There’s nothing like running Hell bent for leather at the enemy with your grenade and it’s fuse flying madly in the wind, and upon spotting an enemy combatant, to grab one end of the grenade in your teeth, pull, and let the rest fly. One of the kids would say “Man we don’t keep bombs like that in our bathroom. All we got is these stick-on headbands.”
Blogville High
The Commissar has uncovered the “Blogville 1965 High School Yearbook”
(I’m not sure what I did, exactly, to be included in such fast company – but I’m flattered, nonetheless!)
Under The Media Radar
A “Summer Pulse 04” update?
While it is certainly true that the Pentagon plans for a wide variety of scenarios on a routine basis, the confluence of so many of them based on a conflict with China — during a time when the nation is engaged in a global war against Islamic terrorists and spread very thin by major combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, is quite noteworthy.
Go read James Joyner’s Tech Central Station article “The Dragon Stirs
When and if the Taiwan – Chinese situation boils over into full fledged crisis, the critics in the media are going to accuse Bush-Rumsfeld of being asleep at the wheel. That, my friends, will be something called “projection”.
Update – speaking of under-reporting, Wretchard has been following the situation in the Phillipines.
The scene is now set for a possible resurgence of fighting. A glance at the map dramatically illustrates the bind that Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the Philippine Government have worked themselves into. For the first time in a century, Muslim rebels have established themselves in force on the Mindanao mainland, away from their traditional strongholds of Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-tawi, island groups in the southwest corner of the archipelago. They are positioned on the west side of Mindanao’s breadbasket, the Cotabato valley. The MILF camps guard the the approaches to mountain massifs to the west which then give on the sea, their line of supply. They isolate the predominantly Christian Zamboanga peninsula from Northern Mindanao and essentially cut the huge island in two. The Armed Forces of the Philippines, despite a nominal strength of ten divisions, has very little combat power. A lack of logistical support and ammunition stockpiles means that (Belmont Club estimate) it can sustain offensive operations with only two battalions for a period of 12 weeks after which it simply runs out of everything. Thus, Manila has long lacked an offensive option against the MILF and has tried to compensate by “peace talks”, which are another name for appeasement.
Meanwhile, on CTV national news last night; Canadians were alerted to this breaking news in a report by Ellen Pinchuk, in Moscow.
Dots? What Dots?
Steven Taylor addresses today’s questioning (by the NYT, WaPo and others) of the heightened security in New York and Washington succinctly;
The damned-if-do, damned-if-you-don’t nature of the politics and analysis of this type of situation is growing wearisome. On the one hand, dots are supposed to be connected and imagination is supposed to be deployed, yet: don’t cry wolf!
He also has a question for the Washington Post’s Dan Eggen and Dana Priest;
why is there a quote from “a senior law enforcement official” expressing doubts about the alerts in the first three paragraphs of the piece (along with the description of the data as being old), but the quote that notes that the information may have post-9/11 components, along with quotes from officials who think that this may be part of an ongoing plot are all well down the piece?
I can answer that one.
Tamra Keepness: 4 Weeks
During a search of the Pasqua First Nation for still missing five year old
Tamra Keepness, the police recieved a call about a burning van about 10 km from the search area.
There were human remains inside. Forensics haven’t begun, or the body identified, but they don’t believe it’s related to the case. Weird.
Terry McAuliffe Napkin Scribbles
Join The Brouhaha
Over at the Shotgun, Alan Rockwell poses this question:
Why is polygamy illegal in Canada if gay marriage is a human right? Surely a man with two wives could not be considered more of a threat to the foundations of society than a man with a husband? Go ahead, mingle, talk it over, have some fun.
Here’s your invitation to join in the fun.
I won’t be posting much of an original nature until my spelling improves greatly. That will require some food and sleep.
Back, With Ribbons
Just arrived home this morning from our National Specialty in Calgary, Alberta. Started to fall asleep about 2 hours from home, and finally gave in and got a motel. Still too tired to type.
But, the Big Event was a success. We won…. well everything.
Pics in a few days, I hope.
But here’s a photo I took of the National Winner a couple of years ago, “Am.Can.Ch.Reggae Indulgence”.
Light Posting
Out of town. Check out the blogroll !
Senator Flip Flop
Christophers Law
From a reader, this ruling on Ontario’s sex offender registry. Relevant section is at the bottom, which you might want to skip right along to, unless you have a law degree and a glutton for punishment. (I skimmed, but not so quickly as to have missed this sober passage; “…but the words of McKinlay J.A. in Cuddy Chicks [1989]”.)
On to the money quote.
[130] As noted previously, the objectives of Christopher’s Law are admirable but I find that in fostering these objectives Christopher’s Law is overbroad. The legislation incorporates means which limit and violate Mr. Dyck’s right to liberty and security for no reasons. The objective of Christopher’s Law could be accomplished without infringing on the life, liberty and security interests of Mr. Dyck or others in the manner it has which I find is arbitrary or disproportionate. The provisions of Christopher’s Law impair the rights of Mr. Dyck under section 7 more than is reasonably necessary in order to achieve its legislative objectives.
[131] I find, therefore, that Christopher’s Law violates Mr. Dyck’s rights under section 7 of the Charter and the legislation cannot be justified under section 1 of the Charter.
Mr. Dyck (his real name or fun lovin’ psuedonym ? … the mind boggles) is a convicted sex offender who objected to being added to the Ontario sex offender registry and his objections are upheld.
So there you have it. Law abiding Canadian citizens are mandated by federal law to register their firearms (or face criminal prosecution) ; mandated by federal law to register all purebred animals (under threat of a $50,000 fine); by provincial law, to register all motor vehicles and trailers. They must register their intent to serve alcohol at a public gathering. They must register their intent to hold a charity raffle. They must register their newborns and their dead.
But it’s unconstitutional to mandate the errant Dyck to register his errant dick.
Bulge Over Troubled Waters
With admiring overtones, local lefty CKOM afternoon host, Kurt Leavins, played a short clip of Ted Kennedy speaking at the DNC this afternoon. In what was presumably meant to be a moment of nostalgia and profound reflection, he then shared an audio clip of the man who could have been President if the bitch had just learned to swim speaking at the funeral of his big brother, John F.
Leavens said it gave him a feeling of “deja vu”.
The spine shivers.
?
Deja vu? As in an instantanious funeral revisitation? Ted Kennedy delivering a eulogy at the DNC?
(If you say so. My Kennedy “deja vu” moments occur when young women succumb to death by rich playboy”, but that’s just me.)
In related coverage;
Via, Bankers Online, the convention schedule;
6:00pm – Opening flag burning ceremony.
6:05pm – Pledge of Allegiance to the United Nations
6:10pm – Secular words by Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton
6:30pm – Anti-war concert by Barbra Streisand.
6:45pm – Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
7:00pm – Tribute theme to France.
7:10pm – Collect offerings for al-Zawahri defense fund.
7:20pm – Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
7:30pm – Tribute theme to Germany.
7:45pm – Anti-war rally moderated by Michael Moore.
8:25pm – Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
8:30pm – Terrorist appeasement workshop.
9:00pm – Gay marriage ceremony for male and female couples.
9:20pm – Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
9:30pm – CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN urge defeat of President Bush.
10:00pm – Posting the Iraqi Colors by Sean Penn and Tim Robbins
10:10pm – Reenactment of Kerry’s fake medal toss.
10:15pm – Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
10:20pm – Cameo by Dean ‘Yeeearrrrrrrg!’
10:30pm – Abortion demonstration by N.A.R.A.L.
10:40pm – Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
10:50pm – Special thanks to the New York Times & Washington Post.
11:00pm – Multiple gay marriage ceremony for threesomes and groups.
11:10pm – Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
11:15pm – Maximizing Welfare workshop.
11:30pm – Saddam Legal Defense Fund pep rally.
11:50pm – Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
12:00pm – Nomination of Democratic candidate.
NEW: 5:00am -Ted Kennedy Will Conduct a Swimming Class.
Protein Wisdom is also blogging the convention. Well, channeling might be the more accurate word…
We’re Number 1!
F9/11 Film Fan Detained
On the eve of Michael Moore’s Crawford, Texas screening of his blockbuster documentary, Farenheit 9/11, federal officials have begun to arrest his Texas bound movie fans.
Zahra Kazemi Still Dead
Court TV, Tehran;
“Counsel for the defense most strenuously objects to the charges, your Honour.”
“We have rock solid evidence that my client had no part in the misfortune that befell this woman. He had no knowledge of her detainment, took no part in her interrogation, did not lift a hand in the beating, promptly delivered her to medical authorities upon the first that her hunger strike had resulted in low blood pressure and death by old age.”
“In her sleep, I hasten to add.”
Canadian officlals responded by threatening to hold breath until blue in the face.
The Belmont Club weighs in. His verdict on the Canadian response …. (I know the suspense is killing you.)
Martin’s Law Of Inertia
(Click on the pic to see more fabulous Pol:Spy stuff.)
Blogging The Convention
Tim Blair is in the US blogging the DNC convention.
“I’m heading into town now to set a trap for Michael Moore. I can’t reveal too much, but it involves a long piece of string, an empty cardboard box (extra large), a stick, and a cheeseburger.”
So is another one of my favourites, talk radio host Hugh Hewitt.
And this sobering convention analysis from Reason’s Matt Welch.
(Larry King) doesn’t walk, he sashays — left hand on hip, pinkie and ring-finger sticking out at dramatic angles, as he swivel-shoulders down the hallway with his jacket collar half flipped up. Looks like a 70-year-old former Teddy Boy who is very comfortable with his feminine side.
Small wonder nobody is watching the networks. The bloggers are providing the real entertainment.
A list of the rest.
Snap Peas
A few years ago I ripped up a patch of lawn with the intention of turning it into garden. Success has been well…. uneven. I’ve actually given much of it over to a tangle of wild flowers, the most successful of which are the volunteer descendants of Brown-eyed Susan seeds I plucked from a roadside several years ago. Otherwise, things have not been worth writing home about. My corn grows to 16″ in height. I have had failed potato crops. Failed potato crops. Imagine.
(Yes, I grabbed a tire iron to stake some flowers. Deal with it.)
But this year, a turnaround. I have romaine and spinach on my plate every night, there is celery and purple, green and yellow beans that will be ready in about a week. The beets are actually growing, I may get carrots and I’ve had my first feed of baby red gourmet style potatoes.
The tomatoes will still be a while yet, but they’re healthy and flowering. There’s even hope for the corn.
And snap peas! Peas with edible pods.. who knew? I’m cooking more of them tonight. Delicious little things raw or steamed. Why would anybody grow the labour intensive inedible pod varieties at all?
This wasn’t so hard, after all. All it took was some rain and a bit of planning to take better advantage of sun exposure. My thumb may be showing a hint of green after all.
I’m hooked.
Next year, I’m planting chickens.
O’Reilly Corners Moore
Matt Drudge has a leaked transcript up. It’s not pretty. One would think that with all that time to think about his accusations, Moore would have a more skilled response ready. OTOH, I think O’Reilly missed the boat by not dismissing Moore’s “send your children” faux question.
Nobody is sending “children” to Iraq. They are adults, professional soldiers and all are volunteers.
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It’s the Palestinians who send their children to war. |
Polls Sagging
This has to be a bit of a downer for convention celebrants. Kerry’s polls are sagging faster than his debotoxified face …
hmmmm….
Considering the fact that average voting Americans are only beginning to pay attention to the choices before them, maybe the DNC should rethink giving Michael “Would you say that to Bush or Kerry?” Moore a chair in the presidential box.