Today in History

2001, Netherlands: Scottish court finds Libyan Abd al-‑Baset al-‑Megrahi guilty in Pan Am 103 bombing

Forsaken: Vengeance

From here, regarding this:

This just makes me angry. It doesn't help that I have both a 2 year old and a baby named Grace.

I could skin those monsters alive, both with a smile on my face and hate in my heart.

That poor girl, tortured by the people who are designed to provide comfort and protection. Saying "I love you" as she was whipped and drowned and thrown across the room by people forsaking their sacred duty.

With the death penalty off the table, I'm hoping for life in prison, with the cries of that beautiful little girl echoing in their minds every minute of every day.

Government Overreach

Lovely. Like this is any of the state's business. What I do in my home or in my car is MY business. This makes me want to start smoking again.

"There oughta be a law" is never grounds for actually enacting a law.

Legislation expected to be introduced Thursday would ban smoking in vehicles when children are riding along.

Potpourri

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:30 a.m.
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds. I don't look straight in pearls.
3. Last movie you saw? True Stories. Not recommended.
4. What is your favourite T.V. show? Current shows I try to avoid missing: House, Law&Order:SVU, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and Knight Rider
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Mountain Dew
6. What is your middle name? Starts with A. I was named for a (literal) bastard forced to leave his native country at gun point by his legal father.
7. What food do you hate? Bananas and beets
8. What is your favourite CD at the moment? Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
9. What kind of car do you drive? A Chrysler Pacifica. It's a shame they went commie again. I won't own another.
10. Favourite sandwich? Most of them, but none with horseradish.
11. What characteristics do you despise? Dishonesty and manipulation
12. Favourite item of clothing? My "I make dead people" shirt that's no longer available. It's a Halloween thing, not a gun thing.
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation? Europe, not terribly picky about where. I want to see it all. After that, I would love to own a timeshare on St. Thomas. I love it there.
14. Favourite brand of clothing? Uhh, guy and straight.
15. Where would you retire to? St. Thomas
16. Favourite birthday? Do any of them matter after 21? Even 21 wasn't special. I was a suburbanite dad working in a corporate office by then.
17. Favourite sport to watch? Professional wrestling. I hate spectator sports.
18. Furthest place you are sending this? Where is google's server farm?
19. Person you expect to send it back first? No one
20. Are you a morning or night person? Night. Switching from the graveyard shift was one of the hardest things I've done.
21. What is your shoe size? 13
22. Pets? 4 cats, 1 dog, 3 kids
23. What did you want to be when you were little? Everything. A scientist, a soldier, a detective. Whatever was in the last book I read. Until I discovered computer programming, at 8.
24. How are you today? Software developer
25. What is your favourite candy? Something sugary. It's just candy.
26. What is your favourite flower? Geez. Do guys really like flowers? How about the tenacious rose bush I can't kill, no matter how hard I try?
27. What are you looking forward to? The weekend.
28. What are you listening to right now? My office-mate's angry typing.
29. What was the last thing you ate? M&Ms
30. Do you wish on stars?Yes, but Angelina Jolie has yet to grant me any wishes. Thankfully, I've seen most of those wishes in her various movies.
31. If you were a crayon what colour would you be? Errr....Infra red?
32. How is the weather right now? Cold as crap and windy.
33. Last person you spoke to on the phone? The school's automated attendance line for my sick son.
34. Favourite soft drink? Mountain Dew.
35. Favourite restaurant? I don't really have one. Most restaurants are for convenience. There is very little I can find in a restaurant that I can't make better and cheaper at home. The exceptions are usually seafood and oriental food, but that's changing.
36. Colour of hair? Brown
37. What was your favourite toy as a child?GI Joe!
38. Summer or winter?Summer
39. Hugs or kisses?Kisses
40. Chocolate or vanilla?Vanilla
41. Coffee or tea?Coffee, if I have to
42. Do you want your friends to email you back?I don't care.
43. What is under your bed? 10 years of crap we don't want to throw away. And a pair of roller blades.
44. What did you do last night? Nursed a sick wife and kid while entertaining two other kids.
45. What are you afraid of? I don't have phobia. I'm afraid of failing my family.
46. Salty or sweet? Sweet, until after. Then salty.
47. How many keys on your key ring? More than 10, less than 20.
48. How many years at your current job?3
49. How many towns have you lived in?4
50. Favourite seafood? Generic, but lobster.
51. Do you make friends easily? No, but that's my choice not their's. The Fremen have a saying, "Never be in the company of anyone with whom you would not want to die."
52. How many friends will you send this to? Both of the people who frequent this blog.
53. How many will respond? Neither.

Picked up from the Cajun.

RE: New Legislative Session

Dear [Sent to every one of my representatives in government]:

At the start of the new legislative session, one that has some severe projections, I would like to take this time to mention a couple of issues.

First, regardless of how bleak the economic forecast may look, it is not possible to tax your way into prosperity. I know you voted for major tax increases last year. This is not the time to repeat that foolishness. The economy works best when government interferes least. The citizens of Minnesota will be better able to stimulate the economy if they are left with their hard-earned money intact. This spending will naturally and automatically increase the tax rolls via existing corporate and sales taxes, without new taxation being inflicted on your constituents.

Second, I am expecting to see your unwavering support for personal liberty. New regulation, restrictions and infringements do not help anything or any one. Specifically, there are several major gun control bills in the works this year. As you are certainly aware, gun control is about people control. No gun control legislation has ever improved the crime rate, because criminals aren't buying their guns legally. Gun control legislation is specifically aimed at restricting the law-abiding, that demographic that is not causing problems.

I am looking forward to your support on these and other issues.

Sincerely,
Me

Hmm? A Theme?

Apparently, it's Zombie Thursday.

Zombie Car Wash

Signs of the Times

Transportation officials in Texas are scrambling to prevent hackers from changing messages on digital road signs after one sign in Austin was altered to read, "Zombies Ahead."

Magical Technology

Just to be sure I understand this...President Obama has, by executive fiat, created a new technology that will "[increase] fuel efficiency standards by 40% to at least 35 miles per gallon" and use less oil?

Wow. All this time, I thought he was a lawyer and career politician, not an engineer and inventor.

Seriously, does he thing he can create new technology with a signature? You can't legislate technological breakthroughs.

"The days of Washington dragging its heals are over," he declared, saying it should be easier for states to adopt tough fuel-efficiency rules. "My administration will not deny facts; we will be guided by them. We cannot afford to pass the buck or pass the burden onto the states."

I have two issues regarding this quote.

#1. Where does the Constitution allow for this regulation?
#2. What did Patrick McGee major in to become a journalist? There is a difference between heal and heel. A professional wordsmith should know that.

Forsaken

There is a sacred duty undertaken by all men who choose to have children. That duty is to become a father. Fathers are more than just bread-winners. A father is a source of discipline and guidance. A father is both a protector and a provider.

A father's primary responsibility is providing for the welfare of his children. That means protecting them from outside harm, putting food on the table and guiding them towards productive adulthood. If that means working double shifts in a factory or forgoing the "swinging single" lifestyle, so be it. If a man manages to screw up everything in his life, but provides for his family and produces healthy, well-adjusted children, he didn't do too bad. Setbacks are temporary--the memories of your children, passed on to your grandchildren are, or should be, permanent.

Being a father carries the demand of always being stronger than anything life throws at his children. At trial or tribulation his children are dealt needs to be met with the force of Dad. Unreasonable authority figures, bullies, molesters, poverty, or anything else, without exception. That's not to say a father needs to handle each and every one of the problems. Some problems need to be dealt with by the child, with Dad's guidance. Some problems need to be addressed by other parents, teachers or police. However, a father needs to be strong enough to hear about every problem and decide on a proper course of action. He must be stronger than the idea of the problem.

Under no circumstances is a father allowed to forsake his sacred duty. If he molests, abuses or murders those in his care, the worst punishments should be inflicted on him. His soul should be seared with his failure, and he should spend the rest of his life in a tiny, dark, stinking hole, with nothing but his most wretched memories. Suicide is a coward's retreat from the actions of failure.

To Ana Lupoe and her children: Requiescat In Pace.

Man Down

Requiescat In Pace

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. (AP) ―

A Minnesota woman says her son was among four Americans killed when two U.S. helicopters crashed in northern Iraq.

Ruth Windorski of Grand Rapids says she learned Monday that her 36-year-old son, Philip Windorski Jr., was among those killed in the single deadliest incident for U.S. troops in four months.

Magical Thinking

Just because you say something, doesn't make it so. America is the enemy, by their choice. Showing weakness to an enemy with a history of violently exploiting weakness is a mistake.

Foreign policy is quickly turning into a horrible b-rate comedy.

I'm not there, yet

News Flash

Communism/socialism doesn't work.

Could you pass the message to D.C.?

Reason to own a gun, #89746216

MOORHEAD, Minn. — Moorhead police say two men pulled an attacker off a woman, after they heard her screams while she was being assaulted in a car.

The assault happened in the parking lot of a Moorhead bar on Sunday night.

Police say the two men held the attacker until police arrived.

Police say the men's actions are to be commended — but the actions are not recommended.

Police Sgt. Mike Detloff says it turns out the attacker had a gun.

The 53-year-old Fargo, N.D., man was arrested on felony assault charges. The woman was treated for injuries. Police say the suspect and victim know each other.

Linky. If you're going to get involved, do it well.

A Misjudged Market

I wonder if Google understands how many people have computers, but no connection to the internet? Personal computers are a long way from dying.

Quote of the Day

Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.
-Robert Peel

Reminder by Kevin.

New Cabinet

Larry's got a great summary of the new list of Presidential appointments.

So how is Barack going to run the country? I don’t know, but we can probably get some clues by who he is surrounding himself by.

His Global Warming (sorry, since it isn’t actually warming, we’ll call it Climate Change now, so it can still be a big crisis) Czar is a card carrying member of the Socialist leadership. Literally. That’s not exaggerating. And even then, her husband is a lobbyist for big oil companies, because in typical liberal tradition, there’s no such thing as hypocrites.

Eric Holder was a lousy #2 to the worst Attorney General in US history, and was the architect of such Justice Department highlights as kidnapping Elian Gonzalez with a SWAT team. As the new boss of the ATF, I’m sure that will be just awesome.

Timothy Geithner is going to be the new Treasury Secretary, which after George Bush’s idiotic bailout nonsense is now the most powerful person in Washington. I feel extra warm and fuzzy about this because Geithner doesn’t like to pay his taxes either, but then again, I’m not the head of the IRS. It’s okay though, because he’s apologized for not paying $34,000. I’m sure if I ‘accidentally’ didn’t pay $34,000 in taxes, the IRS will totally be cool with an apology and I’ll get a pass.

Rahm Emanuael as Chief of Staff? Sure, why the heck not? This was a man so slimy that Bill Clinton found him personally distasteful. He comes from the same political machine where half of their governors from the last 50 years are either serving time, or soon will be.

And Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State… Well, at least she’s tougher than Barack, so when Vladimir Putin and Hugo Chavez are sexually violating the US over the next few years, she’ll totally stand up for us… unless there’s some good money to be made from Indonesian coal bribery or something. Nope, our foreign affairs are in fine hands.

Oh, and buy his book. It's worth it.

Franken Update

Franken effort to short-circuit the election process failed. To all of the idiots trying to "punish" Coleman(I was tempted) and to all of the morons who liked Franken(You know you actually exist!), this is the kind of lawmaker you asked for. Not one who has problems catering to his base, but one who will break any law, bend any scruple, screw any constituent to get his way.

Thank you for this drama.

Guns in Daycare Centers?

Why on earth would we need guns in daycare centers? Bad things don't happen there!

Oh wait.

The Law of Obvious Consequences

Gee, when we we let a known enemy go free, so he can go through a "rehabilitation program for former jihadists", who would guess he returns to the fight?

Mercy, that's what the Gitmo terrorist need.

Social Security, du-du-dunnnnnnnnnn

New Virginia Tech Tragedy

BLACKSBURG, Virginia — A graduate student from China has been charged with murder in the fatal stabbing of a female student on the campus of Virginia Tech, the first killing at the American university since a deadly mass shooting in 2007.

An electronic alert system revamped after the massacre warned students to stay in place while police investigated the incident around 7:45 p.m. Wednesday — about half an hour after the suspect was taken into custody. Students were cleared to resume normal activity about an hour later.

Don't allow your students the proper tools of self defense, and don't do a damn thing to protect them. That's good policy making.

Heard on the radio

No cites, but according to the radio this morning, the 4 million jobs President Obama is going to create will be modeled after our highest elected office. That is to say, no qualifications, experience or ability required.

Update: Here's the video.

Franken's Position on Democracy

Franken hopes to convince the three-judge panel that state law conveys limited authority for courts to review congressional elections. A court can verify the math of the recount and other technical decisions of the Canvassing Board, but it cannot explore claims of irregularities or election law violations, Franken's lawyers wrote.

No oversight of the democratic process? So, Mr. Franken, you disapprove of a legal election? I thought politicians were supposed to be smart enough not to say crap like that in public.

Interesting Search Results

"obama anitchrist" - 2,010,000 hits
"obama antichrist" - 1,040,000 hits

The only conclusion I can draw is that people who think Obama is the antichrist are stupid. He's evil, not Satan.

A Historic Day

Today is a very important day in history.

Today, we celebrate the fact that gullible fools turned out in record numbers to vote.

Today, we demonstrate that the majority of our voting population has no understanding of history or economics.

Today, we swear is as President a man who has refused to verify his eligibility for the job. A man who doesn't understand the job description or the limits of federal goverment.

Today, we swear in as President a man with absolutely no qualifications for the job. This man went from stealing votes, to the board of the largest anti-freedom organization in the U.S. to freshman state Congress-Weasel to freshman federal Congress-Weasel to the 'gimme' candidate who caught his party by surprise. He has no voting record. He has contradicted himself at every turn and changes his platform based on the audience in his immediate vicinity, ignoring the world-wide audience also paying attention. He has more ties to radical terrorism and political corruption that any President in history.

This is gonna be an interesting 4 years.

Sweet Search Results

I am Google's #4 search result for "bacon burger gun".

American Ignorance

James R. Rummel says:

I disagree that people in the United States are provincial. It seems to me that we pay just as much attention to foreign countries, and foreign cultures, as they deserve. After all, why should we inflate the importance of some place that simply doesn't have much influence on global events?

The map below should illustrate what I mean. US states are given the names of the countries that most closely match their GDP.

Bailout List

Here's a list of everybody taking TARP money and the amount they are taking. Commie bastards. Every single company I have financial dealings with is on the list. I can't boycott fast enough.

Today in History

1996, US: Umar ‘Abd al-‑Rahman (The “Blind Shaykh”) sentenced to life in prison for his role in 1993 World Trade Center bombing

1991, Iraq: Operation Desert Storm air offensive begins

Today in history, we reminded the world that actions have consequences.

Be a Victim 101

This is from a group who interviewed muggers, robbers and thugs about what a person can do to not get hurt during a robbery.

Here's the real advice:
Resist, armed.

Cooperation is a roll of the dice when it comes to survival. You are most likely to survive a robbery by resisting with a gun. Get a gun, get some training and carry your gun.

Child Safety - From the US DOJ

WHAT YOUR CHILD CAN DO

the rules for younger children

I KNOW my name, address, telephone number, and my parents' names.

I always CHECK FIRST with my parents or the person in charge. I tell them before I go anywhere or get into a car, even with someone I know.

I always CHECK FIRST with my parents or a trusted adult before I accept anything from anyone, even from someone I know.

I always TAKE A FRIEND with me when I go places or play outside.

I SAY NO if someone tries to touch me or treat me in a way that makes me feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused.

It's OK to SAY NO, and I KNOW that there will always be someone who can help me.

I KNOW that I can TELL my parents or a trusted adult if I feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused.

I am STRONG, SMART, and have the right to be SAFE.

And More:

WHAT YOUR CHILD CAN DO at school and at home
School Tips:
	Always TAKE A FRIEND when walking or riding your bike to and from school. Stay with a group while waiting at the bus stop. It's safer and more fun to be with your friends.
	If anyone bothers you while going to or from school, get away from that person, and TELL a trusted adult like your parents or teacher.
If an adult approaches you for help or directions, remember grownups needing help should not ask children for help; they should ask other adults.
	If someone you don’t know or feel comfortable with offers you a ride, say NO.
If someone follows you, get away from him or her as quickly as you can. Always be sure to TELL your parents or a trusted adult what happened. If someone tries to take you somewhere, quickly get away and yell, "This person is trying to take me away!" or "This person is not my father (mother)!"
	If you want to change your plans after school, always CHECK FIRST with your parents. Never play in parks, malls, or video arcades by yourself.
	If you go home alone after school, check to see that everything is okay before you go in. Once inside, call your parents to let them know that you are okay. Make sure you follow your "Home Alone" tips.
	Trust your feelings. If someone makes you feel scared or uncomfortable, get away as fast as you can and TELL a trusted adult.
Home Alone Tips for Teens: Check out the house before entering. Go to a safe place to call for help if something doesn’t seem right. Lock the door. Call your mom or dad when you get home to let them know you’re safe. Never tell callers that your parents aren’t home. Instead say that he or she can’t come to the phone and offer to take a message. Don’t open the door for or talk to anyone who comes to your home unless that person is a trusted family friend or relative and your mom or dad has said it is okay.

The Poor Baby

However will she survive?

She hasn’t shown up for work very regularly over the last year or so, so when Michelle Obama’s $300,000 job was cut at the University of Chicago Hospitals, it may have been hard to notice the difference. Crain’s skipped the part about the incoming First Lady, must have been an oversight in their expert analysis of Chicago Business, because we know Crain’s is “Not show business. All business”.

So, when she was whining about how hard it was to pay off her student loans, she was pulling $300,000 per year? She's got my sympathy. Who can live on that?

Is it a coincidence that this hospital also received a ton of earmarks from the man soon to be President? Chicago politics in the White House will be...interesting.

Possible Ad Graphic

Memery

This was lost as a draft:

1. How would your mother describe you in one word? Bullheaded
2. What is your favorite flower? The rose bush I can't kill(not for lack of trying) in my backyard.
3. What is the most insane question you’ve ever been asked? "Can I take you home with me, strip you naked, stick a pin through you and put you under glass with my butterfly collection?" Oh wait, I asked that question.
4. What word in the language do you wish you had invented? Spank
5. Where would you like to live? On several hundred acres in the middle of nowhere.
6. What is the first quote that comes to your mind? "A drunk raccoon - now there’s a fighting machine."
7. What animal best describes the kind of woman who interests you? See #6
8. What do you miss about your childhood? Summer vacation.
9. If you could change your name, what would you change it to? Why bother?
10. What is the main fault in your character? I'm honest, to a fault.
11. Who is your favorite historical character? Jefferson
12. Describe how you kiss in one word? Intense
13. What in the world do you least desire? Quality time with my mother-in-law.
14. Finish this sentence, "Happiness is a thing called ..." Contentment

Daayuuum

The slow-mo instant replay of the two balloon hits is still faster than I can shoot accurately.

Corruption, Part 2

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher* can keep a secret.

He kept a $300,000 probe of groups planning to agitate the Republican National Convention secret from the people whose permission he needed to spend the money, it was revealed Tuesday.

Funny, isn't that theft. Of course, his reaction is priceless:

Fletcher said he was glad he kept it secret. "We chose not to have the (St. Paul) city attorney aware of what we were doing," Fletcher said. "Look at what happened after: You had one City Council member vocal in his opposition to what we did. I don't want him knowing."

Translated: "I broke the law by not telling my bosses what I was doing, because they wouldn't have let me have my way. I am special and you can go to hell."

*This is, of course, the same Sheriff Fletcher who has a stack of extra-legal requirements for issuing carry permits, because he feels the rules don't apply to him. His was also the subject of and FBI investigation into corruption, with 2 of his aides failing an 'integrity test'.

Corruption

Al Franken wants to circumvent the legal process to get placed in the Senate.

Here's how it works: The states are in charge of their electoral process. If state law says any lawsuits need to be resolved before someone can be seated, that's it.

I'm really unimpressed by someone trying to become a lawmaker by skirting the law.

Hmm, issues so far:

• 25 precincts have more votes than voters.
• Some precincts, the canvassing board decided to use election night numbers. Some precincts were recounted.
• There were damaged ballots miscounted. In Minnesota, a damaged ballot is supposed to be copied, marked, and segregated. There are ballots that were only copied. Without being marked or segregated, that's a double vote.
• Franken convinced the board to count rejected absentee ballots, but there is a stack of rejected absentee ballots that the board has refused to count.
• All contested ballots are public, along with the board's ruling. The rulings are hardly consistent.

A lawsuit is hardly inappropriate, even if Coleman did promise to abide by the canvassing board's decision.

This result is not a surprise

I'm an embarrassment to Barack!


I only scored 15 on the Obama Test

The American Form of Government

A good primer on government. My son will be watching this, along with Schoolhouse Rock.


Found via The Smallest Minority.

Communized Healthcare

And then, the government can decide what procedures you actually need.

Stay out of my life.

If this passes, it will later be used as justification for the fullscale socialization of healthcare. Said healthcare being none of the government's business.

The Patriot Micro Chip

THE PATRIOT MICRO CHIP is intended to be implanted in terrorists.

The implant is specifically designed to be installed in the forehead.

When properly installed it will allow the implantee to speak to God.

It comes in various sizes:

The exact size of the implant will be selected by a well-trained and highly-skilled technician.
The implant may or may not be painless.
Side effects, like headaches and nausea, are temporary.
Some bleeding or swelling may occur at the injection site.

Please enjoy the security we provide for you.
Best regards,

The U.S. Marines

Found via inspyrd.

Everybody needs somebody...

...to sue? How the hell do you sue for a tornado? Tornado are know to be a bit...capricious at the best of time.

Let's check:
Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance

Nope, no lawsuit. The girl's death was sad, even tragic, but sue-worthy? Not a chance. It was a tornado.

Reaon to carry a gun #45678999

MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP) ―

A Montana truck driver is hospitalized after he was stabbed multiple times at an Interstate 94 rest area on the east edge of Moorhead, Minn.

Carry your gun!

Because our customers are adults...

Banning your customers from a lawful activity? That's a great way to help them prepare for the real world. "No, son, you can't make decisions on your own. Even if you are an adult, we will still treat you like you're 12."

When I was shopping colleges, I turned down at least 1 that had a "No alcohol or tobocco" policy, and they had offered me a full scholarship. I wasn't about to voluntarily commit myself to a daycare center 3 months after graduating from high school.

Israel and the Palestinians

Interesting facts about the Israeli conflict:

1. Nationhood and Jerusalem. Israel became a nation in 1312 BCE, Two thousand years before the rise of Islam.
2. Arab refugees in Israel began identifying themselves as part of a Palestinian people in 1967, two decades after the establishment of the modern State of Israel.
3. Since the Jewish conquest in 1272 BCE, the Jews have had dominion over the land for one thousand years with a continuous presence in the land for the past 3,300 years.
4. The only Arab dominion since the conquest in 635 CE lasted no more than 22 years.
5. For over 3,300 years, Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital. Jerusalem has never been the capital of any Arab or Muslim entity. Even when the Jordanians occupied Jerusalem, they never sought to make it their capital, and Arab leaders did not come to visit.
6. Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in Tanach, the Jewish Holy Scriptures. Jerusalem is not mentioned once in the Koran.
7. King David founded the city of Jerusalem. Mohammed never came to Jerusalem.
8. Jews pray facing Jerusalem. Muslims pray with their backs toward Jerusalem.
9. Arab and Jewish Refugees: in 1948 the Arab refugees were encouraged to leave Israel by Arab leaders promising to purge the land of Jews. Sixty-eight percent left without ever seeing an Israeli soldier.
10 The Jewish refugees were forced to flee from Arab lands due to Arab brutality, persecution and pogroms.
11. The number of Arab refugees who left Israel in 1948 is estimated to be around 630,000. The number of Jewish refugees from Arab lands is estimated to be the same.
12. Arab refugees were INTENTIONALLY not absorbed or integrated into the Arab la nds to which they fled, despite the vast Arab territory. Out of the 100,000,000 refugees since World War II, theirs is the only refugee group in the world that has never been absorbed or integrated into their own people’s lands. Jewish refugees were completely absorbed into Israel, a country no larger than the state of New Jersey .
13. The Arab-Israeli Conflict: the Arabs are represented by eight separate nations, not including the Palestinians. There is only one Jewish nation. The Arab nations initiated all five wars and lost. Israel defended itself each time and won.
14. The PLO’s Charter still calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. Israel has given the Palestinians most of the West Bank land, autonomy under the Palestinian Authority, and has supplied them.
15. Under Jordanian rule, Jewish holy sites were desecrated and the Jews were denied access to places of worship. Under Israeli rule, all Muslim and Christian sites have been preserved and made accessible to people of all faiths.
16. The UN Record on Israel and the Arabs: of the 175 Security Council resolutions passed before 1990, 97 were directed against Israel.
17. Of the 690 General Assembly resolutions voted on before 1990, 429 were directed against Israel.
18. The UN was silent while 58 Jerusalem Synagogues were destroyed by the Jordanians.
19. The UN was silent while the Jordanians systematically desecrated the ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives.
20. The UN was silent while the Jordanians enforced an apartheid-like a policy of preventing Jews from visiting the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.

To all my valued employees....

To All My Valued Employees,

There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in this country. However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is in your best interests.

First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is a Back Story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. You've seen my big home at last years Christmas party. I'm sure; all these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.

However, what you don't see is the BACK STORY:

I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you.

My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business -- hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.

Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. Instead of hitting the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, I was trolling through the discount store extracting any clothing item that didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a business with a vision that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had.

So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9 A.M., mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5 P.M., I don't. There is no "off" button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child. You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden -- the nice house, the Mercedes, the vacations... you never realize the Back Story and the sacrifices I've made.

Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right decisions and saved his money, have to bail-out all the people who didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life for.

Yes, business ownership has is benefits but the price I've paid is steep and not without wounds.

Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you why:

I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough. I have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes. Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a check to the US Treasury for $288,000 for quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus" check was? Zero.. Nada. Zilch.

The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000 people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare check? Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this country.

The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck you'd quit and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why your job is in jeopardy.

Here is what many of you don't understand ... to stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now.

When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the heart of America and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate it, not kill it. Suddenly, the power brokers in Washington believe the poor of America are the essential drivers of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change you can keep.

So where am I going with all this?

It's quite simple.

If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift and simple. I'll fire you. I'll fire your co-workers. You can then plead with the government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child's future. Frankly, it isn't my problem any more.

Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and retire. You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.

So, if you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country, steamrolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape forever. If that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no employees to worry about....

Signed, THE BOSS

I'm done...

...with the Big 3. Screw 'em. Japanese manufacturers making cars in the US with American workers will get my money in the future.

Somehow, this post spent 3 weeks in draft-mode oblivion.

Knots

I spent the weekend tying knots. As fast as I could make a keyfob, they were gone. Taken by friends and family.

It's kinda fun.

Here's a blog dedicated to knot tying, with links, tutorials and a crapload of ideas.
More here(Turks's head and other decorative knots), here(chain sinnet) and here(Basic introduction to knotwork).

We pay them too much

Over 400 bills were introduced on the first day of Congress. That's four hundred!

I wonder how many of the bills are Constitutional and how many are just trying to control the population or tax it to death.

News From the House of Stupid

How is this news? Fish houses get robbed, that's why sane people don't leave valuable there. A cooler, a chair or two, and a couple of rods or rattle reels are the most that should be left out on the lake. A freaking big screen T.V.?

You're too stupid for nice things.

Quote of the Day

The Israelis have been warning you that this was coming if you continue your cross border rocket attacks. Egypt has been imploring you to stop firing rockets into Israel, but you ignored our words. We have been urging you to renew the cease-fire with Israel, but you refused. You have brought this upon yourselves. You are responsible for what is happening to the people of Gaza.

-Egyptian Foreign Minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit

Keynesian Monopoly

I think I'm going to alter my game.


I don't remember where I saw this. When I do, I'll post the link.

Economic Theory

Stupidity Reigns Supreme

What would the world do with no idiots?

ST. PAUL (AP) ― A scorned 21-year-old told her ex-boyfriend that he couldn't prove she was the one who vandalized his apartment on three occasions -- but then, police say, she posted a picture of the damage on MySpace.

Mmmmm, people......

TSU, Japan — The ability to discern good wine from bad, name the specific brand from a tiny sip and recommend a complementary cheese would seem to be about as human a skill as there is.
>In Japan, robots are doing it.



When a reporter's hand was placed against the robot's taste sensor, it was identified as prosciutto. A cameraman was mistaken for bacon.

Yea! My TEOTWAWKI food needs are met. I make a killer barbecue sauce I can't wait to try on the neighbor. Yum.

Found via Atomic Nerds.

Karma

Is it karma to die a year after getting an illegal sales tax pushed through to fund your private enterprise?

Just asking.

Cold

Stupid Ebay

Important changes to Feedback

Buyers, you can no longer receive negative or neutral Feedback from sellers.

You should leave honest and accurate Feedback without the fear of receiving negative or neutral ratings.

What's the motivation to sell on Ebay? Items get yanked for no reason, you can't leave negative feedback for scam buyers, and the fees are high. Why is this better than Craigslist?

When you kick a hornet's nest....

...you won't like the result.

Of course, the media bias is going to blame the hornet, instead of the petulant terrorist doing the kicking.

ATTENTION GAZA! You got what you asked for, quit picking a fight.

Update: Stupid commenter:

Destruction of the mosques reminds me of the Bolsheviks in Russia...

...who also flattened as many churches as they could-- when they weren't busy torturing Orthodox priests and monks to death. Listen, good people of Minnesota, the rulers of Israel today are from the same group of atheistic monsters who took control of Russia in 1917. They turned the Soviet Union into a prison camp, just as they have done to Gaza today. If we don't stand up to them, tomorrow it will be our turn!

My response:

Moral relativism

Akorn, the Israel is RESPONDING to attacks. The Palestinians broke the truce that granted them what they have been demanding for decades. "Give us Gaza, and we'll behave." They are honorless and cowardly. They shoot rockets from schools, so they can get a PR win when Israel defends itself. They store rockets in mosques to make Israel look bad for not rolling over and dying.

Israel is warning the inhabitants of the target areas before destroying their targets. Israel is offering asylum to any Gaza resident who is sick of Hamas turning their new country into a crater.

Take your anti-semitism, moral relativism, and historic revisionism elsehwere.