer can be led by a suitable external visitor, a teacher or an older pupil. In its entirety the Friday prayer (ablution, sermon and prayer) should take between 20 to 30 minutes to complete depending on, pupil numbers and availability of washing facilities.
Schools need to be aware that it is likely that a greater number of pupils will participate in the observance of Friday prayer than the daily prayers. Facilities for the Friday prayer remain the same as those required for other prayers.

so the school must now allow religious leaders on campus to preach? man if a Christian minister ever stepped foot on a school campus here in the US, the lawsuits would last for decades...

Muslims are encouraged not to use Ramadan as an opportunity to avoid aspects of normal life but rather to cope with normal life under a different set of guidelines and conditions. However, schools need to be aware of some important considerations in relation to fasting pupils. Fasting pupils will normally get up before dawn to have their breakfast, which does interrupt their sleeping pattern.

so teachers should be understanding if kids sleep in class because they are too tired or if they cant concentrate because they are hungry

ahh yes, here it comes

Whilst the discipline and the challenge of fasting is to continue with the normality of everyday life, staff should exercise a degree of understanding, by encouraging pupils to avoid excessive exertion in physical education to prevent dehydration.

Teachers can take this opportunity to be more inclusive and teach pupils about Ramadan in religious education and to invite guests from the Muslim community to take collective worship or assemblies. Some schools offer their staff awareness training about factors affecting their pupils during Ramadan.

again with the inviting religious figures to the school.... if we did that to Christians here in America, there would be lawsuits till the end of time.

The same daily prayers are offered in school time as at other times of the year, but in Ramadan it is usual for more students to offer their prayers in school. Schools should recognise this by putting in place acceptable arrangements for prayer, including reasonable extra space ready for the first day of fasting, these arrangements should be shared with pupils, parents and staff so that everyone is clear of the facilities offered.

ahh yes, more money spent to make sure that you can practice something that has no place in school...

The school can value and build on this spirit by having themes based on Ramadan at collective worship or assemblies, and by organising communal ‘Iftar’ (breaking the fast) when pupils, parents, community members and teachers – both Muslims and non-Muslims – can all join in the ending of the fast and eating together.

hmmm, every time a school in the US tries to do this during Christmas, they get sued...

Fasting may make some children feel tired or drowsy, or even develop headaches due to dehydration. This may necessitate some Muslim pupils having to reduce their physical exercise. Schools may wish to consider and plan less strenuous activities in physical education lessons during Ramadan.

nooooo thats not special treatment...

It is inevitable that certain statutory and internal school examinations may fall during Ramadan. Schools should give appropriate consideration when scheduling internal examinations, since the combination of preparing for exams and fasting may prove challenging for some pupils.

yeah, like falling asleep at their desk or passing out because they didn't eat??

During Ramadan, the evenings can be a very busy period for Muslim families, particularly if the breaking of the fast (Iftar) falls in the early evening. Furthermore, some adults will spend their time observing additional religious activities, like the special evening prayers (Taraweeh) at the mosque. This may make it difficult for parents to attend meetings or other functions in the evening during the month of Ramadan. The scheduling of parent evenings before or after the month of Ramadan would be appreciated by parents and is likely to ensure better attendance.

translation.... don't send home lots of homework, the parents will be too busy to help their kids do it...

When Ramadan falls during the winter months, after-school detention or activities for a pupil who is fasting could mean that the pupil is not able to reach home in time to break their fast. Whilst accepting full responsibility for breaching school rules, schools should be aware that pupils are able to carry out their religious duty of breaking the fast on time. A drink or anything to eat is sufficient and many schools do make this provision available when required. Some parents may request that their children break the fast at home with their family.

oooo so the parents can decide if there child should be punished during this time of year?

In general, participation in swimming is an acceptable activity whilst fasting. However, for many pupils this activity may prove to be an issue, as the potential for swallowing water is very high. Some pupils or parents consider the risk too great and may wish to avoid swimming whilst fasting. Others may take the view that as swallowing is unintentional it does not break the fast.
Schools with a significant number of Muslim pupils should try to avoid scheduling swimming lessons during Ramadan to remove unnecessary barriers to full participation.

ooooo swallowing pool water is gonna piss off your god? and what about the non-Muslim kids that miss out on summer swimming fun just cus little abdul cant swim?

Whilst fasting, Muslims are not permitted to engage in any sexual relations and are expected to take measures to avoid sexual thoughts and discourse. Schools are therefore advised to avoid scheduling the teaching of sex and relationship education, including aspects that are part of the science curriculum, during Ramadan.

i think this has the potential for violating the "efficient instruction" part of the above referenced law

School offers it’s staff Ramadan awareness training about factors affecting pupils during Ramadan.

ahh yes, lets spend more money

Adequate arrangements are in place to supervise fasting children, during the lunch hour. These arrangements are well publicized amongst pupils and parents.

yup, gotta hire more people to make sure the kids don't eat...

In addition, schools may make the normal school meals a special Eid meal for all the children and invite some parents and special guests.

can you imagine the outrage if schools had a special easter or Christmas meal?

When organising either celebration or social events it is important for schools to consider the appropriateness of certain events, such as school balls/discos, fashion shows that might inadvertently exclude pupils and parents from the Islamic faith background.

translation... we don't like the prom because of all the uncovered females....

In secondary schools, changing facilities are always gender specific but almost always communal. Communal changing compromises the Islamic modesty requirements and having to change down to their undergarments in the presence of their peers and teachers can be a source of embarrassment or even be undignifying for many pupils. Pupils who may have problems with weight or physique can be subjected to unnecessary embarrassment in situations where there is no choice but to change communally.
Secondary schools can provide a choice for their pupils to change in greater privacy, for example, by including individual changing cubicles within changing facilities.

ahhh well im my old school we had "individual changing cubicles" we called them toilets

Some sports involve physical contact with other team players, for example basketball and football. Most Muslim parents would find it objectionable for boys and girls to play such sports in mixed-gender groups. Schools can respond positively to this concern by making sure that contact sports are always in single-gender groups.

you know, i believe segregation for race, sex or religious purposes is against the law... at least it is here in the US... a school has no business telling kids that they cant play together especially when such a decision affects the socializing of non-Muslim kids too

Some schools may have policies for children to shower at school after sports activities. These arrangements sometimes take the form of naked communal showering, which involves profound indignity. The practice of allowing Muslim children to shower in bathing costumes or shorts does not solve the problem if other pupils are naked in the same communal shower area. Islam forbids nakedness in front of others or being among others who are naked.
Muslim children should not be expected to participate in communal showering. Sensitivity and understanding by school and staff in these matters will be much appreciated both by Muslim pupils and by their parents. One practical solution in a school environment would be the installation of individual shower cubicles. In the absence of separate cubicles for changing and showering, Muslim children should be allowed to delay showering until they reach home.

i love this one, either spend more money to accommodate them, or let the stink...

Swimming is a requirement of the national curriculum at Key Stage 2 and becomes optional at Key Stage 3. It is a beneficial and enjoyable activity that develops a valuable skill for life.
Many schools, both primary and secondary, hold mixed swimming lessons but the changing arrangements, although single gender, are often communal. Some schools have taken the initiative of offering single-sex swimming lessons and ensure that their pupils change in individual cubicles. However, they do not always ensure that the accompanying teacher and pool attendants are of the same gender as the children. Adjoining changing and showering areas of the pool are sometimes used by members of the public at the same time as the children. This raises serious concern in that some members of the public may sometimes become totally naked in the presence of these children.
The practice of boys and girls swimming in mixed-group sessions or being exposed to complete nakedness of others, when changing, is unacceptable for reasons of modesty and decency to Muslim parents, as well as to many non-Muslim parents. Given the choice between mixed or single-sex swimming, Muslim parents would always opt for a wholly single-sex environment for swimming.

Schools should make every effort to provide a single-sex environment for swimming and allow Muslim children to wear swimwear that complies with the requirements of modesty and decency according to the teachings of Islam. Some schools have been able to meet these requirements in providing an appropriate single-gender environment and also allowing girls to wear full leotards and leggings in the pool. Provided these guidelines are adhered to, there should be no reason why Muslim children should be withdrawn from swimming lessons.

ahhh yes, more expense, now we have to ensure that we have PE instructors of both sexes, and we have to allow two separate swimming times?

Dance is one of the activity areas of the national curriculum for physical education. Muslims consider that most dance activities, as practised in the curriculum, are not consistent with the Islamic requirements for modesty as they may involve sexual connotations and messages when performed within mixed-gender groups or if performed in front of mixed audiences. Most primary and secondary schools hold dance in mixed-gender classes and may include popular dance styles, in which movements of the body are seen as sexually expressive and seductive in nature.
At Key Stage 1 and the early phase of Key Stage 2 dance is equated with expressive and creative movements connected with emotions or forces of nature. In this form it would be acceptable to most Muslim pupils and parents.
However, most Muslim parents will find little or no educational merit or value in dance or dancing after early childhood and may even find it objectionable on moral and religious grounds once children have become sexually mature (puberty). Some parents may consider it to be acceptable within a single-sex context provided the dance movements have no sexual connotations. As dancing is not a normal activity for most Muslim families, Muslim pupils are likely to exhibit reluctance to taking part in it, particularly in mixed-gender sessions. By the same token, dance performances before a mixed gender audience may also be objectionable.

wouldn't want anyone to actually develop an interest in the arts eh? i this one would violate the "efficient instruction" part of the above mentioned law

Music is part of the national curriculum and is required to be taught at Key Stages 1, 2 and 3. There is a great diversity of opinion regarding music amongst Muslims. These are often influenced by local cultures and varying religious interpretations. Traditionally, music is limited to the human voice and non-tuneable percussion instruments such as drums. Within these constraints, Muslim artists have been very creative. Relying on the beauty and harmony of their voices, Muslims use music to remember God, nature, justice, morality and history.
Traditionally these types of musical renderings are called ‘Nasheeds’ and Muslims have been singing these for centuries, especially during wedding celebrations and festivals. Nasheeds have been significantly developed by Muslim artists as an alternative to potentially harmful forms of music, and have since grown in popularity amongst Muslims living in Britain.
All forms of music that may include the use of obscene and blasphemous language, encourage or promote immoral behaviour, arouse lustful feelings, encourage the consumption of intoxicants and drugs or contain unethical and un-Islamic lyrics would be considered objectionable. For this reason some Muslim parents may express concerns in the way music is taught in school and the extent to which their children may participate in it. Some Muslims may hold a very conservative attitude towards music and may seek to avoid it altogether, not wishing their children to participate in school music lessons. In such cases the school can show great understanding by providing alternative musical learning opportunities.

according to this, merely teaching a music history class would be immoral

Dramas, plays and artistic works for Muslim pupils are encouraged for educational purposes. However, parents may have reservations regarding participation in theatrical plays or acting that involves physical contact between males and females, the encouragement of gender role-reversal (girls dressing as boys and vice-versa) or performing in a manner that may encourage sexual feelings. Physical contact with someone of the opposite sex, to whom one could be legally married, is to be avoided as this is not considered acceptable according to Islamic social norms. Schools should avoid placing Muslim pupils in situations where they may feel uncomfortable and believe they are having to compromise their religious moral norms.

i guess we don't have to worry about an Islamic Romeo and Juliette

In Islam the creation of three dimensional figurative imagery of humans is generally regarded as unacceptable because of the risk of idolatress practices and some pupils and parents may raise objections to this. The school should avoid encouraging Muslim pupils from producing three dimensional imagery of humans and focus on other forms of art, calligraphy, textile art, ceramic glass, metal/woodwork, landscape drawing, paintings, architectural representations, geometric figures, photography and mosaic art.

hmmm so asking a child to draw a picture of his family would be immoral?

Many schools with large proportions of Muslim pupils often have very few books which reflect their faith and cultural heritage. Often teachers may unwittingly buy Islamic books for the school that are written by non-specialist or unfriendly authors and that may have factual inaccuracies and may even misrepresent Islam. Schools should endeavour to buy relevant and authentic books on the Islamic heritage and civilisation for the school library and for class use. This could be done in consultation with Muslim teachers, Muslim parents and local Islamic centres.

I'm betting that things like the bible are considered a misrepresentation... and lets not have any books that are critical of Islam...

Many schools hold fundraising events in the form of raffles for school funds or for worthy charitable causes. Muslims regard raffles as a form of gambling, which is prohibited according to the teachings of Islam. Schools should not encourage Muslim pupils to buy or sell raffle tickets. Muslim pupils and parents should of course be encouraged to contribute generously to charitable and other worthy causes.

well i guess that little Abduhl wont stand a chance at being the top fund raiser in his class eh? too bad, i bet he wouldn't like the cheap $2 prizes anyways.

and then we go into the glossary for one definition that i personally take offense to... this should be interesting...

Allah - Arabic name for God. Allah is the Maker of all creatures. He is not just the God of Muslims, but of all humankind.

nope, wrong... hes not my god... perhaps they might change that to read "Muslims believe that Allah is...."

ok, i didn't do all this because im making things up, but this is a sincere document being thrown at the British government... Muslims show time and time again that they are willing to accept compromise so long as it is other people compromising to them... they never want to have any give and take, its always just take take take and if you don't like it, you are anti-Muslim... im all for religious tolerance, but when you religious views are forced upon other people who don't share those views it is ridiculous... and when society is forced to pay large amounts of money to accommodate you, and the tax payers dollars are used for those accommodations, you are then forcing the tax payers to accept your religion. you have every right to your own religion and beliefs, but my life and religion should not have to change in order to accommodate yours. Read more!

How every hero should be welcomed

Thanks to Curt at Floppingaces

Date: December 3, 2006
Flight 1904, ORD - MIA
Captain Jeff Wallace
First Officer Gary Blied
We were informed at the gate that the remains of MSgt Shawn Richardson would shortly be loaded on our flight for the trip to Miami. He was a 17 year veteran of the United States Air Force and had been killed in the service of our country. I went down onto the ramp and found the long box appropriately stationed off to the side in a luggage cart.. The curtains on the cart were pulled. I spent a few moments in prayer with him.
The captain and I finished our preflight duties and then went down onto the ramp, checked in with the crew chiefs to observe the loading of MSgt. Richardson. We departed almost an hour late due to our late arrival into Chicago.
We called for push and it was immediately granted. Normally, there's a wait. We called ground for taxi and again - immediately granted. Normally, there's a wait. We were cleared onto the runway and for an immediate take off. Passing through about twenty five thousand feet we were further cleared direct OMN (Ormand Beach) which is the first fix on the arrival into Miami. Not a word was ever said - but people were watching out for us.
The flight to and landing in Miami were uneventful, until we went to turn off the runway. The tower asked us to proceed a little further down where an escort was waiting for us. We did as instructed and a Miami Dade Police cruiser met us on the taxiway. He escorted our American Airlines Boeing 757 to the D terminal. The entire north ramp had been cleared of all aircraft.
As we approached the ramp we noticed the lights. There were at least a half dozen fire trucks, no less than 15 police cars and countless other vehicles. They were all parked in rows with their lights flashing. As we taxied our aircraft to the gate, the fire trucks saluted our arrival with crossed streams of water shooting over the aircraft.
We parked the aircraft and shut down. After our checklists, Captain Jeff Wallace and I went down to the ramp level and observed the unpacking of the casket, then the dressing with a flag. It was accepted by the honor guard which was comprised of members of the Miami Dade Police Department and Air Force Honor Guard.
After the "present arms" order (when all military and former military render salutes and civilians put their hands over their hearts) and the "order arms" order, when the salutes were finished, I noticed our jet. As I looked up from the ramp level I saw a face in every window. Not one of our passengers had moved until our fallen solider had departed the aircraft.
When the procession left the airport, there were two cruisers in front of the hearse and I have no idea how many behind. It was worthy of a presidential motorcade and a fitting and probably all too uncommon show of love and respect for one of our fallen.
And in case I haven't mentioned this previously - it was 1:30 a.m. and I would bet that most of the people on our ramp were not on the clock.
Every now and then you see it: the silent majority that makes this country the best in the world. I was so proud that night. Proud that my fellow citizens on every level worked to get MSgt. Richardson to his final repose. Proud of all the people who showed up on the ramp early that Saturday morning to show their respect. Proud that American Airlines knows how to handle this situation with humility and honor.
As you go through your day, remember that there are thousands of men and women overseas in the service of our country, far from home and in dangers way. Please remember that they have families back here who live every day in fear of the phone call or visit with the news that their worst nightmare has come true.
Be thankful for their efforts and if you know someone who is in the service - get their address from their family and write them and thank them.
Gary Blied
Pilot, American Airlines
Major, USAF (ret)

If that don't bring a tear to your eye, nothing will. If only every hero could get a welcome home that way. According to the Miami Herald, that might soon be the case... apparently the moving incident was relayed to the FAA and they are considering making something like that standard protocol. Read more!

The NYT finally gets one right!!!

STOP THE PRESSES!!! oh wait, don't do that, the NYT finally got a story right instead of lying, misleading and blatantly misstating the facts, they actually have an article that reflects the true state of affairs in Iraq.

Deadliest Bomb in Iraq Is Made by Iran, U.S. Says

The link that American intelligence has drawn to Iran is based on a number of factors, including an analysis of captured devices, examination of debris after attacks, and intelligence on training of Shiite militants in Iran and in Iraq by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and by Hezbollah militants believed to be working at the behest of Tehran.

No surprise there

According to American intelligence, Iran has excelled in developing this type of bomb, and has provided similar technology to Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon. The manufacture of the key metal components required sophisticated machinery, raw material and expertise that American intelligence agencies do not believe can be found in Iraq. In addition, some components of the bombs have been found with Iranian factory markings from 2006.

2006???? wait that would mean that in addition to a large number of Syrian, Lebanese, Pakistani, Jordanian, Saudi Arabian and Egyptian nationals coming into Iraq with the idea of fighting against the US, we also have a sovereign nation supplying them weapons... now i don't know about anyone else, but in my book that is an overt act of war.

But it gets better:

Some American intelligence experts believe that Hezbollah has provided some of the logistical support and training to Shiite militias in Iraq, but they assert that such steps would not be taken without Iran’s blessing.

“All source reporting since 2004 indicates that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Corps-Quds Force is providing professionally-built EFPs and components to Iraqi Shia militants,” notes a still-classified American intelligence report that was prepared in 2006.

“Based on forensic analysis of materials recovered in Iraq,” the report continues, “Iran is assessed as the producer of these items.”

Again, this is an overt act of war.

The increasing use of the weapon is the latest twist in a lethal game of measure and countermeasure that has been carried out throughout the nearly four-year-old Iraq war. Using munitions from Iraq’s vast and poorly guarded arsenal, insurgents developed an array of bombs to strike the more heavily armed and technologically superior American military.

In response, the United States military deployed armored Humvees, which in turn spawned the development of even more potent roadside bombs. American officials say that the first suspected use of the penetrator occurred in late 2003 and that attacks have risen steadily since then.

To make the weapon, a metal cylinder is filled with powerful explosives. A metal concave disk manufactured on a special press is fixed to the firing end.

Several of the cylinders are often grouped together in an array. The weapon is generally triggered when American vehicles drive by an infrared sensor, which operates on the same principle as a garage door opener. The sensor is impervious to the electronic jamming the American military uses to try to block other remote-control attacks.

When an American vehicle crosses the beam, the explosives in the cylinders are detonated, hurling their metal lids at targets at a tremendous speed. The metal changes shape in flight, forming into a slug that penetrate many types of armor.

Now if you don't understand what these things are, they are modeled after the Armor Penetrating weapons that the US uses to take out enemy tanks, they are very powerful and very dangerous. essentially they are designed to send a slug of molten copper ad such high speeds that it basically melts right through the armor plate.

Among the intelligence that the United States is expected to make public this weekend is information indicating that some of these weapons said to have been made in Iran were carried into Iraq in recent years. Examples include a shoulder-fired antiaircraft missile that was fired at a plane flying near the Baghdad airport in 2004 but which failed to launch properly; an Iranian rocket-propelled grenade made in 2006; and an Iranian 81-millimeter mortar made in 2006.

Assessments by American intelligence agencies say there is no indication that there is any kind of black-market trade in the Iranian-linked roadside bombs, and that shipments of the components are being directed to Shiite militants who have close links to Iran. The American military has developed classified techniques to try to counter the sophisticated weapon.

Again this is a blatant act of war against the US and its allies.

“We are working day and night to disassemble these networks that do everything from bring the explosives to the point of construction, to how they’re put together, to who delivers them, to the mechanisms that are used to have them go off,” Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said last week. “It is instructive that at least twice in the last month, that in going after the networks, we have picked up Iranians.”

I know how we can "dissemble" these networks... bomb the shit out of Tehran.

While we sit by arguing the niceties of diplomatic talks with Iran, they have declared war against the United States. they are supplying weapons to enemies of this country and they are killing our troops. They are also lead by a person that has publicly stated that Israel should be "wiped off the map" and the the United States should be destroyed as well. And we sit by thinking that they are telling the truth when they say that they are manufacturing nuclear fuel for energy purposes... They lie to our face and we sit by and do nothing... God help us all.


UPDATE: 1 more article out now on the matter of Iran. From ynet news:

Defense Minister Mohammad-Najjar tells Islamic revolution rally, ‘We have new 2000 kilometer surface-to-surface missiles and new warheads to place on them;’ range announced places Israel within striking distance, but Iranian diplomat insists: Iran is no threat to Israel

And if you believe this one, I've got a bridge to sell you. Right, so the country that has publicly stated that Israel should be wiped off the map announces that they have new missiles that can reach well beyond the Israeli border and they aren't threatening Israel? These lying bastards are playing into the media like a orchestra... again I reiterate... God help us all
Read more!

No link between Iraq and Al Qaeda?

Thanks to FloppingAces

Ive believed for a long time that somewhere, someone was full of shit... no way that Al Qaeda was able to operate in the fashion that they did before 9/11 without some kind of support from a state government, and i suspect there were multiple governments supporting them

curt over at flopping aces has a good story on it all, and a hell of a list which i will re-print here:

• Ahmed Hikmat Shakir — the Iraqi Intelligence operative who facilitated a 9/11 hijacker into Malaysia and was in attendance at the Kuala Lampur meeting with two of the hijackers, and other conspirators, at what is roundly acknowledged to be the initial 9/11 planning session in January 2000? Who was arrested after the 9/11 attacks in possession of contact information for several known terrorists? Who managed to make his way out of Jordanian custody over our objections after the 9/11 attacks because of special pleading by Saddam’s regime?

• Saddam's intelligence agency's efforts to recruit jihadists to bomb Radio Free Europe in Prague in the late 1990's?

• Mohammed Atta's unexplained visits to Prague in 2000, and his alleged visit there in April 2001 which — notwithstanding the 9/11 Commission's dismissal of it (based on interviewing exactly zero relevant witnesses) — the Czechs have not retracted?

• The Clinton Justice Department's allegation in a 1998 indictment (two months before the embassy bombings) against bin Laden, to wit: In addition, al Qaeda reached an understanding with the government of Iraq that al Qaeda would not work against that government and that on particular projects, specifically including weapons development, al Qaeda would work cooperatively with the Government of Iraq.

• Seized Iraq Intelligence Service records indicating that Saddam's henchmen regarded bin Laden as an asset as early as 1992?

• Saddam's hosting of al Qaeda No. 2, Ayman Zawahiri beginning in the early 1990’s, and reports of a large payment of money to Zawahiri in 1998?

• Saddam’s ten years of harboring of 1993 World Trade Center bomber Abdul Rahman Yasin?

• Iraqi Intelligence Service operatives being dispatched to meet with bin Laden in Afghanistan in 1998 (the year of bin Laden’s fatwa demanding the killing of all Americans, as well as the embassy bombings)?

• Saddam’s official press lionizing bin Laden as “an Arab and Islamic hero” following the 1998 embassy bombing attacks?

• The continued insistence of high-ranking Clinton administration officials to the 9/11 Commission that the 1998 retaliatory strikes (after the embassy bombings) against a Sudanese pharmaceutical factory were justified because the factory was a chemical weapons hub tied to Iraq and bin Laden?

• Top Clinton administration counterterrorism official Richard Clarke’s assertions, based on intelligence reports in 1999, that Saddam had offered bin Laden asylum after the embassy bombings, and Clarke’s memo to then-National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, advising him not to fly U-2 missions against bin Laden in Afghanistan because he might be tipped off by Pakistani Intelligence, and “[a]rmed with that knowledge, old wily Usama will likely boogie to Baghdad”? (See 9/11 Commission Final Report, p. 134 & n.135.)

• Terror master Abu Musab Zarqawi's choice to boogie to Baghdad of all places when he needed surgery after fighting American forces in Afghanistan in 2001?

• Saddam's Intelligence Service running a training camp at Salman Pak, were terrorists were instructed in tactics for assassination, kidnapping and hijacking?

• Former CIA Director George Tenet’s October 7, 2002 letter to Congress, which asserted: Our understanding of the relationship between Iraq and Al Qaeda is evolving and is based on sources of varying reliability. Some of the information we have received comes from detainees, including some of high rank.

• We have solid reporting of senior level contacts between Iraq and Al Qaeda going back a decade.

• Credible information indicates that Iraq and Al Qaeda have discussed safe haven and reciprocal nonaggression.

• Since Operation Enduring Freedom, we have solid evidence of the presence in Iraq of Al Qaeda members, including some that have been in Baghdad.

• We have credible reporting that Al Qaeda leaders sought contacts in Iraq who could help them acquire WMD capabilities. The reporting also stated that Iraq has provided training to Al Qaeda members in the areas of poisons and gases and making conventional bombs.

• Iraq's increasing support to extremist Palestinians coupled with growing indications of relationship with Al Qaeda suggest that Baghdad's links to terrorists will increase, even absent U.S. military action.

but noooooo, there wasnt any connection, not until bush lied... sometimes the bullshit is stacked so high that the MSM and the crazy ass bush haters cant even come up for air, let alone see that they are wrong
Read more!

A great example of what happens in socailized medicine

Thanks to SondraK

Women in southern Sweden will in the future not be able to choose the sex of their gynecologist. Allowing them to choose discriminates against male gynecologists, it has been ruled.

The new practice has been introduced by clinics in the counties of Skåne, Halland, Blekinge and Kronoberg. Gynecological patients in those areas will now be assigned a doctor of either sex, Helsingborgs Dagblad reports

Exceptions will be made in some cases, such as for women who come from parts of the world with 'patriarchal traditions' or for the victims of sexual assaults, the paper reported. These women could insist on a female gynecologist.

Women with less specific reasons for wanting a female gynecologists may be turned down.

The changes have been brought in because many male gynecologists have felt discriminated against.

Claes Lindoff, head of female health care at Helsingborg Hospital, said that the problem existed all over the country, but admitted that it only applied to "a hundred cases a year of our 15,000 visits."

Allowing women to refuse treatment by male gynecologists also causes problems for clinics, for instance when there are no female gynecologists on duty at the time or when a man on duty is better qualified than a female colleague.

First of all, the only way i can see that a male ob/gyn would feel discriminated against was that he wasn't being allowed to touch enough women... i mean realistically at some point, probably long before any advanced classes in med school, those guys figured that would be a job that would let them get their jollies... later they realized that it wasn't all that they thought it would be and became somewhat serious doctors...

All of that aside, this is what happens when you have a socialized medical system... the patients loose the freedom to choose... and it also makes it to where it becomes against the rules to say no to the doctor that you are assigned to... so if you get stuck with a crappy doctor... you are out of luck Read more!

One for the no shit file

From FOX News:

DONALDSONVILLE, La. — A 10-year-old's grandmother and great-grandmother were arrested after the girl tested positive twice for cocaine
The child, who had been living with Angela Motton, 42, and Patricia Motton, 57, of Donaldsonville, has been placed in foster care, Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office Chief Deputy Tony Bacala said Monday.
The first test was a routine drug test administered Jan. 10 at Ascension Parish Alternative School, he wrote in a news release. A second test was positive, as were tests given to the Mottons, he said.
They were booked Friday with cruelty to a juvenile, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, and distribution of cocaine, Bacala said.
Angela Motton was also booked with possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bond for Angela Motton was set at $55,286 and for Patricia Motton at $45,000, Bacala said.

Ok so lets look a little deeper here...

first the great-grandmother... a woman that gave birth to a daughter at the ripe old age of 15... in 1964....

next the grandmother... at age 42, she has a 10 year old granddaughter... so she was 32 when the granddaughter was born... at maximum, her daughter is 20 years old which means that she had a daughter at 12... if her daughter was 21, then she was a mother at 11 years old and so on...

at best at least one of the women in this family was a mother at an age younger than 14...

is anyone surprised that there is heavy drug use in the family??? this is what happens when idiots reproduce... im willing to bet that grandma and great-grandma both have prior records and im also pretty sure that the reason that the 10 year old was living with them is that her mom is in jail somewhere... im afraid in a situation like this, the only way that any good could happen would be for the 10 year old to be adopted by a family with morals and for mom, grandma and great-grandma to be locked up for ever... i know that sounds harsh.. but 3 generations of the family haven't learned how to function in the normal world, so why not break the cycle and make it so that the 10 year old at least has a functional life as a good member of society... Read more!

Im back

Sorry, its been a while, ive been unmotivated, dealing with work and prepping for the launch of Windows Vista. Read more!

Jack Bauer melts

I heard about this one on the radio this morning and laughed my ass off

From CelebertySpider:

Kiefer Sutherland Set Fire to Jack Bauer Doll Prototype 1/15/07

Kiefer Sutherland only has himself to blame for the delay of his 24 action figure - he set fire to the prototype during a drunken night out.

The action man's new figure has been developed by McFarlane Toys and will hit stores later this year (07), but the mini-Jack Bauer should have hit shelves much earlier.

Sutherland explains, "They tried to come out with one a couple of years ago and they had sent me the doll for my approval... We took the doll out for a night to have some fun and we'd had some drinks. We sat it on the corner of the table.

"We started torturing him around 11 o'clock at night, and, by two o'clock in the morning, we had set him on fire in the parking lot.

"We got up the next day and there was just this puddle of wax. His clothes didn't burn, which I thought was pretty cool... and then I got a call the next day saying, 'Did you like the doll?' I said, 'Yeah, it was great.' And they said, 'Well, OK, good, you gotta send it back to us because that was the prototype... It took that guy a year to make it.'

"I said, 'Well, let me look for it, I think I left it in the trailer.' This went on for about a week and then I had to just kinda come clean."

Read more!

Ut, Oh! They are watching my bank account

From FOX News:

The Pentagon and to a lesser extent the CIA have been using a little-known power to look at the banking and credit records of hundreds of Americans and others suspected of terrorism or espionage within the United States, officials said Saturday.

I guess ill have to stop buying all that beer... The Pentagon admitted that the DoD and other select law enforcement agencies are watching financial records of US citizens in anti-terror surveillance programs... I can hear the whiners now... How dare they... Id like to see anyone of the people that whine, bitch and moan about programs like this actually prove that any of their rights were violated... Frankly I don't care... If they want to monitor my subscriptions to online games, my purchases on NewEgg and my occasional night at the bar... Go for it... If you can show me even one person that is arrested, detained, or killed because of information gathered in this kind of a program that didn't do anything wrong... Ill change my mind... Until then... search away boys! Read more!

We are being invaded

From FOX News:

BISBEE, Ariz. — An unidentified Mexican man has been shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent in the United States just over the frontier near Naco, authorities said Sunday.

The Cochise County Sheriffs Office and the Border Patrol's Sector headquarters said the shooting took place Friday. Lt. Commander Mark Dannels of the Sheriffs Office said the confrontation began as a rock-throwing incident.

Good, one less criminal for the US to deal with. See folks, this is why you don't throw rocks at people that have guns on their hips

Oh, wait... It gets sooo much better... The Mexican Government is bitching and moaning about the whole thing...

In Mexico, the Foreign Relations Department condemned the shooting on Saturday, which it said was about 550 yards north of the Mexico border.

"The department expresses its profound concern over this kind of disproportionate violence that results in the loss of human lives," the department said in a news release. "Above all, when force is used against people who do not represent a threat to United States authorities."

Ok, first of all I'm not really sure that I give a flying unicorns ass about the loss of life of a person that was stupid enough to throw rocks at an armed officer... And I'm not really sure that I give a damn what the Mexican Government thinks about law enforcement actions that take place inside the borders of this country.

The fact of the matter is, we had a foreign national cross our borders with the intent of committing a crime. (and to probably defraud the US government too) During his criminal act of invading this country, he became violent and attacked a lawful officer tasked with protecting the sovereignty of this country. Said officer then used deadly force to prevent the invasion of this country by a violent foreign national... sounds to me like the officer should get a medal and a pay raise... perhaps a spot training other officers how to shoot so well... Read more!

Public Forum on welfare

From Yet Another Conservative, Right Wing Blog

Guy posts a newspaper article calling for a public forum on welfare... The catch is, he wants to know why he has to pass a drug test to go out an earn money for the welfare system, but the welfare slobs don't have to pass a similar drug test to get the money...

I have to agree... Welfare is not supposed to be used as a crutch to keep you from having to work at all... it is to be used for a temporary help measure until you get back on your feet... Read more!

I'll take a plate of Jambalaya and a .45

News reports lately are showing that the murder rate in New Orleans is at a rate that is huge compared to the rest of the country... The problem is... You ready for this? No, I mean are you really ready? Ok, I hope you are sitting down for this one... The reason for the huge murder rate in New Orleans is so high because of a hurricane that hit the city 18 MONTHS! ago. Oh yeah!!!! You all remember the hurricane that was sent by the government to destroy the black communities... you know the one that the government used as an excuse to blow up the levies.

Yeah thats the one... and now its the governments fault that crime is so high... Whooo hoo... I'm gonna start blaming the government every time I run out of beer... You think ill get more???

Now I know that there were and still are decent, hardworking, god fearing people living and working in New Orleans... But the ones that looted the city and the ones that are committing these crimes are not... These people are human trash, they were trash long before they lived through a hurricane, and they will be trash until they die... They alone have the ability to better themselves and their city... They are continuously choosing not to...

Sources: CBS News and SondraK Read more!

Terrorism and every day life

Don't think it can happen to you? Imagine, you are going about your life, walking down the street to get a cup of coffee. Or you are taking your kids to see a movie on a Saturday afternoon. Or you and your family meet at a restaurant for a nice mothers day dinner... Then, out of nowhere, Boom, flying glass, metal and wood pepper your face, you feel the hot stickiness as a trickle of blood forms on a cut... Smoke is all around, you can hardly see, the air is so thick that you start coughing... In the distance you hear a faint cry... It sounds like a child... Oh, god is it your child?? Where is your child... You start to panic... You are frantic now, you cant see, you stumble around on your hands and knees in the smoke, the shattered glass on the floor digs into your knees, but you don't care... You have a one track mind... You draw closer to the faint cries and discover that it isn't your child, it is an old woman, dying... You frantically look on desperate to find out if your own child suffers the same fate...

Ok, back to reality.... Guess what, it can happen... It has happened already to thousands of people... People who were going about their daily lives, minding their own business... People in New York, London, Madrid... How long before it hits home and things like what I described above happens in your city?

Here is a video of what happens...


Don't be naive enough to think that it cant happen in your home town... All the people in this video did wrong was to be minding their own business in the wrong place at the wrong time. This is from a surveillance camera in the Madrid airport taken only a few weeks ago. Read more!

A UFO crash in Iran

Ok so some blogger from Iran is reporting that a UFO crashed in the Eastern portion of the country. This one is a gem, so im gonna post most of the article... its a falling out of your chair laugh...

UFO in Iran, Green Reptiles, or Israelis? (Updated: 13 Jan II)

An unidentified object hit the ground in Kerman province, today early in the morning local time. According to Raja and Fars, a source in Kerman governor’s office stated “the object was observed by people, before it crashed into mountains, while it was smoking”, he continued “meteors do not send out smoke.” Also, a source in the office stated, “the source of the explosion was seen in a few towns before the incident and it is very likely to have hit the earth in Siraj, 100 kilometers far from Kerman.” Emphasizing that it could have been a spy plane, he added “helicopters have been dispatched to the region and are analyzing the incident”. He also stated “there are rumors that a few days ago a similar object was observed in Rafsanjan [a city in Kerman]”.

Jam-e Jam writesthat no airplane is reported missing. Quoting political-security deputy of Keman governer, Nasrollahi, Isnarepots “the explosion which has taken place in Lalezar-Baft hillside has been probably caused by a foreign cargo plane and foreign companies are being asked for a missing plane.” The timing of the event has been reported to be 6:30am local time, when “a bright light was seen and then the impact came along. Then, for a few minutes white smoke was seen in the sky, close to Lalezar hillside…” Nasrollahi also added “after six hours from the explosion, its source is still unknown and because the area is mountainous, the search may take even longer”. He concluded, “no domestic or international company has reported a missing plane and our radars have not detected anything.”

Six hours later, Jam-e Jam talkedto the same official. This time, he denied any report about a spy or cargo plane. He added, “experts say there has been a similar incident about thirty years ago in Kerman, the cause of which has been found to be a meteor.” He has also had nothing to say about the physical shape of the observed object, according to Jam-e Jam.

Ok now it gets even better... some of the comments posted below the entry...

gholi Says:
January 11th, 2007 at 10:12 am

I’m sure these are the holy angles and exteratersial friends of Israelis who are trying to help them dominate the world, through waging an Islamic jihad against Europe and the world so that Imam Mahdi can be the ruler of the whole universe and force everyone to become a Moslem! There is secret information that that these extratersials eat and drink Uranium for their sustenance, hence their effort to get close to nuclear facilities.
Why isn’t the government accusing Israel this time? They probably don’t want the people to hate them more for constangly threating Israel with destruction which makes Israel want to defend itself and save itself from destruction by striking first.

Baahhhh ha ha ha.... this is good stuff... I mean you cant make this shit up... the next dozen or so quotes are all debating weather Israeli UFO's would have English or Hebrew text written on the sides of them...

UPDATE: Reuters has a new photo of the object in mid flight... apparently there were more than one

Read more!

It's expensive to Jihad

From Doctor Bulldog:

This is a very long article about the changing situation in Iraq, im not going to go into too many details on the article, but one section sticks out at me and tells me that we are winning.

These days Rami gets most of his supplies from the new American-equipped Iraqi army. “We buy ammunition from officers in charge of warehouses, a small box of AK-47 bullets is $450 (£230). If the guy sells a thousand boxes he can become rich and leave the country.” But as the security situation deteriorates, Rami finds it increasingly difficult to travel across Baghdad. “Now I have to pay a Shia taxi driver to bring the ammo to me. He gets $50 for each shipment.”
The box of 700 bullets that Rami buys for $450 today would have cost between $150 and $175 a year ago. The price of a Kalashnikov has risen from $300 to $400 in the same period. The inflation in arms prices reflects Iraq’s plunge toward civil war but, largely unnoticed by the outside world, the Sunni insurgency has also changed. The conflict into which 20,000 more American troops will be catapulted over the next few weeks is very different to the one their comrades experienced even a year ago.

you see, a quick search over at Impact Guns shows that you can pick up an AK-47 for $450-800 and you can get a box of 1000 rounds for it for a mere $172.99... And remember, that is in America... a country that generally frowns on people owning AK-47s... now I know that those are only semi-auto civilian versions, but the point is the same... for the cost of weapons in Iraq to go up over 200% in a year, that means that there is a much smaller supply... which to me means that we are having a significant impact on the ability of the terrorists to acquire weapons. And no matter how you look at it, that is a good thing, hopefully one day it will be more expensive to fight than it is to be nice. Read more!

Spies like us

From Yahoo News:

Egyptian authorities on Saturday detained an Al-Jazeera journalist for fabricating scenes of torture staged inside mock Egyptian police stations, but the pan-Arab network said the footage was created with actors for a documentary film.

the article further states:

An arts committee affiliated with the Interior Ministry viewed the tapes and said they showed "unedited scenes of fabricated torture incidents, and assaults by individuals wearing police uniforms on others playing roles of male and female suspects inside studios decorated to look like police stations," the statement said. The tapes have not been made public.

Now I have long believed that the war against radical Islam is not only a clash and war of cultures, religions and ideologies, but that it is also a war of propaganda. This is just one more tiny bit of the proof of that. This war will probably not be won with bullets and bombs, but with words and video clips... sure the bullets and the bombs help, but the Jihad's know that if they play enough sad, gruesome or terrifying videos on American TV, that they will win... I just hope that you all recognize when you are being spoon fed the BS.

Hat Tip to LittleGreenFootballs Read more!

I'll take lawsuit lotteries for $85,000,000 please Alex

From Yahoo News:

A day after filing a lawsuit, casino mogul Steve Wynn said Friday that Lloyd's of London has made an offer to settle his $54 million claim of lost value for a Picasso after Wynn accidentally poked a hole in the canvas with his elbow.

OK, so this guy sues his insurance company because he was negligent and damaged his own painting. Now, I'm no lawyer, but every insurance police I've ever seen had exclusion clauses for gross negligence. I say screw him, let him cry over his own damn mistake.


thanks to SondraK Read more!

After I'm married I'd like to be addressed as Mr. Misses

I wasnt going to touch this one, but SondraK had such a good pic on her site that I felt i had to weigh in.

Mike Buday isn’t married to his last name. In fact, he and his fiancee decided before they wed that he would take hers. But Buday was stunned to learn that he couldn't simply become Mike Bijon when they married in 2005.

ok, so this guy needs to grow a pair... seriously... I can understand not liking your name, but wanting to take your wife's name... next we have afternoon bonding sessions over Oprah, and intimate discussions during Wife Swap and Super Nanny in the evenings Read more!

Honey bee flaming...

From The News-Press:

Ok, had to laugh out loud at this one and I thought id share.

An attempt to keep bees at bay has one Cape Coral man out at least $500.

Franklyn Pigott Jr., 38, was attempting to kill take out a bees nest on the
outside wall of his home on N.W. 18th Avenue on Wednesday and ended up catching
his house on fire.

According to a police incident report filed by officer A.W. Arroyo, Pigott
was using a product called Real Kill Indoor Fogger, which he mixed with
WD-40, and it turned into a "flame-thrower," which melted the vinyl siding
of the house.

The damage is estimated at about $500, and Pigott indicated he will repair
the siding himself.

Another one from Florida Cracker Read more!

Anyone else remember that perv teacher in High School?

from CBS News:

A high school teacher was charged under Texas' "peeping Tom" law with videotaping girls' wrestling matches for his sexual enjoyment.

Police said David Ware, 28, often zoomed in for close-up shots of the girls' crotches.

Authorities say the first-year speech and drama teacher plans to turn himself in this week to Grand Prairie, Texas, police to face charges of improper visual recording, which carries up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Ok, while I have to agree that the actions of this teacher are creepy, and perhaps even enough to get him fired, I just cant see charging him with a crime like this... I mean first of all, he has a valid point, the law is so vague that every fan that takes pictures of the football cheerleaders could be charged with a crime... I'm just glad that no laws like this existed back in the day when I used to go to all those wet T-shirt contests... and I wont even talk about topless karaoke night...

Hat tip to Florida Cracker Read more!

Come in here, dear boy, have a cigar.

From The Scotsman:

This is a great article this Scottish sniper describes one of his kills.

"He was just standing there. It was beautiful. He was only exposed a few seconds.

"I didn't need to adjust my rifle sights as they were set right from the previous day.

"Just like in training, I breathed slowly, inhaled and pulled the trigger.

"The 338 calibre bullet travels at about 800 metres a second so it would have taken just over a second to reach him.

"He was hit full in the upper chest. It took him a couple of seconds to drop but I knew he was slotted [dead].

"If one of these big 338 rounds hits you in the chest, even from that distance, it will cause a lethal amount of damage.

Afterwards, he celebrates his first combat kill with a good cigar... I say, send him a box of cigars Read more!

Our first nominee for the express lane to the gallows

From FOX News:

RALEIGH, N.C. — A mother found her 4-year-old daughter decapitated in her home, and police issued an arrest warrant for the girl's father.

John Patrick Violette, 37, was last seen driving a Buick station wagon near his home Friday afternoon in Clayton, about 15 miles southeast of Raleigh, said Clayton Police Chief Glen Allen. Violette's wife, Amber Violette, called 911 that evening, saying she had found her daughter, Katlin, with her head severed from her body, he said.

ok, so we are gonna file this one under, "no need to keep them alive" I can only hope that this SOB isn't captured alive by the police... I really don't see any reason why my tax dollars should pay for this guys 20 year stay on death row. oh, wait, we aren't using death row right now cus it might be cruel and unusual punishment... screw that... I say hang the bastard. hanging, while it might be cruel, it definitely isn't unusual, and therefore doesn't meet the constitutional requirement of cruel and unusual. Read more!

The fat, the drunk, the Marines

From Yahoo News

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. troops were fatter and drank harder in 2005 than before the Iraq war started, according a Pentagon survey of more than 16,000 service members released on Friday.

Good, heres to hopin that our boys eat good, drink good and continue to kill the scum of the earth.


Hat tip to LittleGreenFootballs Read more!

Presidential Speech

From Drudge:

EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY: ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT TO THE NATION
Wed Jan 10 2007 20:22:00 ET

[As Prepared for Delivery]

Good evening. Tonight in Iraq, the Armed Forces of the United States are engaged in a struggle that will determine the direction of the global war on terror – and our safety here at home. The new strategy I outline tonight will change America’s course in Iraq, and help us succeed in the fight against terror.

When I addressed you just over a year ago, nearly 12 million Iraqis had cast their ballots for a unified and democratic nation. The elections of 2005 were a stunning achievement. We thought that these elections would bring the Iraqis together – and that as we trained Iraqi security forces, we could accomplish our mission with fewer American troops.

But in 2006, the opposite happened. The violence in Iraq – particularly in Baghdad – overwhelmed the political gains the Iraqis had made. Al Qaeda terrorists and Sunni insurgents recognized the mortal danger that Iraq’s elections posed for their cause. And they responded with outrageous acts of murder aimed at innocent Iraqis. They blew up one of the holiest shrines in Shia Islam – the Golden Mosque of Samarra – in a calculated effort to provoke Iraq’s Shia population to retaliate. Their strategy worked. Radical Shia elements, some supported by Iran, formed death squads. And the result was a vicious cycle of sectarian violence that continues today.

The situation in Iraq is unacceptable to the American people – and it is unacceptable to me. Our troops in Iraq have fought bravely. They have done everything we have asked them to do. Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me.

It is clear that we need to change our strategy in Iraq. So my national security team, military commanders, and diplomats conducted a comprehensive review. We consulted Members of Congress from both parties, allies abroad, and distinguished outside experts. We benefited from the thoughtful recommendations of the Iraq Study Group – a bipartisan panel led by former Secretary of State James Baker and former Congressman Lee Hamilton. In our discussions, we all agreed that there is no magic formula for success in Iraq. And one message came through loud and clear: Failure in Iraq would be a disaster for the United States.

The consequences of failure are clear: Radical Islamic extremists would grow in strength and gain new recruits. They would be in a better position to topple moderate governments, create chaos in the region, and use oil revenues to fund their ambitions. Iran would be emboldened in its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Our enemies would have a safe haven from which to plan and launch attacks on the American people. On September the 11th, 2001, we saw what a refuge for extremists on the other side of the world could bring to the streets of our own cities. For the safety of our people, America must succeed in Iraq.

The most urgent priority for success in Iraq is security, especially in Baghdad. Eighty percent of Iraq’s sectarian violence occurs within 30 miles of the capital. This violence is splitting Baghdad into sectarian enclaves, and shaking the confidence of all Iraqis. Only the Iraqis can end the sectarian violence and secure their people. And their government has put forward an aggressive plan to do it.

Our past efforts to secure Baghdad failed for two principal reasons: There were not enough Iraqi and American troops to secure neighborhoods that had been cleared of terrorists and insurgents. And there were too many restrictions on the troops we did have. Our military commanders reviewed the new Iraqi plan to ensure that it addressed these mistakes. They report that it does. They also report that this plan can work.

Let me explain the main elements of this effort: The Iraqi government will appoint a military commander and two deputy commanders for their capital. The Iraqi government will deploy Iraqi Army and National Police brigades across Baghdad’s nine districts. When these forces are fully deployed, there will be 18 Iraqi Army and National Police brigades committed to this effort – along with local police. These Iraqi forces will operate from local police stations – conducting patrols, setting up checkpoints, and going door-to-door to gain the trust of Baghdad residents.

This is a strong commitment. But for it to succeed, our commanders say the Iraqis will need our help. So America will change our strategy to help the Iraqis carry out their campaign to put down sectarian violence – and bring security to the people of Baghdad. This will require increasing American force levels. So I have committed more than 20,000 additional American troops to Iraq. The vast majority of them – five brigades – will be deployed to Baghdad. These troops will work alongside Iraqi units and be embedded in their formations. Our troops will have a well-defined mission: to help Iraqis clear and secure neighborhoods, to help them protect the local population, and to help ensure that the Iraqi forces left behind are capable of providing the security that Baghdad needs.

Many listening tonight will ask why this effort will succeed when previous operations to secure Baghdad did not. Here are the differences: In earlier operations, Iraqi and American forces cleared many neighborhoods of terrorists and insurgents – but when our forces moved on to other targets, the killers returned. This time, we will have the force levels we need to hold the areas that have been cleared. In earlier operations, political and sectarian interference prevented Iraqi and American forces from going into neighborhoods that are home to those fueling the sectarian violence. This time, Iraqi and American forces will have a green light to enter these neighborhoods – and Prime Minister Maliki has pledged that political or sectarian interference will not be tolerated.

I have made it clear to the Prime Minister and Iraq’s other leaders that America’s commitment is not open-ended. If the Iraqi government does not follow through on its promises, it will lose the support of the American people – and it will lose the support of the Iraqi people. Now is the time to act. The Prime Minister understands this. Here is what he told his people just last week: “The Baghdad security plan will not provide a safe haven for any outlaws, regardless of [their] sectarian or political affiliation.”

This new strategy will not yield an immediate end to suicide bombings, assassinations, or IED attacks. Our enemies in Iraq will make every effort to ensure that our television screens are filled with images of death and suffering. Yet over time, we can expect to see Iraqi troops chasing down murderers, fewer brazen acts of terror, and growing trust and cooperation from Baghdad’s residents. When this happens, daily life will improve, Iraqis will gain confidence in their leaders, and the government will have the breathing space it needs to make progress in other critical areas. Most of Iraq’s Sunni and Shia want to live together in peace – and reducing the violence in Baghdad will help make reconciliation possible.

A successful strategy for Iraq goes beyond military operations. Ordinary Iraqi citizens must see that military operations are accompanied by visible improvements in their neighborhoods and communities. So America will hold the Iraqi government to the benchmarks it has announced.

To establish its authority, the Iraqi government plans to take responsibility for security in all of Iraq’s provinces by November. To give every Iraqi citizen a stake in the country’s economy, Iraq will pass legislation to share oil revenues among all Iraqis. To show that it is committed to delivering a better life, the Iraqi government will spend 10 billion dollars of its own money on reconstruction and infrastructure projects that will create new jobs. To empower local leaders, Iraqis plan to hold provincial elections later this year. And to allow more Iraqis to re-enter their nation’s political life, the government will reform de-Baathification laws – and establish a fair process for considering amendments to Iraq’s constitution.

America will change our approach to help the Iraqi government as it works to meet these benchmarks. In keeping with the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, we will increase the embedding of American advisers in Iraqi Army units – and partner a Coalition brigade with every Iraqi Army division. We will help the Iraqis build a larger and better-equipped Army – and we will accelerate the training of Iraqi forces, which remains the essential U.S. security mission in Iraq. We will give our commanders and civilians greater flexibility to spend funds for economic assistance. We will double the number of Provincial Reconstruction Teams. These teams bring together military and civilian experts to help local Iraqi communities pursue reconciliation, strengthen moderates, and speed the transition to Iraqi self reliance. And Secretary Rice will soon appoint a reconstruction coordinator in Baghdad to ensure better results for economic assistance being spent in Iraq.

As we make these changes, we will continue to pursue al Qaeda and foreign fighters. Al Qaeda is still active in Iraq. Its home base is Anbar Province. Al Qaeda has helped make Anbar the most violent area of Iraq outside the capital. A captured al Qaeda document describes the terrorists’ plan to infiltrate and seize control of the province. This would bring al Qaeda closer to its goals of taking down Iraq’s democracy, building a radical Islamic empire, and launching new attacks on the United States at home and abroad.

Our military forces in Anbar are killing and capturing al Qaeda leaders – and protecting the local population. Recently, local tribal leaders have begun to show their willingness to take on al Qaeda. As a result, our commanders believe we have an opportunity to deal a serious blow to the terrorists. So I have given orders to increase American forces in Anbar Province by 4,000 troops. These troops will work with Iraqi and tribal forces to step up the pressure on the terrorists. America’s men and women in uniform took away al Qaeda’s safe haven in Afghanistan – and we will not allow them to re-establish it in Iraq.

Succeeding in Iraq also requires defending its territorial integrity – and stabilizing the region in the face of the extremist challenge. This begins with addressing Iran and Syria. These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq. Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We will interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq.

We are also taking other steps to bolster the security of Iraq and protect American interests in the Middle East. I recently ordered the deployment of an additional carrier strike group to the region. We will expand intelligence sharing – and deploy Patriot air defense systems to reassure our friends and allies. We will work with the governments of Turkey and Iraq to help them resolve problems along their border. And we will work with others to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons and dominating the region.

We will use America’s full diplomatic resources to rally support for Iraq from nations throughout the Middle East. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf States need to understand that an American defeat in Iraq would create a new sanctuary for extremists – and a strategic threat to their survival. These nations have a stake in a successful Iraq that is at peace with its neighbors – and they must step up their support for Iraq’s unity government. We endorse the Iraqi government’s call to finalize an International Compact that will bring new economic assistance in exchange for greater economic reform. And on Friday, Secretary Rice will leave for the region – to build support for Iraq, and continue the urgent diplomacy required to help bring peace to the Middle East.

The challenge playing out across the broader Middle East is more than a military conflict. It is the decisive ideological struggle of our time. On one side are those who believe in freedom and moderation. On the other side are extremists who kill the innocent, and have declared their intention to destroy our way of life. In the long run, the most realistic way to protect the American people is to provide a hopeful alternative to the hateful ideology of the enemy – by advancing liberty across a troubled region. It is in the interests of the United States to stand with the brave men and women who are risking their lives to claim their freedom – and help them as they work to raise up just and hopeful societies across the Middle East.

From Afghanistan to Lebanon to the Palestinian Territories, millions of ordinary people are sick of the violence, and want a future of peace and opportunity for their children. And they are looking at Iraq. They want to know: Will America withdraw and yield the future of that country to the extremists – or will we stand with the Iraqis who have made the choice for freedom?

The changes I have outlined tonight are aimed at ensuring the survival of a young democracy that is fighting for its life in a part of the world of enormous importance to American security. Let me be clear: The terrorists and insurgents in Iraq are without conscience, and they will make the year ahead bloody and violent. Even if our new strategy works exactly as planned, deadly acts of violence will continue – and we must expect more Iraqi and American casualties. The question is whether our new strategy will bring us closer to success. I believe that it will.

Victory will not look like the ones our fathers and grandfathers achieved. There will be no surrender ceremony on the deck of a battleship. But victory in Iraq will bring something new in the Arab world – a functioning democracy that polices its territory, upholds the rule of law, respects fundamental human liberties, and answers to its people. A democratic Iraq will not be perfect. But it will be a country that fights terrorists instead of harboring them – and it will help bring a future of peace and security for our children and grandchildren.

Our new approach comes after consultations with Congress about the different courses we could take in Iraq. Many are concerned that the Iraqis are becoming too dependent on the United States – and therefore, our policy should focus on protecting Iraq’s borders and hunting down al Qaeda. Their solution is to scale back America’s efforts in Baghdad – or announce the phased withdrawal of our combat forces. We carefully considered these proposals. And we concluded that to step back now would force a collapse of the Iraqi government, tear that country apart, and result in mass killings on an unimaginable scale. Such a scenario would result in our troops being forced to stay in Iraq even longer, and confront an enemy that is even more lethal. If we increase our support at this crucial moment, and help the Iraqis break the current cycle of violence, we can hasten the day our troops begin coming home.

In the days ahead, my national security team will fully brief Congress on our new strategy. If Members have improvements that can be made, we will make them. If circumstances change, we will adjust. Honorable people have different views, and they will voice their criticisms. It is fair to hold our views up to scrutiny. And all involved have a responsibility to explain how the path they propose would be more likely to succeed.

Acting on the good advice of Senator Joe Lieberman and other key members of Congress, we will form a new, bipartisan working group that will help us come together across party lines to win the war on terror. This group will meet regularly with me and my Administration, and it will help strengthen our relationship with Congress. We can begin by working together to increase the size of the active Army and Marine Corps, so that America has the Armed Forces we need for the 21st century. We also need to examine ways to mobilize talented American civilians to deploy overseas – where they can help build democratic institutions in communities and nations recovering from war and tyranny.

In these dangerous times, the United States is blessed to have extraordinary and selfless men and women willing to step forward and defend us. These young Americans understand that our cause in Iraq is noble and necessary – and that the advance of freedom is the calling of our time. They serve far from their families, who make the quiet sacrifices of lonely holidays and empty chairs at the dinner table. They have watched their comrades give their lives to ensure our liberty. We mourn the loss of every fallen American – and we owe it to them to build a future worthy of their sacrifice.

Fellow citizens: The year ahead will demand more patience, sacrifice, and resolve. It can be tempting to think that America can put aside the burdens of freedom. Yet times of testing reveal the character of a Nation. And throughout our history, Americans have always defied the pessimists and seen our faith in freedom redeemed. Now America is engaged in a new struggle that will set the course for a new century. We can and we will prevail.

We go forward with trust that the Author of Liberty will guide us through these trying hours. Thank you and good night.

Ill comment on this later... ok its later.... wow, all i can say is that its not a bad plan... it might even work if we can get the support here at home to actually pull it off.
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Homelessness

From FOX News:

Study shows that there are an estimated nearly 750,000 homeless in the united states... this is actually a lower number than I would have thought. I know that most of those are people that are either homeless by choice, laziness or for medical reasons. I have to be an advocate of one of the ideas I've heard Neal Boortz propose:
Use several of the old, decommissioned military bases that are spread throughout the country, and set up camps for them. Set up free room and board, free medical care and free job training and education. In return, they agree to live drug and alcohol free. They live and work on the base, with the plan/hope to eventually rejoin society as a functional member that contributes to the world. If they break the drug/alcohol rule, they are out... if they commit a crime, they go to jail.... if they need mental health care, they get it... the tax payers don't have to worry about them destroying the cities, being pushy or committing crimes... it would be considerably cheaper to run a program like this than it is currently to patrol for the problems that this community creates... i would support entrance to a program like this being mandatory, but continuance would have to be optional... most jurisdictions already have laws against vagrancy so you just make it part of the sentence to attend this camp... and then after 3 or 6 months, if they want to leave, they can, further arrests would involve jail sentences... Read more!

Breaking news out of Chicago

From Human Events

ok this is funny as hell, so I'm gonna post the whole thing.

CHICAGO—The debut of a new theme restaurant in suburban Chicago featuring a menu of foods forbidden by Islamic law and waitresses clad in revealing uniforms has sparked an uproar among local Muslims who claim the restaurant is an affront to Islam.

The December 27 opening of a Burqa King franchise in Winnetka and the subsequent furor over the establishment’s dining theme has drawn the attention of local Muslim clerics and activists, and aimed a spotlight on former Bush Administration Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Officials with Winnetka Holy Outreach to Counsel and Advise Islamic Religious Sects (WHOCAIRS) announced Wednesday that they would organize a demonstration and prayer vigil outside the newly opened restaurant near the intersection of Tower and Foxdale Road to protest what one organizer called the restaurant’s “insensitivity to culinary diversity.”

“Not only can Muslims not sit at the lunch counter here, Muslims cannot even enter this den of humiliation,” said WHOCAIRS Executive Director Ibrahim Bertrand-Reynolds. “This establishment represents a new low in offensiveness.”

Critics noted the Burqa King menu, which features a variety of haram, or unlawful food in Muslim culture, includes frog legs and pork rinds as appetizers; slabs of barbecued pork ribs, blood sausage and ham as entrees; and desserts made from gelatin produced from pork byproducts. All fried food served at Burqa King is cooked in lard, which contains pig fat and is subsequently forbidden by Islamic law.

The restaurant serves beer and has applied for a liquor license with plans to open a full-service bar on the premises. Traditional Muslims are not permitted to consume alcohol except for medicinal purposes.

“To offer only food that is not halal (lawful) is just another egregious example of the indignity we must endure,” said Omar al Akbar al Abdul, an imam from nearby Northbrook

The manager of the restaurant, 53-year-old Craig Baker of Champaign-Urbana, admitted al Akbar al Abdul and others were entitled to their opinion but said he was not considering any changes in response to the planned protests. “These people need to get a hobby or something. I mean, it’s a restaurant, OK?” said Baker. “Besides, what are they gonna do, like, saw my head off with a dull knife on the Internet?”

The nature of the food at Burqa King is not the only thing upsetting area Muslims. Waitresses are required to wear abbreviated burqas with sheer veils, stockings and garters, and high heeled shoes, revealing more of their bodies than the traditional garment worn by many Muslim women.

“This is a great disgrace upon the burqa and the modesty of our women,” said Abdul al Omar al Akbar, a Muslim activist from Chicago. “Humiliating Muslim women in such a way is not in keeping with our long tradition of forbidding women from learning to read, drive or balance a checkbook.”

There is also speculation that political overtones accompanied the opening of this particular Burqa King. Al Akbar al Abdul questioned whether the restaurant was located in Winnetka as a way of honoring Rumsfeld, who was born there in 1932.

“I cannot remain silent when this Satan [Rumsfeld] is honored by the opening of such an offensive establishment,” said al Akbar al Abdul, who threatened additional prayer protests on the H Concourse at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport if the restaurant is not forced by village officials to change its menu or close.

Others in the religious community were less concerned with the establishment. “I keep Kosher, they don’t keep Kosher. This bothers me why?” said Rabbi Shlomo Garfinkle with the Temple Bnai Shalom synagogue in Skokie. Jews also do not eat the types of food offered on the Burqa King menu, but Garfinkle failed to understand the intensity of the furor. “All this mishegas over a menu? I don’t eat pork either, but I have better things to do.”

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Occupation of Iraq?

From NewsMax

America's first Muslim member of congress thinks that we are occupiers?

Ellison argued that President Bush's expected plan to send 20,000 more troops to Iraq is "way too late, way too little" to make a difference.

"So rather than do something small and ineffective, why not get about the business of what we're going to have to do eventually, which is to begin to end the occupation?" he said.

oh, wait, theres more:

Bush is expected to ask Congress for $100 billion in additional funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I want to see (the request) first, I want to actually look at it, but I'm not inclined to continue to support a war or an occupation that he has no plans to get us out of, and which is so costly in terms of dollars and lives of American soldiers - but also Iraqis," Ellison said.

Pardon my language, but WHAT THE FUCK? This guy is insane... No, wait... nahh hes just trying to undermine this country... next he'll call for Sharia Courts and laws. Read more!

Get Your Cyborg Name

Get Your Cyborg Name

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