I won't have time for the DN today

I know you really appreciate my bashings of the paper, but I've got to make diner for a bunch of people.

Today's News

Cool Stuff

Starting off with a bang. China discovers how they can win any war they want. The Pigeon has brain implants that allow the controller to fly the bird.
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Big Foot appears to have been contracted by the government as they are working on a paralysis bean. I guess we can shine it on someone, and then they cannot move. I want one for going to bars.
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BBC reports about NASA's New Horizon's mission that is to take a look at Pluto. It will be nearing Jupiter soon, and will be the first up close look on the planet since '95. It will also look at Io, which is the planet covered in Volcanoes.
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Paul Clark was the subject of study for this article.
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Rumple Stiltzskin wins poker game.
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Probably the best mom ever. Teach your children to act retarded for money? I'd like to see a picture of this family. The bold opener made me laugh.
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Supposedly we use to not be able to drink milk. That's all.
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We are working on making a quiet vehicle. Awesome. I think we really need to work on leaving this planet and searching the galaxy because we don't have any foes on this planet to put such cool technology to work. I wish Martians were real.

And it sound like Big Foot is behind this one, too. He probably uses this every day when fighting the S.P.
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National Geographic reports that Japan has grown mice teeth and whiskers.

Boring News

Democrats are backing off their aspirations to take over America because they realize it isn't as popular. Just a week ago, it was being reported that they were doing what "America wants." Now, it isn't going to work, so they are moving on to what "America really wants."
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Our savior actually uses more energy and electricity than most Americans. Supposedly Gore goes through twice as much electricity in a month than the typical American goes through in a year. The article says that the numbers don't tell the whole story, and I buy it. I would highly doubt that Gore would be so stupid to do what he does, and then "destroy" the environment with his home.
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Second warmest winter on record. The warmest is the 88-89 winter.

Not mentioned in the piece, but it dawned on me that our poles shift (the North pole would become the south and vice versa) every 200 and some odd years. I learned about it on some Discovery Channel presentation. Anyway, it said we were overdue for a shift which would cause a climate change. This is what wikipedia had to say about it.
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Oversight or Illegal?

The Clinton's run their own family charity that allows claim to $5 M in tax deductions. Yet, they did not report it on the annual Senate Financial sheets which is required by the Ethics in Government Act.

The article makes light that she isn't the only person to do this, and the Democrats aren't the only party, either. Fuckin' politicians.
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Finally, Garlic doesn't help with cholesterol.
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Even Mexicans want border security and enforcement of returning illegal aliens.

Global Warming articles today

I'm guessing Al Gore's well-deserved Oscar has set out all the tree-huggers to their computers. And BTW, how did Gore get this gig? Didn't he study government and law while in school? And wasn't he a below average student? Hardly seems qualified to be the spokesmen for meteorology and climate changes ore whatever.

In the first (I lost the link, but I sum it up nicely) article I read today, an "expert panel" said that we need to spend a lot of money.

What gets me is that half of the country believes whole-heartedly that we are in serious trouble with this global warming. They are backed by their scientists. Plus, they are so smart in the first place that they wouldn't be fooled by any misinformation. I've gotten into arguments with these people (well, not arguments, but talks) andthey seriously look down on anyone who thinks global warming could possibly be false. That elitist attitude once again.

Now, the other half of the country is also backed by science. They lack the elitist mentality because they aren't saying to not spend money on helping the environment, which gives the other side recognition they don't deserve. They see China is a huge contributor to any kind of climate changes. They see that cows excretion of methane is the greatest contributor. And finally, they see that our best efforts wouldn't even change the climate that much. I believe latest estimates were around .07 degrees over the next century.

It is sad that the left uses global warming as a reason to get elected. Actually, sad isn't the word. Sick, is. I think I see this for what it is, and that is a cheap reason to raise taxes by a bunch, and, once again, spread the wealth.

The second article, wasn't an article, but a audio clip from co-anchor of 20/20's John Stossel. One of the points made here is the same I made above, and that is that you are considered an idiot if you don't believe in what they do. The reason this doesn't work both ways is because 99% of the people who don't believe in a dooms day theory starring Al Gore, do believe in taking steps to make the world better.

It is like there is a large population of people who believe in one ultimate, yet a very small amount that believes in the other. The remaining 50% believe that something should be done, but don't give me this bull shit that I am destroying the earth and if I don't give half my paychecks to the cause, it won't get better. This is probably the only issue that has a majority in the middle ground as opposed to the increasingly distant sides.

Stossel makes another point that is neither here nor there but worth checking out.

Lieberman in Wall Street Journal

Gotta love this guy.

THE WAR

The Choice on Iraq
"I appeal to my colleagues in Congress to step back and think carefully about what to do next."

BY JOSEPH LIEBERMAN
Monday, February 26, 2007 12:01 a.m. EST

Two months into the 110th Congress, Washington has never been more bitterly divided over our mission in Iraq. The Senate and House of Representatives are bracing for parliamentary trench warfare--trapped in an escalating dynamic of division and confrontation that will neither resolve the tough challenges we face in Iraq nor strengthen our nation against its terrorist enemies around the world.

What is remarkable about this state of affairs in Washington is just how removed it is from what is actually happening in Iraq. There, the battle of Baghdad is now under way. A new commander, Gen. David Petraeus, has taken command, having been confirmed by the Senate, 81-0, just a few weeks ago. And a new strategy is being put into action, with thousands of additional American soldiers streaming into the Iraqi capital.

Congress thus faces a choice in the weeks and months ahead. Will we allow our actions to be driven by the changing conditions on the ground in Iraq--or by the unchanging political and ideological positions long ago staked out in Washington? What ultimately matters more to us: the real fight over there, or the political fight over here?

If we stopped the legislative maneuvering and looked to Baghdad, we would see what the new security strategy actually entails and how dramatically it differs from previous efforts. For the first time in the Iraqi capital, the focus of the U.S. military is not just training indigenous forces or chasing down insurgents, but ensuring basic security--meaning an end, at last, to the large-scale sectarian slaughter and ethnic cleansing that has paralyzed Iraq for the past year.

Tamping down this violence is more than a moral imperative. Al Qaeda's stated strategy in Iraq has been to provoke a Sunni-Shiite civil war, precisely because they recognize that it is their best chance to radicalize the country's politics, derail any hope of democracy in the Middle East, and drive the U.S. to despair and retreat. It also takes advantage of what has been the single greatest American weakness in Iraq: the absence of sufficient troops to protect ordinary Iraqis from violence and terrorism.

The new strategy at last begins to tackle these problems. Where previously there weren't enough soldiers to hold key neighborhoods after they had been cleared of extremists and militias, now more U.S. and Iraqi forces are either in place or on the way. Where previously American forces were based on the outskirts of Baghdad, unable to help secure the city, now they are living and working side-by-side with their Iraqi counterparts on small bases being set up throughout the capital.

At least four of these new joint bases have already been established in the Sunni neighborhoods in west Baghdad--the same neighborhoods where, just a few weeks ago, jihadists and death squads held sway. In the Shiite neighborhoods of east Baghdad, American troops are also moving in--and Moqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi army are moving out.

We of course will not know whether this new strategy in Iraq will succeed for some time. Even under the most optimistic of scenarios, there will be more attacks and casualties in the months ahead, especially as our fanatical enemies react and attempt to thwart any perception of progress.

But the fact is that we are in a different place in Iraq today from even just a month ago--with a new strategy, a new commander, and more troops on the ground. We are now in a stronger position to ensure basic security--and with that, we are in a stronger position to marginalize the extremists and strengthen the moderates; a stronger position to foster the economic activity that will drain the insurgency and militias of public support; and a stronger position to press the Iraqi government to make the tough decisions that everyone acknowledges are necessary for progress.

Unfortunately, for many congressional opponents of the war, none of this seems to matter. As the battle of Baghdad just gets underway, they have already made up their minds about America's cause in Iraq, declaring their intention to put an end to the mission before we have had the time to see whether our new plan will work.

There is of course a direct and straightforward way that Congress could end the war, consistent with its authority under the Constitution: by cutting off funds. Yet this option is not being proposed. Critics of the war instead are planning to constrain and squeeze the current strategy and troops by a thousand cuts and conditions.

Among the specific ideas under consideration are to tangle up the deployment of requested reinforcements by imposing certain "readiness" standards, and to redraft the congressional authorization for the war, apparently in such a way that Congress will assume the role of commander in chief and dictate when, where and against whom U.S. troops can fight.

I understand the frustration, anger and exhaustion so many Americans feel about Iraq, the desire to throw up our hands and simply say, "Enough." And I am painfully aware of the enormous toll of this war in human life, and of the infuriating mistakes that have been made in the war's conduct.

But we must not make another terrible mistake now. Many of the worst errors in Iraq arose precisely because the Bush administration best-cased what would happen after Saddam was overthrown. Now many opponents of the war are making the very same best-case mistake--assuming we can pull back in the midst of a critical battle with impunity, even arguing that our retreat will reduce the terrorism and sectarian violence in Iraq.

In fact, halting the current security operation at midpoint, as virtually all of the congressional proposals seek to do, would have devastating consequences. It would put thousands of American troops already deployed in the heart of Baghdad in even greater danger--forced to choose between trying to hold their position without the required reinforcements or, more likely, abandoning them outright. A precipitous pullout would leave a gaping security vacuum in its wake, which terrorists, insurgents, militias and Iran would rush to fill--probably resulting in a spiral of ethnic cleansing and slaughter on a scale as yet unseen in Iraq.

I appeal to my colleagues in Congress to step back and think carefully about what to do next. Instead of undermining Gen. Petraeus before he has been in Iraq for even a month, let us give him and his troops the time and support they need to succeed.

Gen. Petraeus says he will be able to see whether progress is occurring by the end of the summer, so let us declare a truce in the Washington political war over Iraq until then. Let us come together around a constructive legislative agenda for our security: authorizing an increase in the size of the Army and Marines, funding the equipment and protection our troops need, monitoring progress on the ground in Iraq with oversight hearings, investigating contract procedures, and guaranteeing Iraq war veterans the first-class treatment and care they deserve when they come home.

We are at a critical moment in Iraq--at the beginning of a key battle, in the midst of a war that is irretrievably bound up in an even bigger, global struggle against the totalitarian ideology of radical Islamism. However tired, however frustrated, however angry we may feel, we must remember that our forces in Iraq carry America's cause--the cause of freedom--which we abandon at our peril.

Mr. Lieberman is an Independent senator from Connecticut.

Today's DN

How surprising. The DN attacks Steve Pederson. I don't know why Pederson has become such an evil figure in the eyes of Nebraska's intellect (otherwise known as journalists). I will simply say that Ostegard sounded like a good guy but the more he opens his mouth, the happier I'm glad that he is gone. In either the LJS or OWH he had the balls to say that he got Callahan hired. He pointed out to Pederson that Callahan should get a look. Hmmmm. I guess S.P. wouldn't have been able to think of B.C. w/o Doak.

This is so similar to the way the media treats our presidency. S.P. has become President Bush in their eyes and anyway they can turn a story on him, the happier they are.
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I don't even understand the cartoon.
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This was a boring day.

Today's little tidbits

Link

This is about sleeping positions. I sleep in about every position, but would say I'm a yearner the most. If I were to guess, I'd say Paul is a Freefaller.
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Link

This is to a Japanese person's impressions of Letters from Iwo Jima. His qualifications are simply that his mother was there. Still, makes him more qualified than I, though.

Manabe's major problem with it is that he says a white man is rewriting Japanese history. From what I understand, Eastwood didn't pick up American literature and make a movie. Most of the staff who made the film were Japanese and Japanese historians helped produce the movie.

Manabe wanted a movie that told everything about WWII in Japan. He kept saying that the movie missed on this and that. Movies, Noriko, have a time restriction. They can't last forever.

He starts off his article by saying the dog was too health. I guess Clint should have starved a dog and used it in the movie.
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Reuters reports that Islam is becoming more popular among black Americans since 9/11. I don't get it.
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I get updates from the BBC, Washington Post, Fox News, CBS, and many more (as you can see from the links I post here). When Britain pulled out a bunch of troops from Iraq, most news outlets made it sound like they disagreed with the effort (those stories have been linked here) and that we should do the same. It has been made evident that their view of the withdrawal is bull shit.

Now, since Britain has decided on putting more troops in Afghanistan, only one news source reported it. Fox News. People say Fox News is bias. They probably are. But the complete lack of a report everywhere else shows their dereliction.

Supposedly Mary Jane is Good For You

Link

I don't know if I buy all this because I've seen people that have smoked their entire life and their memory is shit.

Beer Launching Mini Fridge

This is pretty sweet. Although it is ugly as all get out, it would be perfect for a house of like two peeps watching a game.

Four and Five are Numbers too High to be sure of

The Times Online tells us that President Bush's own military leaders won't support an attack on Iran.

“There are four or five generals and admirals we know of who would resign if Bush ordered an attack on Iran,” a source with close ties to British intelligence said. “There is simply no stomach for it in the Pentagon, and a lot of people question whether such an attack would be effective or even possible.”

Someone that can't be sure between four and five is someone I would trust. You either have four or you have five, and it isn't like the number is so high, you can't take a second to think about who they are.

Bull shit reports like this saying there is no stomach is what pisses me off. It is a flat out lie for one thing. Another, four-and-a-half Admirals/ Generals doesn't make-up the entire pentagon staff. In fact, that number would be a small percentage of the pentagon higher-ups.

The article also makes it sound like Bush wants to go into Iran. The reason any general doesn't want to go into Iran (besides the obvious that war isn't something the military wants) is because we don't have the troops to go into Iran. And this is the fault of Murtha and company, not the president as this article would make you believe.

Iran repots

Interesting report about Iran coming from Wired which says that no uranium has been found enriched to the point of nuclear grade. Good news. But, does that mean the diplomats or whomever is doing the searches have seen everything? I doubt all doors are open on this one.

To further my cynicism, wouldn't they want us to trust them so that when we leave, they can get started on the bombs.

I don't want to sound like, "fuck Iran and all Iranians." If there was a way we could run their power plants, and sell the energy to them, I'd be all for it. Unfortunately, I don't trust them to do it on their own.

Bunch of cool facts about our Earth

Space.com did an article about the 101 coolest things about the earth. Some are pointless while others are cool.

75. How much would seas rise if the Antarctic Ice Sheet melted?

The Antarctic Ice Sheet holds nearly 90 percent of the world's ice and 70 percent of its fresh water. If the entire ice sheet were to melt, sea level would rise by nearly 220 feet, or the height of a 20-story building. Scientists know there's a melting trend underway. The United Nations has said that in a worst-case scenario -- depending on how much global air temperatures increase -- seas could jump 3 feet (1 meter) by 2100.

This is interesting to me because I thought global warming would cause an Ice Age, which would mean the water level would be even lower than it is now. What is it people? Whatever suits you?

Sleeping on it actually helps

An exert from the article:

Apparently sleep strengthens the memory and helps the brain extract themes and rules from the masses of information we soak up during the day.

Curious

Is the Palestinian/ Israeli war news anymore? I've started skipping over the Four More Dead in Bomb articles.

BBC: `Smoking alters brain

A new study shows that smoking can create the same effects on the brain that illicit drugs do.

The researchers from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (Nida) looked at samples of human brain tissue from the nucleus accumbens and the ventral midbrain - brain regions that play a part in controlling addictive behaviours.

Smokers were found to have higher levels of these enzymes in the nucleus accumbens, a part of the brain that processes information related to motivation and reward, which virtually all illicit drugs act upon.

But levels of both enzymes were also found to be high in the area of the midbrain that responds to dopamine, which acts as a "reward chemical" in smokers and former smokers.

Paul, you should think about quiting. I know it will dampen one of the cool aspect of your persona, but you might be better off.

Hole in Gautemala

This is scary.


This must have been where they shot the Datuene desert scene in Return of the Jedi. Where the giant worm monster came out.

Expansion on earlier thoughts

In the second news story this afternoon, I mentioned how the left is handling Britain's withdrawal. Well, al Obama proves this sentiment by attacking the office by saying:

"Now if Tony Blair can understand that, than why can't George Bush and Dick Cheney understand that?"

The reasoning has been given by Britain time and time again, yet their own story just sounds better. Politics much?

Everything else he says is laughable and easily refuted. Although, the "stop playing gameboy" quote is very clever. Does that date him? Does it show how inexperienced this guy is?

13 Best SNL Commercials

Linkage

Why does...

cool article. This is the kind of class I'd like to take.

Why Does E=mc²?

Mark at 1:28 pm, February 23rd, 2007

Once again this semester, I’m teaching a ridiculously fun course - Physics 312: Relativity and Cosmology; Einstein and Beyond. As I’ve mentioned before, this course is so enjoyable because one gets to expose undergraduates with not much physics background to some of the mind-bending results of relativity, and watch them struggle with it and, usually, finally come to understand it. Great stuff.

While I have a blast with the later parts of the course - general relativity and cosmology - I have a particular soft spot for something rather close to the beginning, in the special relativity portion - the most famous equation in physics - E=mc².

So how does one go about motivating this equation for a class of students with only a little physics background, but who know some calculus? Well, perhaps the first thing to say is that, for the purposes of this course, it is much more important that they understand why an equation relating mass and energy is required, and how one might derive its form, than that they actually be able to do the detailed derivation themselves. So that is the tack that I take.

Early in the course, we review the idea that light is an electromagnetic wave. We do this by starting with Maxwell’s equations, which describe how moving and spatially varying electric and magnetic fields are related, and using them to show that, even in vacuum, if one tweaks the electric or magnetic field, then that disturbance propagates as a wave, with a given speed. We then see that the speed that arises is empirically equal to the speed of light, and hence we identify light itself with electromagnetic waves. This is a powerful idea, because students have a great deal of intuition about waves. In particular, they know that waves carry energy and momentum. So, at this point, students are pretty comfortable with the idea of light as a wave, and that light therefore carries energy and momentum.

Now, this is a great point for one of those staples of relativistic reasoning - the thought experiment. We start with one that doesn’t involve any of those worrisome relativity ideas. Think of a physicist, standing at one side of a large box, which itself is sitting on a perfectly frictionless surface (think of ice if you like). The physicist possesses a large cannon, which she is using to hurl heavy cannonballs across the box. What happens to the whole system?

Well, the box, physicist, cannon and cannonballs are a closed system, with no external forces acting on it. So one thing we know is that the center of mass of the system won’t move. Of course, that doesn’t mean that nothing will happen. As a cannonball is launched, it acquires a certain momentum, and conservation of momentum means that the box acquires the equal and opposite momentum, and sets off sliding backwards on the ice.

The next important event is that the cannonball collides with the opposite wall of the box, imparts it’s momentum to the box, and both cannonball and box come to a halt. At this point, the distribution of mass in the box is different from at the beginning (a cannonball has been transferred from one side to the other), and the position of the box has shifted. These two differences conspire in such a way that the center of mass of the system as a whole remains in the same place. All is right with the world.

Now let’s think about a second thought experiment, which is closely related to the first. All I want to make different is to replace the cannon by a powerful laser. Instead of a cannonball being propelled across the box, we’ll now think about the laser firing a pulse of light. Now, the light carries momentum, and so when the laser fires and the pulse sets off, the box will once again begin a backwards slide in order that momentum be conserved. Also once again, when the light reaches the other side and is absorbed by the opposite wall, the momentum will be transferred back to the box, which will then come to a halt. But now you see the problem. The distribution of mass in the box is the same as it was at the beginning, and no external forces have acted on the system, and yet because the box has slid backwards and no mass has been moved, the center of mass of the entire system has moved! All no longer seems right with the world.

This kind of thought experiment is what forces one to the conclusion that the idea of “center of mass” needs to be replaced by a more general concept - that of a “center of energy”. Obviously, this means that one must take into account how the distribution of energy in the system has changed, as well as the mass, when figuring out how a system should behave under no external forces. Another way to say this is that moving energy to one side of the box to the other is equivalent to moving some mass across the box - mass-energy equivalence!

This is the punch line, but one can do a little better. One can, of course, ask, when I’ve fired my laser pulse and had it absorbed on the other side, how far has the box moved? One can then ask, how much mass would I have to have moved from one side to the other in order that this movement of the box, combined with the mass movement, leave the center of mass unchanged. Equating the answer, m, to this question, with the energy, E, of the pulse, moving at the speed of light, c, yields: E=mc².

Don't Even Ask About Nebraska Weather

My old hometown of Funk, Nebraska is sitting at a comfortable 62 degrees right now. It is also in a blizzard warning. I love the Heartland.

Ignoring TNE might not earse anything...

But it will give it a hell of a lot less press. Lee, I am pretty sure you are happy about their newsletter. Not because it shines a light on something that needs awareness, but because you needed something to write about.

Racism is something that will never be tolerated in most circles, but it will also never go away. Writing about what a racist said is either to tell the world, "you see, I'm not a bad guy, I'll fight for your shortcomings with word." To me, it seems very selfish.

And who gives a shit if Tim Hardaway is uncomfortable around gays? Who gives a shit if a frat house feels that gays are bad? As long as they aren't acting out through violence of some kind, then it affects nobody. Then again, I guess you wouldn't have something to write about, so it does affect you.

"Are they one person's rantings or the unspoken attitudes of society at large?"

This is not the most important question, like you say it is. In fact, if it weren't for the DN, a select few would have known about this in the first place. The fact you guys chose it to be a story, created the story.

Jeff Keller, author of "Attitude is Everything," says that one of the best ways to change attitudes into action is to associate with others who share your attitudes.

The members of TNE are certainly doing that and, if unchecked, these anonymous attitudes towards women, gays and other minorities are going to translate into open attitudes and eventually actions.

So, what you are saying is that if their article had been ignored, then their attitudes couldn't have been associated with others?

We need to move out of our false sense of comfort. Despite what admissions advertising would have us believe, our campus is not a safe-haven of diversity and free thought.

Ha, so the only way to have free thought is to abolish those who think differently than Lee? I don't agree with what TNE said, but listen to yourself.

There is nothing you can do about it. There will always be people who think differently, or ignorantly as you may label it. Call it chemical makeup. We get past it.

Paul, have you heard of this?

Sounds like something you would be apart of.

Wooo-Hooo

I'm 60% less likely to get the Hiv.

Ironically, Non-News Turned Into News

Yes, it isn't a first, but Guardian Unlimited has accomplished a really good non-news, news story. If you are a complete idiot, then you can't read past the "U.S. and U.N. are incorrect," part. If you have half a brain cell, then you will be able to see that diplomats say they are incorrect. When did countries start hiring nuclear physicist? How the hell do these cats know whats what?

This diplomat did come from the IAEA, though, so he should have some cred... right? Wait, wasn't it the IAEA who placed those sanctions on Iran in the first place? So, they aren't listening to this guy, why should we? I guess anyone, anywhere in the world, that has something remotely negative about our country gets a voice. Great.

Today's Stories

Yesterday, I mentioned the North Korea disarmament deal. Today, the Vice President came out and said the deal is worth a chance (which I'm glad to hear), but that basically our expectations aren't high.
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The Brits are sending some 1,000 troops into Afghanistan. The news made it sound like they left because they didn't agree with the efforts.
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This is the kind of pussyesque government and ideology that gets you attacked. Luckily for Canada they aren't worth attacking because most people forget they exist. A little conspiracy theory... this is so they can get into America and go through with their plans.
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So, Iran is given sanctions they must abide by. They don't. The solution according to the head of the IAEA is:

"The door is still open, there is a window of opportunity for both Iran and the international community to go back to the negotiating table."

Basically, "do what we say, or we will ask again."
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Any way possible to make it sound like this war isn't worth it. I fuckin' hate the NY Times.
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This 70 year old man kicks ass. Great story. Dude was being mugged and killed his attacker with his bare hands. Buss full of senior citizens gets held up by three youths, and the youths end up in the hospital.
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So, did the president alienate himself from all his supporters? Or does it not count when a Republican says something about our country's bettering environment?
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Pelosi vs. Cheney

Round Two

So, Cheney responds by saying the same thing. Could do better.

I wonder if this will become extremely common. If you say something about the left's policies, then they will retaliate by saying, "don't question my patriotism!"

"She accused me of questioning her patriotism. I didn't question her patriotism. I questioned her judgment. If you are going to advocate a course of action that basically is withdrawal of our forces from Iraq, then you don't get to just do the fun part of that, that says, well we're going to get out and appeal to your constituents on that basis. You have to be accountable for the results. The point I made and I'll make it again is that al-Qaeda functions on the basis that they think they can break our will. . . . That if they can kill enough Americans or cause enough havoc, create enough chaos in Iraq, then we'll quit and go home. . . . If we adopt the Pelosi policy, that then we will validate the strategy of al-Qaeda. I said it and I meant it."

Don't question my patriotism!

Conservapedia

While the theory sounds great to me, I have to agree with the liberal ball sucker (L.B.S. for now on) over at Cosmic Variance. This site is horrible.

This is their page for Big Foot.

The linked article above shows how bad the site is. Actually, kinda funny.

Basically, Conservapedia though Wikipedia was anti-Christian, and that was reason to start up the site. I realize through my years of learning that education in itself is anti-Christian because the intellectual elite can't fathom a god of any kind. I've gotten over it and don't let it bother me... unless, of course, they try preaching to me. I fuckin' hate that.

This morning about Russia

I posted earlier about Russia going crazy. Well, now they are warning us not to go into Iran.


In the article, it says they believe Iran is working towards Nuclear weapons, and that they are funding the terrorists. Why, again, should we not go into Iran?

"The escalation of the conflict and its possible spread beyond the Iraqi borders will inevitably result in catastrophic consequences and not for the Middle East alone," Lavrov said according to the report. "I believe Washington understands this."

Oh.

Follow-up on Tommy Gunn

Yesterday, I wrote about Morrison's come back. Well, he won his first fight.



Unfortunately, he lost his mullet.

Who Needs Generals and Admirals?

The Democratic congress has decided that all our military leaders don't know what the hell they are talking about.

While these officials said the precise wording of the measure remains unsettled, one draft would restrict American troops in Iraq to combating Al Qaeda, training Iraqi army and police forces, maintaining Iraq's territorial integrity and otherwise proceeding with the withdrawal of combat forces.

Isn't that what we are doing now? But the people who should make the decisions say we need more troops to complete it... not less. Our military is filled with a bunch of idiots who couldn't do anything for themselves, though, so maybe...

Kim Jung Il isn't so Stupid

He saw what the liberals did last time they were in power. Gave him a bunch of stuff. It appears we are doing it again.

Don't get me wrong, if we can accomplish a treaty that is enforceable, then super. Unfortunately, they won't abide by the agreement. We need to stop giving them things because they are evil.

Pelosi vs. America

Recently, Pelosi gave a speech that said the president needs to talk to Ach... Amach... Ajach.... The Iranian leader (I.L.), and smooth things out. Brilliant!

In about every newspaper out there, this story was published in one fashion or another. I'm guessing the U.N., in all their wisdom, has had a chat with the Iranian dude at one time. The conclusion they came up with is, "stop it." This happens to be ours, too, but we add the word, "bitch" after it.

I know and understand the fact that us Americans are a bunch of spoiled brats, and the Euros are just the coolest. What I don't understand is when we both come to the same conclusion, why the president's is wrong, and U.N.'s is right. What will the president going over and talking to the I.L. do? The smart Europeans did that already but to no avail. Why must we?

Again, my conclusion that comes out of a lefty political move is the same. It isn't out of the betterment of the country, but rather the betterment of their positioning, power, and pocketbooks (hey, three P's).

A side note, I got into a debate about many things on a road trip to Carolina a couple months back with a Nuclear engineer (class mate of my dad at USNA). One thing he said is that Iran isn't trying to enrich the uranium for weapons, because they don't have that capability. They are instead just trying to build up the weapons... I mean nuclear energy technology for the betterment of their country. Now I've never been to Iran, but from what I've seen, they should work on roads and perhaps a recycling plant before venturing into nuclear power plants.

P.S. I have a feeling that the Pelosi vs. will turn into a series.

Men's Greatest Fears

Let me know what you men think about this.

Hagel Needs Fourth Graders to Support His Foreign Policy

"Do you think I should run for President?" - Senator Chuck Hagel
YAAAHHH - a bunch of fourth graders

I am sure glad that Senator Hagel has the entire non-voting age demographic all wrapped in Kearney. That is about all the citizens of Nebraska that probably think it is a good idea for him to seek a presidential nomination. In addition he roles in front of the UNK campus and rants and raves, of course, receiving applauds. The liberals and those alike complain of Bush and Cheney always speaking in front of military. Well, where does one go to complain about the neo-cons and their lust for Middle Eastern oil? Shoot, academia of course!! I honestly think that Hagel is starting to believe the gibberish that Bush lied us into Iraq. "We blundered into Iraq because of flawed intelligence, flawed assumptions, flawed judgments and questionable intentions." That sure as hell sounds familiar. The Dems and the anti-war "moderates" must love Chuck. I bet his phone rings all the time with calls asking him to come speak because he can "reach across the aisle." For some reason or another, I get the feeling for some of these Republicans and other conservatives that seem to be jumping ship, its all peer pressure. These politicians feel like they may be left out in the cold without a book contract if they don't pull their support of tax cuts and/or the Iraq war. Also, I sometimes think that Hagel got on a roll one day, and now he has gone so far forward with this, he can't backtrack now, or he'll get slaughtered come election time. He has formed his platform and now he's gotta go with it. Smooth move, EXLAX.
One more thing, Hagel's best quote of the day. "I’m absolutely opposed to sacrificing more young Americans in a sectarian civil war," and Hagel revealed he’ll be traveling to Iraq for the fifth time, probably in March. On the airplane, Hagel said he “need(s) to talk to some sergeants and privates” while he’s there, not just depend on briefings from high-ranking U.S. military and civilian officials and Iraqi leaders. I sure hope he asks those privates and sergeants over there whether or not ass-hole politicians in DC should pull them out of Iraq so that their comrades' sacrifices would be in vain.
My name is Trevor Vandell. Rob asked me to post on stuff every now and then. I'll do my best. Be sure to add anything you like, and yell at me for anything you dislike. Bring it!

Pelosi vs. Cheney

Round One

Cheney: "I think if we were to do what Speaker Pelosi and Congressman Murtha are suggesting, all we will do is validate the Al Qaeda strategy. The Al Qaeda strategy is to break the will of the American people ... try to persuade us to throw in the towel and come home, and then they win because we quit."

Pelosi: "You cannot say as the president of the United States, 'I welcome disagreement in a time of war,' and then have the vice president of the United States go out of the country and mischaracterize a position of the speaker of the House and in a manner that says that person in that position of authority is acting against the national security of our country. And you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to call the president and tell him I disapprove of what the vice president said. It has no place in our debate."

Boo-ya-ka-sha.

I think what she was trying to say is that the right has bitched about not supporting our president in a time of war. Well, she ignored that up until she finally had someone, non-pundit, talking back to her. And now it matters?

I hope this escalates because I think Dick can take both Murtha and Pelosi.

Humans Well-being Stopping Space Travel

It appears that keeping our Astronauts healthy is the hard part of the equation in universal travel.

The plan to keep us sane is by using psychologists in mission control. Basically, "and how does that make you feel?" is their solution. Hopefully it will work, cause I want to go to Mars.

It would take 45 minutes for a question to make it to Earth, and then 45 back. Pretty boring stuff. And I could see someone just going crazy watching the Earth get smaller and smaller, until it is gone. Spooky.

Today is filled with cool news

First, the super jet to take people from NY to London in two hours, and now a Colossal Squid. I remember watching a program about the Sperm Whale a while back, and they love to eat Giant Squid. Supposedly, these Squid can actually fight back and get those Whales if they know they are coming.

God Isn't Real?

I don't understand all these people trying to prove or disprove God's existence. We know they want to disprove it so they can piss off all the church goers. But, I thought the existence of God was to be impossible to prove. I thought his whole purpose was for us to believe in him. Therefore, the existence of an all power being, capable of anything would cover up his tracks.

After evaluating all the scientific evidence, Stenger concludes that beyond a reasonable doubt the universe and life appear exactly as we might expect if there were no God. He convincingly shows that not only is there no evidence for the existence of God, but scientific observations actually point to his nonexistence.

So that is why I bring it up.

And, if you have a chance, read the people's comments. They think they are so clever in their reasoning, and that anyone who believes in God is simple minded.

Kick Ass

This rules. Too bad the price is unrealistic.

It appears I was write

Earlier, in another post I said:

And I wonder if the Prince's new job has anything to do with this withdrawal.

Well, he is now heading to Iraq, so I would be surprised if they did stay in Iraq for the time they said they would.

Further W.P. readings on the Brits pulling out.

What Are We To Do With Russia?

I think they are pissed that we are making them offenseless. We are putting in our bolistic missile defense systems in close by countries, clearly to defend ourselves, or any other country, from Russia going crazy.

Now they are selling their stuff to Syria? I guess it isn't too surprising. They more or less funded the entire North Vietnam army (longer than we helped the South unfortunately), and they sold their old Army weaponry to about anyone who would buy them.

But as you read today's article, you will see that are basically funding the second Holocaust. I'm not saying America has never done anything like this before, but providing terrorist with weapons can only come back and bite you.

Maybe we can get into talks with Russia and have them sell those weapons to the Iraqi Police or Iraqi Army. I'm sure they need more weapons with Iran constantly sending Shiites into Iraq.

Today's DN

This is the time of year when our reporters are usually frazzled trying to write stories about all of the candidates, platforms and debates.

This in reference to Paul's piece earlier in the week. Basically, they don't have much to write about right now, so they write about anything they can.
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Free Subway? No way.

If I were still in Lincoln, I'd be all over this.

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Nah-Uh, It's Global Warming

Although they may provide a history's worth of information, they are clearly wrong. Global warming is causing all of today's problems. Either it or the Jews, I haven't decided on that 100%.

Anna Nicole Smith's Death Turns Every Media Outlet Into Jerry Springer

Really. Since her death, all the network news shows and cable news stations have been airing her story non stop. Thank you Anna, because my White Trash quota hadn't been filled.

Britans giving up

They are starting their withdrawal of troops in Iraq. They only had 7000 in the first place, and are saying that they don't have a plan for complete withdrawal.

It is sad that the world has given up on Iraq now that our allies have been made clear. They have people working for a new Iraq that is war free. One that doesn't include the Iranian funded and supported Shiite murderers. The youth of Iraq see a better place to live, and that is what they are working towards.

God, Skip Bayless looks gay with his new hair do (watching 1st and 10).

The W.P. calls this an unpopular war. What war is? Believe it or not, but even the liberally-acclaimed war mongering conservatives don't like war. If there were another way to create stability in Iraq (and not give up on them like the Carter admin did to Iran), and as such, in the middle east, then we would do it.

Going off now, but another reason that gets absolutely no press that we are in this war happens to be the war on terror does go through Iraq. After we went into Afghanistan, the terrorist camps and al Qaeda needed to find a new place to live. Iraq happens to be rather close, and, at the time, friendly of anti-American sentiments.

With the entrance of these jihadists into Iraq, they now had a means of someone to deal their WMDs. If something wasn't done, then we would have terrorists with big time weapons (look what happened to the Kurds).

And I wonder if the Prince's new job has anything to do with this withdrawal.

Good News, Iran and Pakistan Won't Fight

Fox News

AP

NEW DELHI — Indian and Pakistani officials signed an agreement Wednesday to avert the risk of accidentally triggering a nuclear war between the South Asian rivals.

The signing, done in New Delhi in the presence of the foreign ministers of both countries, comes just days after a pair of blasts set off a fire that killed 68 people on a train to Pakistan. The blast has been seen by officials from both countries as a way to divert them from the peace process.

Details of the pact have been kept secret, but it includes confidence-building measures related to both countries' nuclear arsenals, officials say, part of continuing peace efforts after more than a half-century of hostility.

India and Pakistan tested nuclear weapons in 1998, and have been pursuing peace initiatives since 2004.

This is the queen in the Middle Eastern game of chess. Sign a treaty and be the first to break it wins the game. I'm just shocked the world hasn't caught on. These treaties are as meaningless as (insert a Dennis Miller line here).

Pretty Boring Day for DN

Nothing that pissed me off, just typical BS turned babble and a ton of religious pieces.

UNL Oppresses Minority Students

I don't really understand all this, stand up and fight talk going on in the DN as of lately. Sindu says that the best way to maintain your oppressive regime is to separate the masses so they can't fight as one. And she makes this connection to the university. A little over the top.

That's all I got to say with this because the piece is just ridiculous.

Must see

Global Warming to be cut by 20%

In the W.P. today, they had a brief article about plans to cut emissions by 20% by 2020. I read a recent article from duvafiles, I believe from the W.P., that said China and India are the two biggest pollutants (that don't go moooo). So, what are we going to do? Are we going to police those countries? Or is it fine to assist a country's betterment as long as it has backing from the left?

I agree with a democrat

Yes, I'm a space junky. I love the thought of traveling at the speed of light, seeing new galaxies, etc. It appears our government wants to cut spending on one of our space stations in order to fund other spacial missions. Why can't we do both? That is my solution. We are the richest country in the world. I guess we could just start another war if we need the money (isn't that why we are at war, Ds?).

Fox News story

Tommy Gunn coming back

The news story of the year has finally occurred. Tommy Morrison, more commonly known as Tommy Gunn from Rocky V, tested HIV posted back like a decade ago. Well, that test is inaccurate and he is coming back, baby. Hopefully he still has the mullet.

News Flash: The Military Isn't Easy

One thing I don't understand coming from the left is that they claim to feel sorry for our troops. They constantly say stuff like, "Iraq is hard," and now "they have poor living conditions here." All this to make it appear our military is going down the tubes. It is the same as it always was as far as toughing it out goes, but more advanced.

Most of my family has done stints in the military (father, and two uncles made a career out of it). I have a bunch of people that I consider brothers and sisters that are in the Navy or Marines. One thing they understand that we as civilians cannot seem to fathom is that the military is a huge entity that will have some holes here in there. The living conditions won't be the best, and they've been trained to suck it up.

Walter Reed, the big military hospital here in MD isn't the shimmering light of the military that Fox News makes it sound. In fact, there has been talk about tearing it down. That being said, yeah it sucks that our troops fight through everything overseas and come back to less that stellar health care and living conditions, but the military has almost come to expect it. They signed up for this, and they aren't shocked. Why should we be?

Update: At Blackfive, they have another good post about this situation. Written by a bunch of ex-military officers. Go back and read the first link he has set up in there for a better worded post of what I said above.

Also, I was in Walter Reed for a summer. Wasn't that bad, but what do I know? They were only saving my life. I guess Dana Priest is the end-all when it comes to health care.

I'll have a side of HIV with my Liver

You see what national health care gets you?

I heard that the left is trying to silence talk radio

Before Regan took office, there was this law that required pundits to offer both sides of a political argument while on a radio show. So, in today's radio, Limbaugh would have to use 1.5 hours talking about how libs are great, and the other 1.5 talking about his own opinions. It was the law. Regan got rid of it.

Now that Air America is so obviously a failure, the liberals are trying to get this back into law. More to come.

Bill Mahr sucks ass

Yes, I went there. Tonight, he was a guest on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Leno let him go on this rant about how country music sucks, Bush is a retard, and all Republicans are idiots for like ten minutes. Then, Leno made a joke about the Dixie Chicks. That was too far. Mahr was not happy because they are great people that have been black listed by the hicks of our country.

The best part, the music for the show was a country band. I'd like to know how the backstage action went. I would like to call Mahr a tool, but he isn't. He makes his own facts up about everything and he has his own agenda. I don't know what it is, but if I were to guess, it was that everyone worshiped him while being high on crack.

Libby case is a bore

Washington Post had an article today about the Libby case. First off, it is as clear as day what this whole thing is about.... getting at Cheney. But what a weak case. Libby lied because they wanted to pay back Joe Wilson for being a liberal. And that pay back was to supposedly give out the whereabouts of his wife. Well, everyone knows where she was at because she gave that information away.

I also like how Goldstein and Leonning know that Cheney was infuriated by Wilson.

What I don't get is why Libby is at fault for giving out information that Plame had been giving out for quite some time. My memory is hazy on this part, but I remember something about her location not being secret because she had given it up through public documents and what not. I don't know. If I find something on it later, I'll post it.

This case is crazy, and I'm sure he has done something wrong in the past. But I believe the reason this case is lasting as long as it is is because of the White House connections. Any way to hold them in a negative light will provoke immediate action.

Good article by Rich Lowry

The subconscious logic of their position on the war has thus taken a subtle turn. It used to be that the war had to end because it was a failure; now it must fail so that it can end.

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That quote above wasn't the best of the article. Read it.

Today's DN

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I'm big on the police selectively taxing our society. They do it with speeding and they are doing it again here. Every bar, ever, has served drunks. If they are actually "cracking down" on anything, then they would go out every night and hand out tickets. Instead, the finance department tells them the city needs more money, so hand out a bunch of tickets.

The reason it is selective taxation is because these tickets could be given to every bar and every bartender. Instead, it occurs every once in a while.

On the speeding issue, I believe this could be taken to court and won. Police don't pull over speeders if they are only speeding slightly. They wait for the big time speeders. Here in Maryland, when driving into D.C. there are three lanes. One for driving the speed limit, one for going ten over, and a third for going 20+ over. Every day. How does pulling one person in that extremely large population of drivers not signify a selection? If the law is the law, then anyone breaking that law, to any degree, should be pulled over. The first person that officer sees breaking the law should be pulled over. Instead, he waits for the bigger tickets.

How is it determined which car in the lot is to be pulled over? Why should the leader of a pack get pulled over when he was probably slowing down the rest of the cars behind him? Ok, I'm done for now.

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I thought it was funny how the typical journalist viewed them self here. Juan Franco wanted the TNE story to just not get any press so that their actions wouldn't get noticed. DN's response:

Right, because the only way to end racism, sexism, sadism and homophobia is through silence. The best way to build a campus environment that is accepting of minorities, women and gays is to ignore the student-produced hate literature that appears on campus each semester.

You have got to be a complete idiot, Staff Editorial, for thinking you have any juice in the path to ending racism, sexism... How often do you guys look in the mirror and tell yourself how pretty you are?

There is no way of ending racism, etc., but publicizing their actions will only lead to an increase in followers. These TNE clowns weren't trying to be funny, and they probably aren't a group of racists. What they are trying to do is be controversial. They used their secrecy so they wouldn't have to answer for their actions. It appears that the DN gave them exactly what they wanted. Whatever, it's news, but don't act like you are doing it for the better of the public.

We all know there is truly no such thing as “secret” at UNL – especially in the greek system’s tight-nit culture of looking out for each other.

We all know this... wait.

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I'm hoping Paul does something further on Trace, because Paul loves'em. But I will simply say that the fore fathers wanted separation from church and state because they didn't want America to turn into Britain by having the Pope basically being a ruler. Do this or go to hell, kind of thing.

He also defines patriot as being conservative with Christian values (basically), but I disagree here as well. To be patriotic (in my words), you must have the countries interest at heart. You must understand how we got to become a great country and respect that as well. The problem is support of our military is key, IMO, to being patriotic. With out them, we would be nothing. The reason so many liberals are considered unpatriotic is because they say they support our military, but their actions disprove it.

And the poke at Fox News. Gotta love it. You've got every other news program and cable news station spouting liberal propaganda, but forbid the one station that has a conservative belief system.

Trace, Paul was right, you are a good writer, but like most journalists, you fail to connect all the pieces of the puzzle, and instead take the few pieces you like and make them fit together.

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Dreamgirls didn't make best picture. Boo hoo. I never saw it, could be a great movie... whatever. What Cyndi failed to do was pick out which movie did make the cut and shouldn't have. Then, she might have an article on her hand. Instead, she is promoting racism by giving blacks a reason to be upset. All the facts aren't there for blacks to decide if this is an issue or not, but that doesn't seem to be important in journalism these days.

From Blackfive blog

How the West was won: ‘Sons of Fallujah’ set stage for victory in Anbar
Story by Sgt. Stephen M. DeBoard

FALLUJAH, Iraq – After four years of fighting in Iraq, the terms ‘Sunni’ and ‘Shia’ have entered the daily vocabulary of American conversation about the conflict. Daily reports of sectarian violence in Baghdad paint a picture of Iraq as a bitter and irresolvable tangle of ancient hostilities American intervention could never hope to resolve.

Fallujah, nestled near the eastern edge of Anbar, is a Sunni city. The mosques preach Sunni doctrine, the schools teach Sunni thought and the police who patrol the streets are Fallujan Sunnis. When the Iraqi Army was introduced to replace battalions of American troops in the city, the perception among the local populace was that an army of outsiders – outsiders who represent the Shia government in Baghdad – had come to occupy their ancient city.

In Fallujah, however, the last group of Marines living in the heart of the ‘City of Mosques’ is working daily with the Iraqi Police (IP) and Iraqi Army (IA), the two groups of armed Iraqis dedicated to enforcing the rule of Iraqi law. Instead of wallowing in the Sunni-Shia rift, the two forces are transcending the divide and working closely together to bring law and order to this war-torn metropolis lying just a few scant miles west of Baghdad.

“When we first got out here, (the IP) mentality was a fort mentality: ‘Let’s fortify this position and just stay here,’” said Lance Cpl. Michael Rickard, a 23-year-old Florence, Ala., native and squad leader with the Fallujah District Police Transition Team. “But now they’re willing to show a presence in the city. They’re making the effort and taking on danger themselves. It seems like overall the standards of the IPs are improving.”

Recruiting dedicated volunteers key

Unlike the Iraqi Army, which is assembled into brigades and battalions with soldiers from all over the country like Western armies, the Iraqi Police are recruited from within the local population. One of Rickard’s responsibilities is organizing the recruiting drives for the Fallujah District IPs. It is key, he said, to speak directly to the youth of the city.

“That 15-to-25-year-old who only lived 14 or 15 years under the regime is the one who can see change,” he said. “The younger ones are the ones who will effect the country in the long run. We’ve got to show them this is their city.”

Deliberately building the police force from the ground up with Fallujans was a conscious decision, said Rickard.

“It makes (Fallujah citizens) feel safer that it’s the ‘Sons of Fallujah’ on the streets,” he said, referring to the nickname of the Fallujah Iraqi Police. “There are lots of families in the IP, lots of brothers, cousins, uncles.”

Family connections, as well as the connection each Iraqi policeman has to his city, have been important in building the numbers of the force, said Rickard.

“A huge factor in (the success of) the latest recruiting drive is we focused on the IPs getting out and promoting the drive themselves. They handed out fliers and drove through the streets the day of the event. We had a huge turnout; we had to actually turn away several people,” Rickard recalled.

The close ties to the city among the policemen serve as a unifying force. This is not unexpected; the IPs defend their city with the fervor of men defending their homes, their families and their friends.

New leadership brought discipline, confidence, respect

The improved standards among Iraqi Police have garnered them respect from the more-experienced Iraqi Army. More respect means an increased willingness to work together during operations. In the city this translates into the Iraqi Army handling a large portion of the security and “door-kicking” once executed by Coalition Forces.

This atmosphere of cooperation really began to develop in December 2006 when former Iraqi Army officers took the reins of the Fallujah IPs. The new leadership brought soldierly order and discipline to the ranks of what is essentially a band of deputized civilians tasked with facing down heavily-armed insurgents to enforce Iraqi law in the city.

“I am seeing a lot of discussion between the IA and IP. Before, there was no sharing of knowledge between the two, but now they are working well together,” said Capt. Tad R. Scott, the 35-year-old PTT executive officer and police officer, from Murfreesboro, Tenn.

The effect of this on the Fallujah civilian population has been enormous, said Rickard. Seeing the ‘Sons of Fallujah’ working with the Iraqi Army has lent an air of legitimacy to the presence of the Shia government’s military inside the Sunni city. Watching the IPs and IAs operate jointly has yielded positive results in the form of tips coming from civic-minded Fallujah residents more concerned with carrying on their lives than fueling Sunni-Shia rivalry.

“Marines and (IA soldiers) are showing more respect to the Iraqi Police,” said Rickard. “We don’t see the Sunni and Shia problem in this city. The people see the IAs working with the IPs, and say to themselves, ‘Well, since these guys (the IA) are working with our local police, they must be alright.”

Working toward rule of law

Now that the IPs have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in Fallujah, the task of learning concepts like probable cause and chains of custody for evidence lies before them.

Permanent effects against criminal campaigns require successful prosecution of the lawbreakers. Iraqi judges, like those in the US, require sufficient evidence of guilt. Detainees are accompanied on their journey through the Iraqi court system by a “packet” containing witness statements, police reports and other examples of physical evidence against them. Judges then examine the evidence to determine if there is sufficient cause to send the detainees to a trial.

The police are starting to send detainees up through what judicial system exists here, but collecting proper evidence and establishing a solid case is still something the fledgling police force has not mastered. Through the efforts of the reserve Marines on the PTT team, many of whom are experienced law enforcement officers in their civilian careers, progress is being made.

As the IPs develop skills to put together solid evidence packets on detainees and pass them to the judges, they are seeing the bad guys they put in handcuffs eventually landing in jail for lengthy sentences. Tangible results like these build confidence in the legal system, said Cpl. John Szafranski, 27, a New Jersey state trooper and advisor to the Iraqi Major Crimes Unit here.

“They realize they actually can make a difference,” he said.

My hopes for Heroes

I love this show. It has surpassed 24 and Lost for my favorite drama type show. The Office and South Park remain the best shows on television, though.

Anyways, I hope that this season creates the background for the rest of the series. Hopefully, it ends up like every comic book series ever made in which there is the one super villain that survives through out as the ultimate evil. Spider Man had a bunch, but Venom comes to mind first. Batman had the Joker. Superman had probably the worst villain of all time, Lex Luther. Silar can be that man for Heroes. Eventually, other villains can come out and in which our heroes can do battle with on a show by show basis. But, in the end, Silar is the guy they just can't seem to capture.

There are a couple things that the series needs to stray from... those being tights or costumes, and them being recognized by the public as a hero. That to me would hurt the series. Right now they are battling each other, Silar, and the public knowledge of their existence. I like that.

Also, Lendermann is an interesting character. I have a feeling Heroes will make the mistake that all superhuman type shows make, and that is kill off the lead villain at the end of every season.

Peter and Silar should eventually be the two that duke it out and kill each other, but I'm hoping it lasts for a few seasons. This is a show I can see on for a while. One that can pick up new characters every season, and can kill of stars every season (as long as Silar and Peter stick around).

I wonder if the creator of the show was a Spider Man fan. Peter Parker...Peter Patrelli. Both P.P.s.

The Business of defeat

This will be short, but all the arguments made by the left stating they want to take our troops out of Iraq and out of danger is bullshit. They haven't supported the troops since the war began. And now they want to get the troops out of Iraq as early is within 90 days (Hilary Clinton)? Jesus. You won't support the war, but you will support the failure of the war... the sooner the better.

If anyone buys this heap as actually caring for our soldiers is a tool. Politicians are in it to make money. That is why conservatives tend to please big corporations. The left, on the other hand, is banking on the rights failure, and at all costs. If they are to line their pockets, they must do anything they can so this war becomes a failure. When Iraq returns to their days of genocide, it will be the Republicans' fault... and everything the Clinton's, Kennedy's, etc. dreamed of will come true.

Some say, "when is enough, enough?" Good question, but when you actually look at how Iraq is fairing since our arrival, it is obvious things are getting accomplished. Recent articles say Iraq is the better investment when compared to GM (I know, I know). It is a tough battle, but an important one. And definitely not one that should be given up just because your political hide relies on it. Look at our troops who are actually suffering over there.

Which brings me to another point. The left has this egotistical attitude toward our troops that goes beyond my understanding. I can't figure out why they believe they know what the troops really want. "Lets bring our boys home." Yes, they would rather be in this country, but being in Iraq happens to be their job. And if they are to do their job well, the left will need to stop pissing on them. What they are actually saying is, "lets bring our boys home and leave them unemployed."

A little longer than I originally intended.

Hmmmm

Fox News is making a Faux-News show. Here is a rundown of what it was like with a clip of the show.

Norv Turner going to San Diego

How many times does a man gotta fail before you give up on him. Fox says San Diego is looking to hire him. I suffered through his horrible years here in Washington, and saw him get no better anywhere else. He was let go and Marty Shotenheimer was brought in. San Diego just let Marty go. Well, I don't like them anyways, so I'm glad they are looking to hire a wrecking ball.

2/19/2007 DN Highlights

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"Denard Hunt, a junior health and wellness major at the University of Central Oklahoma, said he was impressed by the clean environment."

Is this conference typically held at Denny's?

Seriously, putting together a conference is tough work. I've never done it, but I understand it isn't a walk in the park.

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" The black community could use more love, history and power, said one scholar on Saturday."

How does one go about finding more history?

"'If we loved ourselves, we wouldn’t call each other dogs and female dogs,' Hill said. 'You must understand that it doesn’t make us racist or radical to love yourself.'"

Listen to rap songs. All those artists do is talk about how great they are. They love themselves. Rap music is very egotistical. There is nothing more I love than stereotyping a people, but what do most black people listen to?

I'm not sure I like speeches that showcase a poor poor us mentality. I don't have the answer, but I don't think saying, "you will face obstacles because whitey will always be there" is the right course of action. It is more or less making excuses. She does say to overcome them, but when anyone goes into a situation believing in a negative outcome, nothing good will happen. Job interviews, getting a loan... if a black person feels they will have to overcome racism more so than a white person, then they themselves are being racist. My opinion, it is better to have a clear mind than a judgemental one.

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Calling Paul Clark. Run for it. I bet you can beat this guy with your, "Everybody not name Paul Clark sucks" life reasoning.


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Well it appears you have many options.

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Still no mention of political side. But the worst part is the pointless reminder to not drink and drive. As most things are in this universe the choice to drink and drive is rarely influenced by a newspaper, cartoon, or billboard add.

I have a great friend that drinks and drives like it is his job. If you try your hardest to get the keys from him, he will fight you. It is as if it is in his blood to drive while intoxicated. The people who chose to not drink and drive, the ones who seek D.D.s, are the same people who do it every time. They either made the mistake once, or don't feel like making the mistake ever. People like my friend will continue to make the mistake. Either you understand the seriousness of drunk driving, or you don't. I feel it is that simple.

Not to attack the message of the article or anything.

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Jon, you should join the future that is otherwise known as Big Footrica. The true stories of The One will soon be posted here. He said something about cryptids, and that was why I posted this.

I believe the tingling sensation came from what is known as THC. Perhaps weed pollen was present in the air.


No need to comment on the opinion pieces today. I think Paul does a better job anyways, but he only does it when someone pisses on the Great Plains I guess.

Go to this coffee shop

The owner is a good guy. You'll probably see him at the good shows in town.

State Senator who got a drunk driving charge

She has a smile like The Joker.

I spent a little while trying to figure out what politics she follows. Her website reads like the typical politician. But, she is listed here as a Democrat. I wonder why it wasn't said that she is a democrat in any of the articles. The DN didn't mention it, nor did the LJS article about this incident. I would typically say that is fine, but when a Republican does something wrong, "Sen. John Dumbshit (R), got pulled over the other day for speeding. Witnesses say he then fucked a sheep."

Interesting

I picked up a Freud book at the library and the first part was about forgetting names. He says that we tend to forget names because they sound similar (while perhaps difficult to figure out why they sound similar) to other incidents or conversations that our subconscious wishes to forget. So, maybe you heard a story that went something like, "This poor little girl, Jenna, was murdered outside my house..." And, the name you can't recall, later in the day, is "Paul." "Poor little," was said with in the story that your subconscious wishes to not remember, and Paul sounds similar to that which makes it tougher to remember.

On the same lines, when trying to recall "Paul," other names pop into our heads that we quickly realize as being incorrect. But, those names continue to linger. That is because those names sound similar to recent discussions, although as obscure as the one mentioned above when forgetting names. He added that it isn't 100% accurate in the case of remembering incorrect names, though.

I am by no means an expert on 19th century psychology or literature, but this is how I understood the reading. I just thought it was interesting.

I finally read another DN article

The Chuckster writes on Fridays now? Perfect way to start the weekend. Article in question, here.

You’re a would-be “illegal immigrant.”

Okay.

Imagine with me. Global economics are forcing you to leave a country that holds all of your linguistic, ethnic and social identity. It’s where you grew up, where you went to school and probably where your family lives and buries its own. Abject poverty knows no memories, though. With some luck, perhaps there’s a new life to be had for your family in “America.”

I'm simple minded, but what?

Even as President George W. Bush’s complete lack of charisma has caused the world’s image of the average American to plummet, the United States remains the wealthiest and most powerful state on Earth.

Ha, this is great. Who the fuck cares about charisma? Clinton had it and talk about someone who sent this country in the wrong direction. Talk about someone who made this country look bad... my bad. I shouldn't defend the current president by attacking past presidents. Sometimes it is necessary, but this isn't one of those incidents.

I would have to blame the Lippstreu-acclaimed plummet to the idiots who promote this plummet. Enough self-pitty. Sometimes it is better to make fun of yourself before others do, but you can't follow it up by saying, "I can't believe you think that about me."

And what does our country's success have to do with our president's charisma anyway? Whatever Chucky.

The world’s poor and persecuted (there are lots of them, believe it or not) will continue to look to the US as an almost mythical land of opportunity as long as we hold our position at the top of the international dog pile, which, all things considered, we probably will for the time being.

Your own words should tell you something about the line of BS above.

Ever tried to get insurance without a driver’s license? I dare you.

Do you dare me?

The rest of the article, as far as I understand, misses the point of everything ever said by the conservative view on border patrols and cracking down on SSNs and what not. He makes it sound like we hate Mexicans. If the "day took ur jobs" argument was the actual stance of the patrols, the fence would have been put up long ago. I mean the vast right-wing conspiracy would have gotten the job done, right?

It is all about security. If a poorly educated Mexican, with little means, has the ability to get into America, why wouldn't a trained terrorist figure out a way. If because, "it might not work," is your argument to vote against it, then your a fuckin' tool.

And, hey, maybe it will filter out the numbers of immigrants to the people who really, really, really want to be here as opposed to those who just want to be here. Ya know?

Ghost Ride da Whip

So I'm over at my friend's, Kevin, house and he is attacking youtube at all angles, watching every video in sight, when he asks me if I've heard of this "Ghost Ride da Whip" thingy. I hadn't so he showed me some videos. The following vid stuck out to me.


(Notice the fire hydrant go flying)

I'm at a complete loss because this makes no sense. Not driving your car while dancing next to it. It is funny, but not cool, which I believe is its intention.

We go to pick up one of our friends who was getting off of work. While waiting for him to come out, Kevin decides he wants to try Ghost Riddin'. The actual conversation went as such:

Me: "Man, you got to be a complete idiot to try something like that." Thinking that there was no way in hell he would try it, although I should have known that this kid is exactly the kind of guy who would try it.

Kevin: "I'm about to try it."

So he did. And he did it in front of no one but a couple immigrant kitchen workers and me. If you knew Kevin, and what he looked like, the image of him gettin' down outside his car is pretty funny.

Paul got me pumped up

So, I will go ahead and spill the beans. The world of comic books (minus the pictures)... (and the book part) will be gaining a new partner(s). I will be writing "The Stories of Big Foot," in which he will battle and out-whit his foes ranging from all kinds of folklore.

I was watching The Pick of Destiny and there was a scene with Jabbles trippin' balls off shrooms and he met Big Foot. Amazing scene. Touched my heart. Especially the dip in the Strawberry River.

BTW, the title of the series isn't solid, and the plural was added after partner because I'm hoping I have little to do with it and Lief does it all. But he lets trivial things of life get in the way (wife, work).

Music, within the last 24 hours, I first heard a band called The Low Life, and they fuckin rule. Unfortunately, they are no longer a band. Check out their stuff on iTunes. Listen to the 30 second clip of "You Are Everything" and tell me if it doesn't swing.