Peakah's Provocations...

BERLIN, July 29 (Reuters) - A German company is looking to cash in on an expected boom in the sex trade during next year's soccer World Cup with a 60-room brothel a walk away from Berlin's Olympic Stadium, German media reported on Friday.

Named after the virgin huntress of Greek mythology, the "Artemis" complex is due to open for business in September with whirlpool, sauna, cinema, buffet restaurant and a staff of 100 prostitutes, mass circulation daily Bild reported.

"This is no flash rip-off joint where clients are taken for a ride," a spokesman for the Artemis GmbH investment company behind the project, told the newspaper.

Prostitution is legal in Germany in designated areas. Dortmund, one of 11 other cities to host World Cup matches, has said it will install drive-in wooden "sex garages" in time for the tournament in a bid to keep the trade off the streets.

Phew, I'm glad that this won't be
"no flash rip-off joint where clients are taken for a ride"

Uhh, what exactly are they there for then? I don't get it.

This perhaps is a great counter-terrorism tactic, you know how much Islamofacists like to party before they blow themselves to smither-eens. Hey, just think of all of the UN officials that will be setting up their offices there, perhaps they can actually get something accomplished for a change.


--shameless 'Open Post' links to Mudville Gazette, Wizbang, and Basil's Blog...

Right Hand of God hosted this past week's Carnival... check it out, Outstanding!

Next week, Aug 4th is Right Wing Duck's turn to host, followed by Conservathink the following week of Aug 11th...

Submit your entries HERE

France ejects 12 Islamic 'preachers of hate'



Nicolas Sarkozy, France's Interior Decorator...
oh, wait, I mean Minister is blessed with a revelation!

From on high he comes to the conclusion that militant Islamic Imams are bad for France! It's a miracle that of all countries to come to this conclusion that it would be the French... the meek shall indeed inherit the Earth eh? Anyway...

Unfortunately for him, the only audience he could muster were the tips if his right fingers.

From Reuters:

Lawyers for Saddam Hussein said on Saturday their client was attacked by an unidentified man during a court appearance in Baghdad this week, but U.S. forces guarding him denied any such incident took place.

A statement issued by Saddam's international legal team, which has an office in Amman, Jordan, said the former president was attacked and exchanged blows with another person in a hearing attended by Saddam's main Iraqi lawyer Khalil Dulaimi, on Thursday.

"As the president (Saddam) stood to leave the courtroom one of those present attacked him and there was an exchange of blows between the man and the president," the statement said, adding that the head of the tribunal did nothing to stop the assault.

The statement quoted Dulaimi as saying the American guard who protected Saddam in the courtroom did not intervene and that he lodged a formal complaint against the tribunal.

What a poor poor old man... I feel so darn bad for this sweet old fragile man.
I mean, look at this mug, those sad puppy dog eyes...

Did the trial all of a sudden move to Boston or what? You know how chowder heads go bezerk in the presence of a yankee's cap.

Well, when Saddam isn't rootin on his other favorite dictator, George Steinbrenner, he's dishing out advice for the lovebirds out there...

Remember that traitor SOB Ramsey Clark? (The former US Attorney General under you know who...) Well, he's desperate for some legitamacy and sure is going about finding it in an embarassing manner:

The defense team said it would boycott the tribunal or any committee interrogating Saddam until he was given the right to proper legal representation by a team of international lawyers, including allowing former U.S. attorney general Ramsey Clark, leading Saddam's team of Western lawyers, to see him in prison.

"Repeated interrogations have taken place without a lawyer of choice present, no informed choice of legal counsel has been allowed, on evidence presented against Mr Saddam Hussein and his due process rights have been irreparably violated," Clark told Reuters in a statement.

How is it that this traitor hasn't had his ass fully kicked by anyone with half a stone danglin? How many fair trials did Saddam perform for those he massacred Ramsey? *pimp slap*

Let some french schmuck represent this monster, that's what he deserves.

Better yet, staple the yankees hat on him and let the Red Sox fans at him...
Especially after they read this... thanks Insolublog!

I'm seeing this picture around the internet and the tragedy of the situation seems to be growing...

Beth at MVRWC has the story and contact info if this woman looks familiar. Beth has lots of links with the story.

TAIR is spreading the message as well.

Keep her in your prayers.

I think the soldiers of the IRA have seen the growing threat of Islam in London and reassessed their situation.

Today the IRA has (again) declared an end of violence and officially laid down arms.


From the BBC:

"But I think most people will be waiting to see the reaction from the other major party - the Irish bars of New York are not going to be filled with people drinking pints of Guinness in celebration just yet."

Moron, they already are... always have been, always will be.

Ok, this sounds all nice but lets get to the real story. The Northern Irish are pissed off people. My family has direct family line that has roots in County Tyrone, North Ireland so this pissed off attitude is intimate with me. Hell, it's a part of who I am even... anyway... With that though is this intense passion for life and sense of loyalty and honor. While I know you know many many laid back Irish guys, when the excrement hits the fan, it's on.

Ok, enough chest thumping.

So, there's a new kid on the block, the Muslims. I think the Irish are coming to their senses and perhaps in their foggy guinness induced haze they see another group that they can unite in fighting rather than fighting with the establishment.

Hey, territorialism is nothing new is it? Perhaps the Muslim threat will be enough to snap them into new loyalties.

How many muslims you know drink Guinness? This is all that's needed to know for the soccer hooligans to go completely insane! This could get really ugly, but it already has hasn't it?

Please save all the freaked out comments calling me racist or minimizing the situation or whatever... get over yourselves.

On a more positive note... there is always hope!

I have no need to set this little convorsation up, The Conservative UAW Guy sums it up quite nicely with the intro:

CAUTION: MAN RANTING!!!

I just love a good rant. Especially the ones where you can read the adrenaline and passion of knowing you're right, and yet despite how clearly you lay it out, the boneheads out in the peanut gallery arrive... then it's like shooting fish in a barrel. Good stuff!

Nice work jimmyb!

Kira Zalan may be relatively new to the blogging world but she's is clearly a veteran of common sense who clearly articulates arguments that leaves no reader dwelling in ignorance.

In today's post: Premature Withdrawal from Iraq: PR or Insanity?
She writes:

A complete withdrawal of our troops within the next few years would force Iraq into a downwards spiral towards anarchy. The bloodshed would continue until another ruthless thug comes around and kills everyone that opposes him. Then, we’d be back to square one. If you think the war is expensive now, imagine the unthinkable cost of ultimately losing Iraq.

Pay this patriot a visit and tell her Peak sent'cha!

Is there any wonder why reasonable people see the idiocy of leftists' view of the relationship between religion and American Culture? If there's anything those useful idiots (especially Krugman from the NYT) are good at, it's distorting the context in which religion and American society are married.

Their misplaced anger and resentments are very well demonstrated in an excellent post by Danny Carlton at JackLewis.net.

Thankfully intelligent Americans are perceiving these religiophobes as the court jesters they are. Lacking in common sense, context, and historical perspective.

Apparently they are pleasing somebody (gee, I wonder who) in the hierarchy otherwise they would be worthy of nothing more than the selling of fake watches on a street corner in Times Square at best.

But to what end? What is their end game? Is the destruction of spiritual thought and speech that important in the implementation of their Socialist Utopia? Apparently so, for they seem to invest a lot of passion in this quest.

As I see it, there seems to be some need to artificially fill a void present in their soul created by the carcinogenic effects of hatred for that which hints of the Supernatural. They seem to hate that which would bring them internal peace.

Why is it assumed that because religion has been used throughout history as a method of control by tyrannical leaders mean that it must still exist today in our own culture? It's as if atheist regimes (aka Communism) are preferable. How in the world can one come to that conclusion unless there's some order of mental problems or spiritual vacuum?

Exactly what values are being forced down their throats by those who are not ashamed to express their spiritual selves? Those who have the drive to speak of spiritual matters with others are typically the most peaceful of those amongst us.

As far as I can tell, I have freewill and the opportunity to worship or not as I see fit and there's no governmental institution set up to take that away from me provided it is not illegal, immoral, or as Dr. Laura would say, fattening.

It is beyond me why these minions of darkness are so zealously driven to push this agenda of erasing all notions of religion from the public collective consciousness. Is it so that they can feel justified in their self-loathing? Is this not infinitely more destructive than the expression of ones personal religious views?

I just don't get it, yet it seems as if this is the hill they want to die on...

Unfortunately for them, that time will come but ironically not by those who are so called 'Religious'... It will be by those whom they are assisting to power.

(trackbacked to Mudville Gazette's- Open Post, and Basil's Blog - Breakfast 7-28-05)

Check out Soldiers' Angel- Holly Aho as she is hosting this week's Bonfire of the Vanities.

Time to turn in that halo and be a little devil for a day...it's the Bonfire of the Vanities!!! Here are the submissions from around the blogosphere for the worst posts of the week....read them if you dare!

If it's the answers to life you seek...

Time to visit Dr Phat Tony for the sensitive reassurance that there are answers to all questions... Otherwise double the dose of meds you're on and call him in the morning.

Ok, ok... the blogging bug has got me bad but I gotta finally get some work done!
Yesterday was spent in legal meetings setting up a new business venture so the newsday completely passed me by. It'll all be worth it though in two weeks!


I'm no international celebrity but I play one on the blog-o-sphere, and seeing how I'm neither Martin Sheen or Geena Davis I can't pretend to be the President.

I've got a trip to Hawaii coming up and I need to get ahead of the game if I want to totally enjoy it and not worry about unfinished business. I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy it just fine regardless but having been raised Irish Catholic in NY I willingly burden myself with tons of guilt as a motivator.

I know I've met a lot of new bloggers who kindly check in on my site now, resulting in a wee bit o Ecosystem evolution (for the first time actually) and my ego is gratified on a daily basis having comments to finally read on my posts.

Yeah, I'm quite the egomaniac... like you aren't! *grin*

I look forward to cruising through the madness you've set up on your own sites in a day or two when I can take a breath from the piling workload.

Till then... tooot-a-loooo...

Oh but this I can't resist. It took everything in me to not put up that picture and assign adolescent and immature commentary.

Instead it was done by those much wittier than I...
See Insolublog.
Thanks to Dr Phat Tony for the uhhh, tip? Ewwww...

I don't know why I bothered reading up on Scientology in one of my previous posts...

But now it's clear... I saw this on I Guess We'll Just Have To Adjust and couldn't stop laughing:

Tom Cruise kills Oprah!!

Yikes! L Ron Hubbard was a Sith Lord!! (or whatever they're called) Please forgive me you StarWars groupies but this was destined to come out eventually!

Thanks to John Little at Blogs of War for pointing me in the direction of this amazing video of Trigger Gumm's jump of over 277 feet on a 500cc dirtbike! Here's Trigger's take:

“That was mega gnarly, incredible. That was insanity at its finest. Everything about it was just danger,” said an elated Trigger after landing the world record jump.

Whooooooaaaaaa Duuuuuuuuuuuuude...
See VIDEO HERE...

I can't claim to know a lot about the different pressures being applied to the situation but this is no doubt disturbing.

Israeli commandos are on the verge of warring with their own as they attempt to clear out Jewish settlements on the Gaza Strip to make way for a Palestinian territory. This is quite the disturbing method if you ask me... as it is for the commandos as well.

Apparently Jews are going to be persona non grata in this new Palestinian territory as they are in the new Iraq! Doesn't anyone equate this with at least a little bit o'racism? Or are we on the verge of reliving the 1930's all over again?

Israeli troops ready to open fire on settlers
Uzi Mahnaimi, Tel Aviv

ISRAELI special forces are prepared to shoot to kill Jewish settlers if they come under fire during next month’s evacuation of 22 settlements in the Gaza Strip.
Members of Israel’s feared Duvdevan (Cherry) commando unit, who have concentrated on hunting Palestinian militants on the West Bank, are training for the evacuation at a dummy settlement in a remote desert location.

The commandos, who have killed hundreds of Palestinian militants over the years, are now being told to be ready to open fire on Israelis — but only in response to an attack on fellow soldiers.

“First our commanders asked if any of us thought he could not take part in the disengagement of Gaza,” one of the members of the unit said last week. “Obviously nobody refused as we are volunteers, but I must admit that while we were happy to kill the bastards in the West Bank, we hope to be unemployed in August.”

Under plans for the pull-out, details of which have been obtained by The Sunday Times, every house in the 22 settlements marked for evacuation will be approached by a team of army and police officers. A warrant will be presented to its inhabitants, who will then be asked to evacuate the building immediately.

“We strongly believe that the majority of the families will obey the warrant and leave their houses at once,” said one security source. “Those who refuse to do so will be removed forcibly by the police to a nearby bus to take them out of Gaza.”

Although the overwhelming majority of the settlers are expected to comply, security sources believe that a hard core of about 200 could attempt serious violence, requiring the intervention of the commandos.

Just imagine if Janet Reno was in charge of this operation. The Gaza Strip would already be ablaze...

I don't see this working out well in the long run for either side of this equation.

I thought this was a neat idea...
I'm not sure who originated the idea but I came across this request at Conservative UAW's site and visited the interviewer, Libby in Ohio, who left me some questions to post.

Rules are below, I intend on passing this interview network on so let me know if you're interested.

Rules...
1) Leave me a comment saying interview me please.
2) I will respond by asking you five questions. (not the same as you see here.)
3) You will update your blog/site with the interview questions.
4) You will include this explanation and offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5) When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

The questions, as asked by Libby, are followed by my answers:

1. if you could have your perfect job, what would it be? and why?

--I have the job I've always wanted, well, except for being an Astronaut... being a Husband and Father of 4 amazing boys ages ranging from 6 yrs old to 3 years old, and a baby girl who's 2 years old. There's no job more fufilling than that one where the 'bosses' (kids) call for full accountability each and every night when you say goodnight to them.

Hearing their simple and beautiful prayers each night is the daily bonus I receive that no other job could ever provide. Having a job where I can work at home provides me with the opportunity to assist in their growth each and every day making this the job of my dreams.

2. what scares you more than anything, besides something happening to your kids?

--Whoa, this could go anywhere... Keeping family horrors out of the question, I'm scared that the slow fall into apostacy that our current American culture is experiencing, not to mention the degredation of American values and beliefs, will eventually lead to an awful situation where Americans will wind up taking up arms against eachother (or a future overzealous government) once again desperately attempting to preserve those beliefs that the Founding Fathers based our great society upon. The results of which could be absolutely disasterous for the preservation of freedom and liberty on Earth.

3. iced tea, ice water, or soda?

Phew, this one is a bit easier to handle... Living here in the Las Vegas Valley (better known as Death Valley) the answer is easily Ice Water!

4. what season of the year is your favorite? and why?

When I was growing up in Upstate NY it was undoubtedly Autumn; when the trees turned colors, the apple cider was fresh, the geese would head south in remarkable formations in the sky, and the maples would ooze the sweetest smelling sap. There was nothing better than hiking the rural hill sides soaking up all the colors around you. But now living in death valley the answer is winter where I can go golfing all year round baby!

5. would you rather swim at a beach or in a swimming pool? why?

Lovin'em both. Not a huge Ocean fan but absolutely love Lake and River water to swim and play in. Nevertheless, I will always own a pool big enough to do laps in, swimming being my favorite exercise. So, for exercise it would be a pool, for adventuring or fishing, it would obviously be a beach.

Thanks to Mensa Barbie and her link to Media Lies... which led me to this post by Michael Yon: Online Magazine. If you want first hand accounts of what's going on behind the scenes with our operations in Iraq you must read and if possible, support, Mr. Yon's site. It's eye opening and puts all of what we're doing over there in excellent perspective, not to mention the excellent photos like the one above.

This is real news reporting people, don't pass up the opportunity to read this!

Yeah, this article begins with the word "Volunteer"
From NewScientist.com:

VOLUNTEERS taking part in tests of the Pentagon's "less-lethal" microwave weapon were banned from wearing glasses or contact lenses due to safety fears. The precautions raise concerns about how safe the Active Denial System (ADS) weapon would be if used in real crowd-control situations.

What exactly is "less-lethal" unless it means it doesn't kill as many people as it used to. Where are these volunteers coming from anyway... isn't this a good gig for those schmucks in the Guantanamo Resort?

The ADS weapon's beam causes pain within 2 to 3 seconds and it becomes intolerable after less than 5 seconds. People's reflex responses to the pain is expected to force them to move out of the beam before their skin can be burnt.

Sounds like one of them glorified pen-laser light beam thing-a-ma-jigs.

I wonder if I have some built up immunity to the beam after having used an old worn out microwave with bad seals for years? Especially after many nights of staring through the door waiting for that last popcorn kernel to burst...

The experimenters banned glasses and contact lenses to prevent possible eye damage to the subjects, and in the second and third tests removed any metallic objects such as coins and keys to stop hot spots being created on the skin. They also checked the volunteers' clothes for certain seams, buttons and zips which might also cause hot spots.

Uhh, having your zipper become atomically heated is enough to keep me in line. The teeth in those damn things are threatening enough let alone having it piping hot and up against your you know what...

During the experiments, people playing rioters put up their hands when hit and were given a 15-second cooling-down period before being targeted again. One person suffered a burn in a previous test when the beam was accidentally used on the wrong power setting.

Sorry guys... your 15 seconds are up, please step back into the beam...

Yikes... I'm a sucker for idiot tests like this...

Thanks to The Conservative UAW Guy for the real ego boost with the "fairly smart" result. Sounds more like, "you're a dummy but we don't want to hurt your feelings so you're fairly smart"


Click on picture to take test yourself... just don't tell me how ya did, the ego is fragile enough.

If you're as addicted to these asanine tests as I am, check out Silicon Valley Redneck's post where you will probably find out more than you need to know about him or yourself...

I have a hard time believing that there's going to be a long line of people signing up for Iraqi Citizenship but is this necessary?

Iraqi citizenship: Anyone but Israelis
Draft bill of rights singles out Jewish state

Here's Iraq's whole Constitution... but below is the kicker:

"Any individual with another nationality (except for Israel) may obtain Iraqi nationality after a period of residency inside the borders of Iraq of not less than ten years for an Arab or twenty years for any other nationality, as long as he has good character and behavior, and has no criminal judgment against him from the Iraqi authorities during the time of his residency on the territory of the Iraqi republic.

I'm such a rookie with computers despite the fact that I sit in front of them all day long. I thought I'd celebrate my newfound knowledge of trackbacking by jumping in on Beth's WEEKEND OPEN TRACKBACKS!

Speaking of open trackbacks... Baseball lovin Basil with one as well!

Thanks again to those who struggle to help me do the ridiculously simple!

Oh, Danny Carlton at JackLewis.net has the results of his Survey.

One in four Muslims sympathises with motives of terrorists
Oh, reaaaaalllly...

In context of todays fresh bombings as posted by Damian at Conservathink doesn't it seem that enough of them are sympathetic enough to warrant just a wee bit o'attention?

At least this cop is not taking any prisoners...

Beth with a reminder...

Here's a side of the Statue of Liberty that doesn't get much exposure...

Thanks to Mensa Barbie for this post on the Reauthorization of the Patriot Act.

From Drudge:

Reality TV Show to Seek Political Talent
Wed Jul 20 2005 21:31:20 ET

Reality television has generated American idols, top models and business apprentices. Now, some political types are hoping that a Washington D.C.-based reality show can deliver the next great political consultant!

The WASHINGTON POST reports on Thursday: A proposed eight-part series titled ``Red/Blue,'' which its creators aim to get on the air next summer, places 12 or 14 aspiring political consultants _ divided into two teams of liberals and conservatives _ inside a Georgetown townhouse that's wired with cameras and microphones a la ``Real World'' and ``Big Brother.''

The participants engage in a series of challenges, both in and out of Washington, that test their political skills. Two hopefuls, one of each political stripe, will be eliminated each week. The last man or woman standing wins $1million to spend on a cause or candidate in the 2006 election.

Developing...

I'm praying that the Democratic Operative Omarosa Manigault from The Apprentice is going to be on this show... she's just the type of wench to make this show absolutely fascinating!


I'm looking forward to the future of reality shows... Blogger Idols!

Just imagine having a camera over your desk monitoring every bedheaded news geek (uhh, me) watching your every fascinating move... ok, maybe not...

4 more homemade 'bombs' went off in Downtown London again, thankfully only injuring one thus far.

Washington Post has the story HERE...

To find out what went wrong, why the bombs didn't fully go off... for more successful future bombings? SKY NEWS has the story here... but here's a snippet:

Security sources have told Sky News that a high explosive was found on the bus, similar to that used in the July 7 attacks.

They said the strong smell of acetone would have sparked fears of a chemical attack.

And the smell indicated that the explosives had been made up incorrectly, with too much acetone and not enough peroxide.

Thanks for the tip Sky

We're told that there are an 'Unknown Number of Suspects' that the British Police are looking for... I have a tip, start with THESE PEOPLE who practically rioted in the streets of London only a couple months ago! Sounds like a good place to start.

Otherwise THIS is going to become routine.

Oh, and don't worry...
Mr. Blair calls for calm... Phew, I feel relieved!

UPDATE: Jul 21, 11:17 PM EDT
Two Arrested in London Subway, Bus Blasts
By DANICA KIRKA Associated Press Writer

LONDON (AP) -- Police in London have arrested two men in connection with four attacks on three subway trains and a double-decker bus on Thursday, a scene hauntingly similar to deadly explosions set off by four suicide bombers exactly two weeks before. It was an inescapable message that life in London now means living with the threat of terror.

The explosive devices were either faulty or too small to cause bloodshed, and the only reported injury turned out to be an asthma attack. But the lunch-hour blasts rattled a capital already on edge after the July 7 explosions, which killed 52 people and four suicide bombers.

Police said one man was detained near Downing Street, site of the prime minister's residence; the other was picked up near Tottenham Court Road, close to the Warren Street subway station where one attack took place.

"We can't minimize incidents such as this," Prime Minister Tony Blair said. "They're done to scare people, to frighten them and make them worried."

They did that.

Yeah, so what's going to happen when this starts in NYC?
Are we going to hear our politicians plead to stay calm?
Good luck...

I thought that these Catfish would've been amazing to catch...

Just imagine catching this sucker!!



OAK BLUFFS, Mass.

It wasn't too little, but it was too late.

Fishermen who hauled in a massive 1,100 pound tiger shark off Massachusetts this past weekend failed to capture first place in the monster shark derby on Martha's Vineyard.

The reason: The boat was six minutes too late in returning to Oak Bluffs harbor with its catch.

The toothy tiger shark may not have won the competition, but it did win the admiration of other fishermen. Steven James of the Boston Big Game Fishing Club said this truly was a monster shark, and one that "could eat you."

Them jaws sure look serious to me!

Well, the Lost Liberty Hotel was the first shot over the bow over opposition to the Supreme Court's Kelo vs City of New London decision to swipe private property for the 'common good'.

Danny Carlton over at JackLewis.net shows the avalanche of backlash that's only just begun... This from Texas:

Texas house protects Texans from bad SCOTUS decision

Hopefully this is only the beginning of movements across every state of this nation to implement some form of private property protection from overzealous politicians.

Kira Zalan has an excellent article here...

Seems as if Prez Bush is going to nominate a Pro-Life judge, John G. Roberts Jr. for O'Connor's seat in the Supreme Court about an hour from now.

You know what this means...

All Out War in every media way shape and form against this man. The Borking process is about to begin.

Updates to follow as news develops...

Roberts Is The Man


First reactions by Reid, Frist, NARAL, Hillary, Boxer, Durbin, Schumer, Leahy, Hastert, etc...

Judge Roberts stance on Roe vs Wade...Read here

ABC News with some background on the man...
Roberts Had Bumpy Road to Federal Bench

No support from the Alliance for Justice...

Wizbang with Bush Chooses Federal Judge...

Beth at MVRWC has a great breakdown with John Roberts nominated for SCOTUS

Transcript from the Press Conference

From the Boston Globe:

General Westmoreland dies; led US in Vietnam
By Mark Feeney, Globe Staff | July 19, 2005

General William C. Westmoreland, who as commander of US forces in South Vietnam from 1964 to 1968 presided over the period of greatest escalation in the Vietnam War, died last night. He was 91...

I hope you have a few minutes to read this article.

I had the opportunity to go through Air Force Boot Camp in San Antonio with this man's grandson in the mid-90's.

With his last name, and mine (McPeak) in the same boot camp flight, I got a hell of a lot of scrutiny while he got off unscathed because of the respect the DI's had for the Westmoreland name.

Little did I know that Merrill (Tony) McPeak, former Chief of Staff of the Air Force and no relation to me that I know of, was extremely disliked by the enlisted ranks because of his liberal leadership. Not that this means anything except that the DI's took extra pleasure in trying to break me the first few days... Anyway...

I just wanted to pay my own very small tribute to this great man who was given awful circumstances to attempt to control... Not to mention very little political support during a vicious war. My hats off to this man...

Asked once how he wanted to be remembered, General Westmoreland cited the last sentence of his memoirs, ''As a soldier prays for peace, he must be prepared to cope with the hardships of war and bear its scar. He added, ''I bear its scars."

In addition to his son and wife, General Westmoreland leaves two daughters, Katherine and Margaret, and six grandchildren.

Will this be the cure for the thousands of Americans suffering from insomnia?

By LYNN ELBER

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) - Former Vice President Al Gore, co-founder of a new television channel launching next month, said he's shunning politics - and so is his media venture.

"I consider myself a recovering politician. I'm on step nine," Gore told a meeting Monday of the Television Critics Association.

The 2004 Democratic candidate for president was asked if he was concerned the 24-hour news and information channel, called Current, would be perceived as having a political slant. It's scheduled to launch Aug. 1.

"I think the reality of the network will speak for itself. It's not intended to be partisan in any way," said Gore, Current's co-founder (with businessman Joel Hyatt) and chairman of the board.

Aimed at an 18-34-year-old audience, Current has loftier goals in mind than party politics: Gore said it will engage young people in the "dialogue of democracy" by providing stories that interest them, and will involve them in the channel's content.

Using Web parlance, Gore said he wants Current to be the channel of choice for young adults.

"We want to be the television home page for the Internet generation," he said.

Isn't that clever? *Yawn*

Who in their right mind can take this guy seriously? Especially if you watched the 2000 Presidential Elections closely.

Is there a less photogenic guy in politics? I always thought that was a prerequisite to be a politician, to look decent on TV but it seems as if Algore looks as if he's sweating off lastnight's Mexican food at all times.

Even his partners seem to be a bit scared of the looney-toon...


I hope that chick's face recovers from what appears to be another launching of one of Gore's smelly productions, most likely a result of excess green chili.

Either that or he's rehearsing for his Golden Globe winning performance:
"He betrayed this country! He played on our fears! .... uhhh, how was I guys?"

You still suck Al.

By all means, add your own picture caption in the comments... this picture is classic.

I've been pretty uninspired lately. Thankfully the same is not true for Beth over at My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy... A daily read of mine.

This post exemplifies the true Spirit of a weekend post... So if you go over there, you have to check out each link... Truly classic!

All this after she had to dodge Hurricane Dennis last week as it unleashed itself over Mobile, Alabama...

I also need to mention the excellent tribute by Damian to French Military History over at Conservathink. Pimp smacking the French never gets old...

Have a nice weekend y'all, hopefully I'll feel more inspired next week. Until then, I'll kick up my feet and watch the Yankees vs Red Sox series this weekend.

Al-Arabiya TV Report: Iranian Volunteer Suicide Bomber Organization of 40,000 "Time Bombs" Recruited to Target Americans in Iraq and Israel.

On July 2, 2005, Al-Arabiya TV broadcast a report on an Iranian movement of suicide bombers with the aim of targeting Americans in Iraq and Israel. The volunteers said they wanted to carry out martyrdom operations to liberate Islamic lands and stated that so far 40,000 "time bombs" have been recruited.

To view this clip, visit:
http://memritv.org/Search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=736.

INDIANA'S BAYH WEIGHS RUN FOR PRESIDENCY
By Julie Patel


Mercury News
Sen. Evan Bayh slammed China for manipulating its currency to help cheapen its exports. He defended the United States for refusing to sign an international agreement to reduce greenhouse emissions. He urged American leaders to crack down on countries that are violating intellectual property rights.

What the Indiana Democrat wouldn't say at a Rotary Club of San Jose meeting Wednesday is whether he's running for president.

``I am thinking about it,'' he said. ``I haven't finally decided.''...

...Bayh, 49, said he voted against the United States signing the Kyoto Protocol -- which requires developed member countries to significantly reduce greenhouse emissions by 2012 -- because developing countries such as China and India would not be impacted even though they are some of the world's fastest-growing economies. He said that is the same problem with China violating intellectual property rights, which is helping it become more efficient and more competitive than the United States in many areas.

He also blasted China for manipulating its currency to keep it undervalued. Doing this makes a country's exports cheaper and provides an unfair advantage.

``It's cheating,'' he said.

Bayh said the United States has less leverage holding countries such as China accountable to international trade standards as the United States spirals into debt.

``Our legacy to our children -- mine and yours -- should be more than unpaid bills,'' he said.

Bayh -- who became governor of Indiana at age 32, one of the youngest in the nation's history -- helped create 375,000 jobs in the state and amassed a budget surplus of $1.6 billion, according to the Web site of All America, his political action committee. He has more than $6 million left over from his last campaign, and the political action committee has raised money, too, Pfeiffer said.

Rhetoric sure sounds good... Wonder if there is any substance to it.
He's got me listening!

Where do the real Conservatives stand on China?

Senator Bayh is going to steal independent voters like me in the next presidential election with a record like his. Perhaps I should convert to Democrat soon just so I can vote in the Primary where he's sure to contend with Hillary Clinton. She has too many mind-numbed robots following her who will vote for her regardless what she stands for.

Looks to be an interesting political season on the horizon.

Beth at My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy seems to have been watching live (at 3-4am this morning!)London: Multiple Explosions

Damian over at Conservathink with a stirring post.

Wizbang breaks down the story: London Bombing Updates

Blogs of War also has the story: Terrorist Attacks Rock London

Michelle Malkin with The 7/7 Attacks: Unity

Isn't it fascinating that the people who did this stood on these intersections of London only a couple months ago and screamed to everyone who could hear that this would be done just as they said?

Amazing how those people who were threatening violence, and now have manifested it, were protected because they have the right to free speech? Whoa...

Seeing how Hollywood or the Mainstream Media isn't going to go away anytime soon, or even clean up it's act, it is safe to bet that this war on Terror is only going to escalate despite any perceived successes in Iraq.

Guess what, there are like minded barbarians who will do this in NYC as well... Remember this?

"You Muslims who are hiding in your houses, don't be afraid. Come and join us. Join us in the revival of all Islam. ... Join us to revive the Muslims from darkness into light."

Another speaker refers to the mandate for "Islam to dominate over all other religions, to dominate the world, even though the non-Muslims may hate it."

You guessed it, that was some of our fine Muslim 'citizens' in the streets of NYC! It's only a matter of time before they decide to strike there too.

Click on picture to go to their homepage

But don't bother because it is all smoke and mirrors, despite the fact that the mirrors seem awfully clear in there.

Anyway... Why in the world with all that's going on would I bother with Scientology?

Uhh, not sure, except that I'm tired of all of the heavy reality issues at the moment. I've seen enough carnage for the day to keep the TV off.
(See above, duh)

Just came across an excellent story written by Richard N. Ostling, AP Religion Writer. Here's a tease:

...Scientology and psychiatry offer directly competing explanations of the source for mental problems and techniques to deal with them.

Scientology was created by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. In "Dianetics" (1950), Hubbard said the "thetan" (soul) suffers from negative "engrams" implanted in this life and innumerable past lives — the church avoids the word "reincarnation."

Scientology "auditors" help clients work through problems using an "e-meter," similar to a lie detector. They seek a state called "Clear" and then advance through various levels of "Operating Thetan."

The church charges that psychiatry "does not meet any known definition of a science, what with its hodgepodge of unproven theories that have never produced any result." It considers reliance on psychotropic drugs as dangerous as past treatments like electric shock or lobotomies.

The American Psychiatric Association's president said last week it was irresponsible for Cruise to "deter people with mental illness from getting the care they need." The association said "rigorous, published, peer-reviewed research clearly demonstrates" that psychiatric treatment works.

All I want to know is...
What is Tom Cruise on then?
Hey, don't get me wrong, I actually like the guy as an actor and he's from the same area of Upstate NY that I was raised in, although the people there usually don't admit it.

There's just something creepy about Scientology to people.
The AP article above breaks it down very well.
Read the whole thing if you get the chance.

I'm a bit of an Astronomy nut myself, so the story about the Deep Impact mission has me pretty fascinated.

I think it is quite triumphant in fact that we have the ability to create a spacecraft adept enough to pimp slap a flying iceball that's moving a gazillion miles an hour.

Consider me impressed.

Personally, I think there's a lot to learn

Of course there are others who aren't so impressed...

I came upon this story on Drudge:

MOSCOW (AP) - NASA's mission that sent a space probe smashing into a comet raised more than cosmic dust - it also brought a lawsuit from a Russian astrologer.

Marina Bai has sued the U.S. space agency, claiming the Deep Impact probe that punched a crater into the comet Tempel 1 late Sunday "ruins the natural balance of forces in the universe," the newspaper Izvestia reported Tuesday. A Moscow court has postponed hearings on the case until late July, the paper said.

Scientists say the crash did not significantly alter the comet's orbit around the sun and said the experiment does not pose any danger to Earth.

The probe's comet crash sent up a cloud of debris that scientists hope to examine to learn how the solar system was formed.

Bai is seeking damages totaling $300 million - the approximate equivalent of the mission's cost - for her "moral sufferings," Izvestia said, citing her lawyer Alexander Molokhov. She earlier told the paper that the experiment would "deform her horoscope."

NASA representatives in Russia could not be reached for comment on the case.

'natural balance of forces in the universe' eh?

Uhh, forgive my novice opinion but the Universe seems pretty freaking chaotic to me, at least as far as the flying iceballs zooming around at gazillion miles an hour go.

How about this 'moral suffering' baloney? If she can sue for moral suffering from what happens to an iceball hurtling through essentially emptiness at gazillions of miles an hour, man, I can't wait to sue for all the good cereal that the kids eat when they wake up before I do. You know how much suffering that causes each morning that occurs? '$300 million doesn't even touch it!

If deformation of a horoscope becomes available for litigation and settlements, just imagine the suit I can bring when I sue my kids for deformation of a father's anticipation of mouwing down a big bowl processed air balls! I'll be rich!

From Mosnews.com:

Bai is not the only astrologist worried about messing with the Universe.

“Imagine leaving Moscow, then returning to find everything’s changed,” says Vladimir Portnov, a physicist and a professional astrologist. “Of course, everyday people will feel the implications of destroying a comet.”

According to Portnov, even something as “minor” as comets play a role in creating humanity’s psychic environment. By wantonly destroying a comet, NASA will inevitably disrupt that environment — with the most likely result being mass anxiety.

What in the world are they putting in the Vodka over there? Apparently the disasterous effects of Chernobyl are still affecting the population.

Confucius Say, Fourth of July is very American Holiday...

Uhhh, thanks Confuc, here's some poker chips, see ya at the bar later, although you're lookin a bit stoned bro, may wanna lay off of the pipe.

Alright, sorry, that was pretty lame.

The family and I are spending our Fourth of July weekend in Provo Utah this year with some of my wife's cousins who are absolutely gracious hosts. (Or nutz if you consider that they've let my wife, I, and our five kids all stay at their house for 4 days!)

One thing that stands out about this area of the country is the zeal and love of this holiday by what seems to be every neighborhood we drove through. The Flags are flying, the firecrackers bursting, and the grills smoking. All the local businesses have their windows painted and signs up wishing blessings upon this country. The streets have American Flags draped on every lamp post and street corner.

It is this backbone of patriotism in the small neighborhood towns that make this country great and proud. Despite what the boneheads in DC do, these people will always love and stand up for their country.

We're all good and sunburned and leg weary after our trek around Utah yesterday hitting pools and 4th of July celebrations. All of which culminated in an absolutely incredible 45 minute long firework tribute to America's Independence at BYU's Edwards stadium. It was breath taking and very well named, "Stadium of Fire".

Confucius say, get rest young ones, for tomorrow is actual 4th of July and you have much swimming, baseball, football, volleyball, bbq'ing, and firework watching to go. Hey, he wasn't considered one of the greatest philosophers of all time for nuttin!

God Bless this Great Country.
Whadd'ya say Confuc?