JFM has seen this blog mentioned on several of her very favourite sites, so she decided she’d take a look for herself. Bring your sense of humour and your mind, and clear your work-station of all items which can be spilled or be spewed.

Otherwise, Allah will surely laugh at you.

John Ray has written a piece on academic prejudice. It was in reaction to the study that claimed that those on the right suffer from mental illness.

Re: Backed by the EU
Date: 31 August 2003

Writing as a one-time long-distance walker, and a keen observer of European institutions, I was wondering if the Ordnance Survey is entirely correct in stating (Letters, Aug 24) that “the appearance of part of the E2 European Long Distance Path on the back cover of Ordnance Survey maps has nothing to do with Brussels or the EU”?

From:
John E Holt, London W5

Mark Steyn’s losing it, losing it, I tell you. This could be the opportunity I’ve been waiting for.

I just got the chance today to read some pieces I downloaded a couple of weeks ago, and I saw this in The Washington Times from August 11 [link seems to have expired]:

Because I’m an adopted New Hampshirite, people keep asking me what I think about the gay bishop. Once upon a time, the most famous symbol of Vermont manhood was the Old Man of the Mountain, the Great Stone Face, whose profile God and nature had etched onto the cliffs high above Franconia Notch in the White Mountains. But, after centuries of keeping a watchful eye on us, he came crashing down in an almighty rock slide a couple of months back. So now the most celebrated symbol of Granite State manhood is the Great Gay Face, the Rev. Gene Robinson.

JFM just read Andrew’s post, and its links, below; leave it to the Beeb to give everyone their version of the news, right or wrong. Elsewhere on the ‘Net, there are differing reports that make a lot more sense. One can be found right here. Since it had been agreed quite some time ago that US forces would NOT occupy the areas around the holy sites in Najaf, the Coalition can hardly be blamed for the security being less than adequate.

Of course, with the Beeb, that would not suit their political leanings, so they forgot to tell you that.

A huge bomb goes off in Najaf killing a leading Mullah and over a 100 people. So who are the Shias blaming?

According to the BBC, those awful Americans, naturally. One wonders when someone will manage to pin the bombing on Mossad.

You know, sometimes it’s awfully tough to have sympathy for the Iraqi people.

Back on the home front, who will stop the morons? The usual far-left suspects got together in London today calling for a “people’s dossier” on Iraq. They want to “stop the war”; surely someone has told them it was won months ago?

Update: An Egyptian daily is blaming the US for the bomb.

Tim reports that the paranoids in Oz are declaring that Howard’s policy and quite a few MPs are being run by those nasty Zionists.

It does amaze me that the left portrays anyone who supports Israel as a totally unthinking drone. Yet those who support Islamo-fascists and homicide bombers are rational intellectuals. They also seem to buy into the Islamic notion that all of the enemy (i.e., infidels) are viable targets. There is no such thing, to them, as “innocents” if they are infidels.

They also just happen to be Democratic states. Mike has the skinny on the latest proof of this. This is not exactly rocket science, but interesting to see it in black and white.

Michele and Dean have come down on opposite sides of this issue. I am with Michele on this one; Moore is a scumbag, and the statue is against the law, a ruling from a higher court, and the ideals of the Founding Fathers. As I have said before, the right need to find a more reputable person to back than Judge Moore. Sneaking the monument in, under of cover of night, very classy!

By the way, I am growing tired of those who are suggesting that anyone opposed to this ludicrous display is anti-Christian. It is simply not true. We are far more pro-Constitution and founding ideals of the country than anti-Christian.

If I had one wish it would be this:

World peace. No, scratch that.

I wish I could program computers at the level of Sid Meier (Civilization, etc.) or Will Wright (The Sims, etc.).

Then I could spend my evenings more productively than . . . er, whatever it is I spend them on now.

Lately I’ve been spending them on trying to migrate my Crimsonblog site to my homepage. I just now figured out how to get the archives to work but the formatting is still a mess.

This is a long way from barbarian armies gathering or angular women shim-shim-shimmying on the screen, but I do the best I can.

Weep not for gnotalex, for gnotalex will not weep for you.

I have no idea what that means, but the parallelism is irresistable.

And I must at all costs post, lest I be forgotten.

P.S. America’s Army is marching towards you, Andrew. Or it will start marching on Monday, because I couldn’t make it to the Post Office today.

Radley pointed me to their idiotic list of Top 100 guitarists. Lets put it this way, Queen’s name is mispelled. It gets worse from there.

Via: Michele

NB: The one produced for Andrew Ian Dodge was horrid. So went for my nom de guerre instead.

Bustamante not only has not distanced himself from MEChA, the racist Chicano group, but has reaffirmed it.

MEChA’s motto is “for the race, everything. For those outside the race, nothing.” (Trust me is sounds just as bad in Spanish.)

So what are they bleating about in California? They are discussing the size of Arnie’s penis and the fact he might have gotten stoned, drunk & laid in the 70s. Personally, I would be worried if he hadn’t done those things when he was younger! Colby Cosh aims his wit at the “revelations” about Arnie as well.

Ok sex, drugs and rock & roll is worse than support for a violently racist group these days.

The left has risen to defend the organisation with the normal level of hypocrisy and double speak. Read this organisations writings and substitute for chicano for white. Would people like Ted Barlow be writing similar screeds in their defence? Armed Liberal defends them as well.

Pej turns his retentive mind towards this row; with excellent results.

The Guardian has written a particularly pathetic profile on the Northern “sport” of wife-swapping. In fact they have made a right fist of the whole subject.

Peter, of course, has written a rather good fisking of the article. Lets put it this way sex is compared to having a good bowel movement. As far as one can tell, this is suppose to be a good thing. (Yeesh, talk about expectation management.) It also involves council workers in all kinds of sweaty “swinging” activities.

Warning: this is one of those, not with a drink or anything else, in the mouth reads.

The FBI has identified a teenager as the author of a damaging virus-like infection unleashed on the Internet and plans to arrest him early Friday, a U.S. official confirmed Thursday. The 18-year-old, whose name and hometown was not immediately available, was accused of writing one version of the damaging ‘Blaster’ infection, which spread quickly across the Internet weeks ago, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.” (08/28/03)

Via: Rational Review

Supporters of Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore filed a new federal lawsuit Thursday asking that a monument of the Ten Commandments be returned to the rotunda of the Alabama Judicial Building, alleging that Moores eight associate justices showed hostility to religion and discriminated against Christians by removing the monument.” (08/28/03)

Mississippi seems to be jealous about all the negative attention Alabama is getting and wants a part of it! This whole thing will improve the reputation of the South how?

Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove volunteered Thursday to join
neighboring Alabama in the fight over the Ten Commandments monument
by offering to display it in his state’s capitol building for a week starting September 7. The 2.6-ton granite edifice was moved from the rotunda of the Alabama state judicial building to a back room out of public view Wednesday on order of a federal court …” (08/28/03)

Via: Rational Review

As you expect there is more on this subject, including this rather piquant quote:

As an advocate of the judicial murder of homosexuals, Moore is so detestable a figure that any defeat for the man seems worth cheering for.

The author, Russell Long details the debate going on between libertarians over this issue. As with many such things, its between state’s rights and the seperation of church & state. I agree with Mr Long, the Judge is question is so noxious that is hard to see why anyone would support his cause (besides Evangelical Christians).

Let the finger-pointing and shrill screaming begin! Power goes out, people are stuck, yet the best those politicians can come up with is accusations and threats. Not one word about practical solutions; nothing but “money must be hurled about” [never explaining that means the ratepayers’ money].

Pathetic and dangerous!

Ever played Carlotta?

It’s a card game. You need three people, and a deck of cards.

Actually you only need two people, but without the third there, it’s rather pointless, like playing backgammon for toothpicks.

You fan the cards out on the table — face up or face down, as you prefer — and then assemble them into various piles. However you like.

Whoever finds the ace of spades rips it in two, laughing. Then you regather the cards, reshuffle them, and deal thirteen to the first person, sixteen to the second, and fourteen to the third, leaving the rest in a remainder pile.

The first player lays down all his red cards; the second player all his black; and the third keeps all his. Crying “Aha! A Zimmelhoop!” the second player claims the remainder pile, tucking it into his shirt pocket.

Etc., etc. Feel free to improvise.

Assuming that the first and second players can keep poker-faced throughout this charade, you can sometimes string the third “player” along for maybe half an hour or so, until he:

a) flees the room in terror, or;

b) tries to wager on the next “Zimmelhoop.”

Which is my roundabout way of welcoming Murray to the blog.

Rugby I understand — but cricket?

You guys are making that up as you go along, right?

Welcome to my inaugural post for Dodgeblogium, Im now transmitting on two channels, Dodgeblogium and Silent Running. All the better to spread the law suits out. To kick things off Ive decided to get all cultural at you so no one confuses me for a northerner.

Ok for those of you who no nothing about rugby; 1. This isnt for you 2. Get out more, take an interest.

Anyway the word is that the Aussies are not going to be allowed to sing Waltzing Matilda at the opening of their games during the Rugby World Cup. The IRB only allows official national anthems and the haka, which they call a culturally significant war dance

Well gee IRB youre just pissing everyone off today for a number of reasons. Firstly, we dont need you to tell us what is culturally significant, its our culture and if we say its beer and jandles thats what is. Secondly, the haka isnt a war dance, even though it will induce the occasional involuntary body function from you pale northerners. Thirdly, show me something Australian that is MORE culturally significant than Waltzing Matilda.

I stand by Australias right to sing whatever gets them hyped for the game and I dont see Advance Australia Fair doing that to be honest. Hell thats why we have the haka and dont go nuts on God Help New Zealand DEFEND New Zealand sorry, defend. Keep getting that mixed up with this liberal government of ours.

Besides which the Aussies are making much of it and when the All Blacks stomp the poopie out them I want no excuses!!

Of course this does lead to a down side there may well be Morris Dancing at the final. Picture it, 15 bad ass dudes all in black performing Kamate in the face of a mob culturally impassioned sheep chasers wearing bells and ribbons oh the humanity!!

That will pretty much sum up the action on field anyway. Thatll teach em to commit folk music in a public place!

Ben has a nice round-up of recent idioting. Of course, it includes a rather nice bit on how stupid the French are being…this week.

Bryan, an alleged libertarian, posted a long socialist diatribe in favour of the “death tax.” Not only does he praise this evil bit of the tax code, he wants to increase it, maybe even to 100%! Several commenters have given the post the fisking it deserves.

Hey, Bryan how about we lower income tax, eliminate the death tax and lower government’s bloated spending? Or don’t you think people have a right to have more of their own money in their pockets?

Update: Bryan has posted again on the subject, this time he tries to defend himself by insulting his numerous detractors. As as aside, he tries to (re)justify is ludicrous position. He fails rather badly in fact.

Michele has been declared “an enemy” of Indymedia on their site. I post this in solidarity with her.

And let’s face if any of those types ended up coming here, we would be an enemy too.

They must be so proud.

John comments on the terrorist’s gratitude.

I made this comment on those who feel that the so-called “peace protestors” are not the slightest bit responsible for anything done in their name. You know the ones who were supporting a genocidal dictator?

Vune I would agree with you…except for the fact that at many of the huge rallies during the war the organisers allowed extremist Muslim groups to parade along with them. Take a look at the Samizdata shots of the huge rally in London.

Anyone who walked down in a rally with extremist groups, in plain view, is guilty of passive help for the terrorists or abject stupidity/naivete. They helped legitimise the terrorist groups’ “political arm.” .

Update: One of the Peaceniks/terrorist enablers of Oz has tried distance himself from terrorists, rather unsuccessfuly.

Oliver has written a long piece detailing the reasons why organisations like Hamas and Islamic Jihad should be banned in all civilised countries. Needless to say, I agree with every word. What is most distressing is that the NDP in Canada links to a published holocaust denier on their website and is against the ban on these two organisations in Canada.

Via: jackie

In 1784, Patrick Henry, then a Virginia legislator, proposed a bill that imposed a moderate annual tax on all citizens of Virginia for the support of the Christian religion. When he read the bill, James Madison saw red. For Madison, Henry’s bill spelled the beginning of a new Inquisition. ... Unlike some Americans today who applaud monuments of the Ten Commandments on state property that sanctify the Judeo-Christian tradition, Madison was adamant that Christian religion deserved no privileged status whatsoever; to single out one religion, he wrote, ‘degrades from the equal rank of Citizens’ all those who have a different sense of the divine.” (08/28/03)

It amuses me how the defenders of this lunatic Judge go on about the “Judeo-Christian” traditions, when in fact all they care about is Christian Evangelical tradition. Surely if they wanted to invoke the J-C element they would have at least found some Jews to support their cause?

Via: Rational Review

John Cope pipes in on the subject, and braces himself for Redneck hatemail. The first commen from Calvin is hilarious.

I was hoping that Moses would show up, part the sea of Rednecks surrounding the courthouse, smash the monument to bits with a sledgehammer, then explain to the idiots that venerating the little hunk of granite actually violates Commandment #2.

Then God would strike them all dead . . .

Of course, there is another comment that equates the word redneck with the word nigger. He states they are equally offensive. No sure that works too well.

The regulations that govern travel to Cuba were altered on March 24, 2003 and are set to go into effect at the end of the year. The people-to-people exchange licenses will no longer be granted. What this means is that next year, the group of musicians from our church will no longer be allowed to go. But this is minor compared to the loss of humanitarian aid that is provided for Cuba through the efforts of thousands of Christians.” (08/27/03)

About time they closed the loop-hole on people like this helping to prolong Castro’s reign. It also means leftist US politicians can’t go and fawn all over Castro, as they are prone to do. I guess Maine teachers and their Democratic overlords will have to find some other place to go.

Maybe these Christians could turn their efforts to helping people who live in a democratic country for a change. I am sure there are aid groups that can direct their efforts to a country not ruled by a terrorist-supporting savage dictator. Surely aiding and abetting Castro, our enemy, is a tad traitorous? And just because these people are Christians does not give the bye for supporting our enemy.

People like this guy and his ilk make me sick.

Cuba libre!

ear_Arrest.htm"”>Texas Senate Democrats who stymied Republican redistricting plans by fleeing to New Mexico may not be returning home any time soon, despite running down the clock on the special legislative session. The 30-day limit on the latest session expired Tuesday …. If they re-enter Texas, the 11 Senate Democrats now in Albuquerque said they feared being arrested and hauled back to the capitol should Perry call another session. Senate rules allow for the arrest of members who intentionally thwart a quorum.” (08/27/03)

Via: Rational Review

A self-described minister facing a criminal charge in the death of an autistic child during a prayer session was ordered not to perform exorcisms as a bail condition during a Wednesday court appearance. At the initial appearance, Ray Hemphill was given a $5,000 signature bail, meaning he did not have to post the actual money to get out of jail but would forfeit that amount if he violated bail conditions. Hemphill was charged Tuesday with with felony child abuse of 8-year-old Terrance Cottrell Jr., who died during a prayer session Friday night at the Faith Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith. Church members said Hemphill tried to exorcise demons from the boy.” (08/27/03)

Via: Rational Review

This is what I get for trying to be a nice guy.

I was scrolling down through the blog and I came across a plea from Andrew for a copy of America’s Army, which he wanted to write a review of. (It’s the rather ingenious game/recruiting tool put out by the U.S. Army.) It’s also a very large file, and Andrew’s on a 56K dialup.

I don’t have a copy — it’s a first-person shooter, at which I’m invariably lousy — but I do have a good DSL connection (I’m only a few blocks from a large telephone exchange), so I thought, hey, I’ll download it and burn it to a CD for him.