Monday, July 31, 2006
Hitchens: Jew-hatred ghosts in Mel's closet
We know the Arabic world isn't too keen on the Torah. Gibson revealed his true colors, and this is what Hitchens had to say...
Travel maps
Let's see who traveled most. My hunch is that JJ would win this, if he wasn't fast asleep at the wheel, as usual.
But Jean Francois Keeps on Trying
An Officer of France groveling before tyrants, especially well-oiled tyrants? We are Shocked, Shocked I tell ya..... A Zuhdi Jusser can peg Ayatollah Iran for the scheit it is, but Monsieur D'Ouzo sees only Greatness, nay, Grandeur, non, Gloire!
Manned, Gassed, and now for the Torch of Islam
Jihad certainly knows Indonesia's uses, and they are many.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
"What is whispered in the closet shall be proclaimed from the house-tops."
Those who preach Morality and Righteousness on the public podiums are getting blowjobs and intercourse in their private offices -- and in a Christian nation? Bizarre, yes? How can we explain this problematic issue that's taking place at the tax-payer's expense? Any comments? (Some days I wish Mencken's typewriter was alive more than others)
Excerpt: Perhaps the marketplace of ideas still works best when its shelves are stocked with plentiful, fresh, and unfiltered information. Perhaps the costs of protecting our privacy—intrusive courts, limited free speech—are simply too high to warrant greater regulation. It would almost certainly make for a better—if less interesting—world if we all simply behaved as though our most intimate act or comment could be disseminated worldwide by our enemies at any moment.
Well, well, well: let the Marketplace of Ideas and Enlightment Libertarianism expose the public and private contradictions!
Excerpt: Perhaps the marketplace of ideas still works best when its shelves are stocked with plentiful, fresh, and unfiltered information. Perhaps the costs of protecting our privacy—intrusive courts, limited free speech—are simply too high to warrant greater regulation. It would almost certainly make for a better—if less interesting—world if we all simply behaved as though our most intimate act or comment could be disseminated worldwide by our enemies at any moment.
Well, well, well: let the Marketplace of Ideas and Enlightment Libertarianism expose the public and private contradictions!
Mothballs: "unsteady gait," and "mental sluggishness"
While AA keeps us up to date on the longue dureé of Islamic jihad and Islamo-fascism (Going Strong Since 635AD!), I wanted to bring paradichlorobenzene abuse to the fore. Yes, we have four documented cases, as Shafer says, dating back to 1961, 1970, and 1992. Gentlemen: it's not the fall of Constantinople, nor the Jihad of Charlemange's day, nor the destruction of Marine barracks in Beirut, nor the hacking to death of Theo van Goegh, nor Jefferson sending Decatur to neutralize Barbary Pirates, nor September 11. We need not worry about any of this.
It's a good thing journalists are giving so much coverage to what really matters: huffing and ingesting mothballs.
It's a good thing journalists are giving so much coverage to what really matters: huffing and ingesting mothballs.
She's First in Rezai's Heart
And you Teutonophiles thought you had won the coveted prize with the Beast of Bergen Belsen? Ha!
From MEMRI
"The Legal Experts of the Islamic World [Should Take]... Legal Action Against Ms. Rice"
Mohsen Rezai: "In my opinion, it would be best if the legal experts of the Islamic world prepare some kind of legal action against Ms. Rice. I think this lady is the first ever female war criminal, and she should be brought to trial. She has explicitly declared - and I think this was a political mistake by her - that she is giving Israel a free hand to attack Lebanon. This in itself is enough to prepare a case against her as a war criminal
From MEMRI
"The Legal Experts of the Islamic World [Should Take]... Legal Action Against Ms. Rice"
Mohsen Rezai: "In my opinion, it would be best if the legal experts of the Islamic world prepare some kind of legal action against Ms. Rice. I think this lady is the first ever female war criminal, and she should be brought to trial. She has explicitly declared - and I think this was a political mistake by her - that she is giving Israel a free hand to attack Lebanon. This in itself is enough to prepare a case against her as a war criminal
The Perfect Litmus Test
"The Good ones become Muslim. The Bad ones do not" . I suppose the iffy ones become servile Dhimmi, or maybe fundamentalist Unitarian.
Anyhow,which of us is not heartened by this evidence that scholastic standards for academic advancement in Islam are now on par with that of Harvard or Chicago?
Anyhow,which of us is not heartened by this evidence that scholastic standards for academic advancement in Islam are now on par with that of Harvard or Chicago?
Saturday, July 29, 2006
JQ Adams contra Mohammed, a Blast From The Past
John Quincy Adams, if you've read some of his writings, was not one to be easily riled. He was no Andrew Jackson or Aaron Burr, for example. Yet look at what a dose of barbary-c Islam wrought in him.....Although he led a very different political faction, Jefferson had a similar reaction.....Those who founded the USA were as clear on the compatability of the Democratic and Islamic visions of what is possible in this world as was Al Qutb or the faculties of the Al-Azhar or Al-Imam universities.
Thanks to bigpic blog.
"As I've noted in the post The Memento Syndrome: Humanity's Short-Term Memory, we tend to think that anything that's relatively new in our lifetime, has never happened before. So this quote from John Quincy Adams on Islam, is revealing. From The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades) by Robert Spencer, page 83:
John Quincy Adams on Islam:
"In the seventh century of the Christian era, a wandering Arab of the lineage of Hagar [i.e., Muhammad], the Egyptian, [.....] Adopting from the new Revelation of Jesus, the faith and hope of immortal life, and of future retribution, he humbled it to the dust by adapting all the rewards and sanctions of his religion to the gratification of the sexual passion. He poisoned the sources of human felicity at the fountain, by degrading the condition of the female sex, and the allowance of polygamy; and he declared undistinguishing and exterminating war, as a part of his religion, against all the rest of mankind. THE ESSENCE OF HIS DOCTRINE WAS VIOLENCE AND LUST.- TO EXALT THE BRUTAL OVER THE SPIRITUAL PART OF HUMAN NATURE.... Between these two religions, thus contrasted in their characters, a war of twelve hundred years has already raged. The war is yet flagrant ... While the merciless and dissolute dogmas of the false prophet shall furnish motives to human action, there can never be peace upon earth, and good will towards men."
(Capitals are in the original -- the boldfacing has been added for this blog post.)
The behavior of radical Islamist terrorists has nothing to do with Iraq or Israel. It's been going on since the seventh century. "
Thanks to bigpic blog.
"As I've noted in the post The Memento Syndrome: Humanity's Short-Term Memory, we tend to think that anything that's relatively new in our lifetime, has never happened before. So this quote from John Quincy Adams on Islam, is revealing. From The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades) by Robert Spencer, page 83:
John Quincy Adams on Islam:
"In the seventh century of the Christian era, a wandering Arab of the lineage of Hagar [i.e., Muhammad], the Egyptian, [.....] Adopting from the new Revelation of Jesus, the faith and hope of immortal life, and of future retribution, he humbled it to the dust by adapting all the rewards and sanctions of his religion to the gratification of the sexual passion. He poisoned the sources of human felicity at the fountain, by degrading the condition of the female sex, and the allowance of polygamy; and he declared undistinguishing and exterminating war, as a part of his religion, against all the rest of mankind. THE ESSENCE OF HIS DOCTRINE WAS VIOLENCE AND LUST.- TO EXALT THE BRUTAL OVER THE SPIRITUAL PART OF HUMAN NATURE.... Between these two religions, thus contrasted in their characters, a war of twelve hundred years has already raged. The war is yet flagrant ... While the merciless and dissolute dogmas of the false prophet shall furnish motives to human action, there can never be peace upon earth, and good will towards men."
(Capitals are in the original -- the boldfacing has been added for this blog post.)
The behavior of radical Islamist terrorists has nothing to do with Iraq or Israel. It's been going on since the seventh century. "
Islam is Peace in the Pacific Northwest
What a shocker. There we were all fully expecting some Fundy Baptist or madcapped OrthoJewDude to go to the local Sisters of Hebzollah charity and gun down 6 hijabied innocents. After all, as Pepe assured us ad nauseam, except for a tiny eeny meeny few Islam is Peace; and we freecounterpoint wackos should start paying some attention to the Evil that just makes the New Testament reek with danger to us all [if we would but smell it]. So there we were, full of keen eyed vigilance against the Bible thumpers, completely Bush-wacked by this assuredly lone and disrespected, and perhaps even impoverished by the Jew-Kapital Power Structure, troubled individual who in no way is indicative of Islam. For Islam is Love, as O'Brien taught us all.
OK. A couple of notes, this occurred right downtown Seattle, just above Pike's Market, so the Boston equivalent would be an attack near the Barnes and Noble, near old City Hall, above Faneuil. There are three mosques within a handful of blocks from that spot, one built specifically and the other two rented spaces. The largest is Sunni-Whahabi, another is Shiite, and one is attached to an Islamic "cultural" center. Since the gunman is a Pakistani immigrant [only "American-Muslim" to the same extent that Richard Pearl was a "Pakistani-Jew" ] probably he is Sunni and attached to the S-W one. Anyway, I guarantee you that there were those who knew, and approved of, what he was about to do.
OK. A couple of notes, this occurred right downtown Seattle, just above Pike's Market, so the Boston equivalent would be an attack near the Barnes and Noble, near old City Hall, above Faneuil. There are three mosques within a handful of blocks from that spot, one built specifically and the other two rented spaces. The largest is Sunni-Whahabi, another is Shiite, and one is attached to an Islamic "cultural" center. Since the gunman is a Pakistani immigrant [only "American-Muslim" to the same extent that Richard Pearl was a "Pakistani-Jew" ] probably he is Sunni and attached to the S-W one. Anyway, I guarantee you that there were those who knew, and approved of, what he was about to do.
Friday, July 28, 2006
Islam Don't Need No Stinking Hippocratic Oath
The Houston mosques are producing fine works, so far, with one sliced Jewish throat, and two stinking Kufr bang'a-di-banged. Admittedly pathetic amateur stuff compared to the fine Boyz of Luton or Paris-st.Germaine, never mind the high-powered Ummah Leagues, but still infinitely more bang for their buck than the Baptists or Episcopalians
Beyond Even the Consolation of Boethius
"Premodern Islam beats postmodern Christianity" [or other similarly enervated isms, including that of Herr Karl]. It says little good about the human race that our minds so 'abhor a vacuum' that masses embrace a virulently Vicious Something rather than continue the day with a mere handful of dust. It says even less good about those within the human race who deliberately seek out the most creative, truth seeking, and life-affirming aspects of our world, only to deliberately seek to render them into that dust, into oblivion....
Our Feckless Leaders Fecked Us !
Long Range Forethought ain't the strongest quality in our "Elite", true enough. Even in the short range "Promethean" is not an adjective that comes to our minds in describing their minds. We are Fecked, so never mind.
The below from "Lastonga", who posts on DP.
"Lebanon has become a clear-cut model for how the third threat operates. The withdrawal of Syria’s army was trumpeted as a breakthrough on the path toward democracy, but now that the West is finished congratulating itself it’s time to notice that it did nothing to prevent Hezbollah from subverting and paralyzing Lebanon’s government.
As Walid Phares outlined the process in Lebanon:
Between 2000 and 2005, Hezbollah increased its influence in Lebanese politics, becoming the dominant force, and remaining the principal ally of Syrian occupation. In this half decade, Tehran supplied the organization with weapons capable of reaching remote areas inside Israel. In those years as well, Hezbollah extended and grew its cells around the world including in South America, North America, West Africa and Western Europe. But the surge to high power, both in Lebanon and worldwide began to face challenges as of September 11, 2001.
…In a few months (after the Cedar Revolution,) a number of leading politicians and journalists were savagely murdered by the pro-Syrian camp: Syrian intelligence, Hezbollah and other groups were suspected as being behind the assassination campaign. In parallel, Hezbollah and its allies outmaneuvered the parliamentary majority, which was supposed to form an anti-Baathist Government, bring down the pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud and remove the pro-Syrian speaker of the House, Nabih Berri. A magic hand convinced the so-called politicians of the March 14 movement, that none of these measures is feasible. Hence Syria maintained its power in Lebanon, while U.S and French Presidents were singing the praise of the liberation of Lebanon. Furthermore, and in a suicidal move the Lebanese cabinet, headed by Fouad Seniora invited Hezbollah to join the Government, before the latter disarm. By the summer of last year, the Cedars Revolution was bleeding seriously.
By early July 2006, Hezbollah’s preparations for the bloody return to the top were fulfilled. The organization had already accomplished its Lebanese tasks:
1) Elimination (direct or in conjunction with Syrian intelligence or Syrian Social Nationalists) of visible symbols of anti-Syrian leadership: Tueni, Qassir and Hawi, and attempts against others such as May Chidiac, as an intimidation lesson to all others.
2) Paralysis of PM Seniora’s cabinet from the inside and in cooperation with President Lahoud networks on the outside.
3) Paralysis of the parliament in collaboration with speaker Berri and the Aoun bloc.
4) Dragging the political forces in the country in the so-called national dialogue on the weapons of Hezbollah, a major waste of time and marginalization of the 1559 stipulation.
3) Intimidation of the Lebanese army command.
4) Attempts to divide the Lebanese Diaspora by implanting agents linked to the axis.
5) Reactivation of the pro-Syrian and Jihadist networks in Lebanon and within the Palestinian camps.
6) Distribution of weapons among allied militias.
7) Finally and most importantly, completing the final steps in the deployment of a system of rockets and long range artillery batteries aimed at Israel.
Iran’s effort to establish a Hezbollah-style army in Gaza/West Bank shows how Iran’s refined terror apparatus, power-projection infrastructure and oil money can make Iran a dangerous player in any Mideast area Iran chooses. Yehudit Barsky captured the basics in this January 2006 article:
Since 2000, Iran has invested increasing amounts of funds, training, and logistical support that is dispensed via Hezbollah to Fatah affiliates in the West Bank and Gaza, effectively opening a new front for Iran and Hezbollah's war against Israel.
An indication of the extent to which the Palestinian Authority became a client of Iran was the January 2002 attempted delivery of arms purchased by the Palestinian Authority from Iran with the assistance of Hezbollah.
The Iranian effort to infiltrate the Palestinian areas has only increased. Hezbollah serves as a conduit for the distribution of Iranian funds to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and Tanzim, both affiliated with Fatah, for terror attacks against Israelis.
Thus, there are an ever-increasing number of terror operatives from these factions that now work for Iran. As of October 2004, 80% of the terror attacks that took place in or originating from the West Bank against Israelis were coordinated by Hezbollah. Nearly all of the terror activities carried out by the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades were reportedly directed and financed by Hezbollah and Iran. Hezbollah reportedly awards bounties of $5,000 for each Israeli killed by Fatah terrorist cells. As a result, these operatives remain agents of the Fatah factions in name only.
A major reason why Iran poses such a regional threat is that Iran works patiently and strategically to build its capabilities. Americans have become accustomed to the fecklessness of our own White House, State Department and intelligence services, and may find it difficult to believe that not every global power is unfocused and dilatory. Here’s how a fine Washington Institute piece from December 2004 sums up Iran’s methods:
The activities of Hizballah and Iran in the Arab-Israeli arena are noteworthy for both their duration (spanning more than two decades) and their scope (involving activities on all fronts of the conflict and in several regions and countries—including Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran).
Their activities bespeak a rare combination of seriousness, constancy of purpose, technical competence, and strategic acumen. It is hard not to conclude that for Hizballah and Iran, the ability to disrupt Arab-Israeli negotiations, undermine and demoralize Israeli society, and threaten Israel's major population centers are strategic objectives of vital importance to be actively pursued.
That helps clarify why the Arab states fear Iran, and that Iran's capabilities and victories have put the Arabs between a rock and a hard place. The Arabs would like to join a common front against Iran, but so far no such bloc exists. The Bush administration has spent the past five years scrupulously avoiding efforts to topple the mullahs, and last year endorsed Europe’s transparently fraudulent negotiations regarding Iran’s program to develop nuclear weapons. The Arabs saw an Iranian proxy conquer southern Iraq under the nose of a massive, American-led military force, and other Iran-backed groups kil hundreds of US troops in Iraq without the slightest repercussions for Iran itself.
Since the Arab regimes are (and always were) the most immediate targets for imperialist Iran and the global Islamist movement, the Arabs know the long-term existence of their governments -- and indeed their national identities -- depends on stopping Iran. As matters now stand, they have no compelling reason to believe that will happen and every reason to believe it won’t.
The Arab states therefore can only conclude that, though they must confront Iran, it is suicidal for them to actual do so. If they join in America’s denunciations, America will abandon them later as part of its own efforts to co-exist and accommodate Iran. There will be no more Kuwait-style rescues, because Kuwait and other Arab states will fall not to Iran’s troops but to internal subversion by Iranian elements. Even an American military presence in an Arab state will not prevent this, and might accelerate it or even support it. The best the Arabs can do is buy time for themselves and hope something changes in their favor.
So, if the Arabs do not rally against Iran, a major part of the reason is the absolute absence of US leadership. We cannot justly blame the Arabs unless we also discover the larger fault to be our own and take forceful, timely action to correct our blunders."
The below from "Lastonga", who posts on DP.
"Lebanon has become a clear-cut model for how the third threat operates. The withdrawal of Syria’s army was trumpeted as a breakthrough on the path toward democracy, but now that the West is finished congratulating itself it’s time to notice that it did nothing to prevent Hezbollah from subverting and paralyzing Lebanon’s government.
As Walid Phares outlined the process in Lebanon:
Between 2000 and 2005, Hezbollah increased its influence in Lebanese politics, becoming the dominant force, and remaining the principal ally of Syrian occupation. In this half decade, Tehran supplied the organization with weapons capable of reaching remote areas inside Israel. In those years as well, Hezbollah extended and grew its cells around the world including in South America, North America, West Africa and Western Europe. But the surge to high power, both in Lebanon and worldwide began to face challenges as of September 11, 2001.
…In a few months (after the Cedar Revolution,) a number of leading politicians and journalists were savagely murdered by the pro-Syrian camp: Syrian intelligence, Hezbollah and other groups were suspected as being behind the assassination campaign. In parallel, Hezbollah and its allies outmaneuvered the parliamentary majority, which was supposed to form an anti-Baathist Government, bring down the pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud and remove the pro-Syrian speaker of the House, Nabih Berri. A magic hand convinced the so-called politicians of the March 14 movement, that none of these measures is feasible. Hence Syria maintained its power in Lebanon, while U.S and French Presidents were singing the praise of the liberation of Lebanon. Furthermore, and in a suicidal move the Lebanese cabinet, headed by Fouad Seniora invited Hezbollah to join the Government, before the latter disarm. By the summer of last year, the Cedars Revolution was bleeding seriously.
By early July 2006, Hezbollah’s preparations for the bloody return to the top were fulfilled. The organization had already accomplished its Lebanese tasks:
1) Elimination (direct or in conjunction with Syrian intelligence or Syrian Social Nationalists) of visible symbols of anti-Syrian leadership: Tueni, Qassir and Hawi, and attempts against others such as May Chidiac, as an intimidation lesson to all others.
2) Paralysis of PM Seniora’s cabinet from the inside and in cooperation with President Lahoud networks on the outside.
3) Paralysis of the parliament in collaboration with speaker Berri and the Aoun bloc.
4) Dragging the political forces in the country in the so-called national dialogue on the weapons of Hezbollah, a major waste of time and marginalization of the 1559 stipulation.
3) Intimidation of the Lebanese army command.
4) Attempts to divide the Lebanese Diaspora by implanting agents linked to the axis.
5) Reactivation of the pro-Syrian and Jihadist networks in Lebanon and within the Palestinian camps.
6) Distribution of weapons among allied militias.
7) Finally and most importantly, completing the final steps in the deployment of a system of rockets and long range artillery batteries aimed at Israel.
Iran’s effort to establish a Hezbollah-style army in Gaza/West Bank shows how Iran’s refined terror apparatus, power-projection infrastructure and oil money can make Iran a dangerous player in any Mideast area Iran chooses. Yehudit Barsky captured the basics in this January 2006 article:
Since 2000, Iran has invested increasing amounts of funds, training, and logistical support that is dispensed via Hezbollah to Fatah affiliates in the West Bank and Gaza, effectively opening a new front for Iran and Hezbollah's war against Israel.
An indication of the extent to which the Palestinian Authority became a client of Iran was the January 2002 attempted delivery of arms purchased by the Palestinian Authority from Iran with the assistance of Hezbollah.
The Iranian effort to infiltrate the Palestinian areas has only increased. Hezbollah serves as a conduit for the distribution of Iranian funds to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and Tanzim, both affiliated with Fatah, for terror attacks against Israelis.
Thus, there are an ever-increasing number of terror operatives from these factions that now work for Iran. As of October 2004, 80% of the terror attacks that took place in or originating from the West Bank against Israelis were coordinated by Hezbollah. Nearly all of the terror activities carried out by the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades were reportedly directed and financed by Hezbollah and Iran. Hezbollah reportedly awards bounties of $5,000 for each Israeli killed by Fatah terrorist cells. As a result, these operatives remain agents of the Fatah factions in name only.
A major reason why Iran poses such a regional threat is that Iran works patiently and strategically to build its capabilities. Americans have become accustomed to the fecklessness of our own White House, State Department and intelligence services, and may find it difficult to believe that not every global power is unfocused and dilatory. Here’s how a fine Washington Institute piece from December 2004 sums up Iran’s methods:
The activities of Hizballah and Iran in the Arab-Israeli arena are noteworthy for both their duration (spanning more than two decades) and their scope (involving activities on all fronts of the conflict and in several regions and countries—including Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran).
Their activities bespeak a rare combination of seriousness, constancy of purpose, technical competence, and strategic acumen. It is hard not to conclude that for Hizballah and Iran, the ability to disrupt Arab-Israeli negotiations, undermine and demoralize Israeli society, and threaten Israel's major population centers are strategic objectives of vital importance to be actively pursued.
That helps clarify why the Arab states fear Iran, and that Iran's capabilities and victories have put the Arabs between a rock and a hard place. The Arabs would like to join a common front against Iran, but so far no such bloc exists. The Bush administration has spent the past five years scrupulously avoiding efforts to topple the mullahs, and last year endorsed Europe’s transparently fraudulent negotiations regarding Iran’s program to develop nuclear weapons. The Arabs saw an Iranian proxy conquer southern Iraq under the nose of a massive, American-led military force, and other Iran-backed groups kil hundreds of US troops in Iraq without the slightest repercussions for Iran itself.
Since the Arab regimes are (and always were) the most immediate targets for imperialist Iran and the global Islamist movement, the Arabs know the long-term existence of their governments -- and indeed their national identities -- depends on stopping Iran. As matters now stand, they have no compelling reason to believe that will happen and every reason to believe it won’t.
The Arab states therefore can only conclude that, though they must confront Iran, it is suicidal for them to actual do so. If they join in America’s denunciations, America will abandon them later as part of its own efforts to co-exist and accommodate Iran. There will be no more Kuwait-style rescues, because Kuwait and other Arab states will fall not to Iran’s troops but to internal subversion by Iranian elements. Even an American military presence in an Arab state will not prevent this, and might accelerate it or even support it. The best the Arabs can do is buy time for themselves and hope something changes in their favor.
So, if the Arabs do not rally against Iran, a major part of the reason is the absolute absence of US leadership. We cannot justly blame the Arabs unless we also discover the larger fault to be our own and take forceful, timely action to correct our blunders."
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Subliminal: no, just in your face, or head
Slate.com has some of the better contemporary social critics than I seem to be able to find elsewhere, or at least on a regular basis elsewhere. If you've sat in front of the television for any amount of time, there's a chance you've seen this commercial. It's a real mind fuck, but still effective:
Excerpt: As for this ad campaign, it is utter genius. With this one 10-second spot, the makers of HeadOn have torn down all the pretenses that have gummed up the advertising industry for years. Production values? Persuasion? Emotion? Humor (of the intentional kind)? These are stalwarts of the old, outmoded advertising paradigm. The new, head-on (or HeadOn) approach holds that advertising is about blunt force.
The spot Mr. Stevenson is referring to goes something like this:
Excerpt: The Spot: A woman rubs what appears to be a glue stick across her forehead. The voice-over repeats one sentence in triplicate: "HeadOn: Apply directly to the forehead. HeadOn: Apply directly to the forehead. HeadOn: Apply directly to the forehead." We cut to an image of the product in its packaging, while the voice-over tells us that "HeadOn is available without a prescription at retailers nationwide."
Excerpt: As for this ad campaign, it is utter genius. With this one 10-second spot, the makers of HeadOn have torn down all the pretenses that have gummed up the advertising industry for years. Production values? Persuasion? Emotion? Humor (of the intentional kind)? These are stalwarts of the old, outmoded advertising paradigm. The new, head-on (or HeadOn) approach holds that advertising is about blunt force.
The spot Mr. Stevenson is referring to goes something like this:
Excerpt: The Spot: A woman rubs what appears to be a glue stick across her forehead. The voice-over repeats one sentence in triplicate: "HeadOn: Apply directly to the forehead. HeadOn: Apply directly to the forehead. HeadOn: Apply directly to the forehead." We cut to an image of the product in its packaging, while the voice-over tells us that "HeadOn is available without a prescription at retailers nationwide."
Ursus Major Gets Grizzly Prime-Evil
To all you PETA arsebags, take care to note the contents of this Grizzly's gut after the Alaskan applied the proper NRA solution to Brother Bear's diet problem. I do not think a dog and a 6 inch blade would have done the trick in this case.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Archaeological Crime Scene?
The items found at the site of America's first permanent English settlement included the Scottish pistol, a man's leather shoe and a small lead plaque reading "James Towne" — the equivalent of a Colonial luggage tag.
Okay, gentlemen. We can certainly think of a better scenario than some Brit "accidentally knocking" his brass pistol in a well, yes?
And just to nudge the yahoo report back to reality: Besides Indian artifacts, the items are among the oldest [European artifacts] ever unearthed in America. "They're the earliest you could find in what is now the United States," said William Kelso, director of archaeology for the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.
[Note: We've (yes, the royal Americas "We") got Native American sites yielding artifacts well over 11,000 years old.]
Okay, gentlemen. We can certainly think of a better scenario than some Brit "accidentally knocking" his brass pistol in a well, yes?
And just to nudge the yahoo report back to reality: Besides Indian artifacts, the items are among the oldest [European artifacts] ever unearthed in America. "They're the earliest you could find in what is now the United States," said William Kelso, director of archaeology for the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.
[Note: We've (yes, the royal Americas "We") got Native American sites yielding artifacts well over 11,000 years old.]
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Wacademic Success in 10 Easy Pieces
or, How Barrett Followed His Little Dick and Learnt to Love Allah
AI, do you remember a year, or so, ago when those girls were arrested in the throat cutting incidences in Berkeley? And that the driver of the car was released, under political pressure from Islamic groups, after she claimed she had no idea her cohort was doing nasty shit in those minutes out of the car? Remember JJ found this a little less fantastical than we did? He noted that the name of the girl caught red-handed doing the cutting did not sound Islamic, and he noted that the driver belonged to a Sufi sect, which has a mystical streak, and mystical Islam was never a problem because it is all about Peace and Love? When he recovers from his post Azzurri running with the Ouzo Goats, perhaps we should remind him of this?
Oh, by the way, this past year the leading group behind Islam Militant in Morrocco pressured the government to order the closing of all Philosophy faculties in Morrocco, to be replaced by expanded programs in Islamic Theology [as well as other good stuff, such as forbidding student groups or classes which discussed other religions]. This group is of what brand of Islam? Yup, Sufi.....It seems like all the varieties of Islam want to get into the winning game.
AI, do you remember a year, or so, ago when those girls were arrested in the throat cutting incidences in Berkeley? And that the driver of the car was released, under political pressure from Islamic groups, after she claimed she had no idea her cohort was doing nasty shit in those minutes out of the car? Remember JJ found this a little less fantastical than we did? He noted that the name of the girl caught red-handed doing the cutting did not sound Islamic, and he noted that the driver belonged to a Sufi sect, which has a mystical streak, and mystical Islam was never a problem because it is all about Peace and Love? When he recovers from his post Azzurri running with the Ouzo Goats, perhaps we should remind him of this?
Oh, by the way, this past year the leading group behind Islam Militant in Morrocco pressured the government to order the closing of all Philosophy faculties in Morrocco, to be replaced by expanded programs in Islamic Theology [as well as other good stuff, such as forbidding student groups or classes which discussed other religions]. This group is of what brand of Islam? Yup, Sufi.....It seems like all the varieties of Islam want to get into the winning game.
Syriana Beneath the Wheel
Spengler looks into Fortuna's skein, and scrys the fall of This House of Baath
Monday, July 24, 2006
interpreting warlords throughout history
Fact or fiction, it's all reporting on the human condition:
The historian and the novelist both work to deconstruct the aggregate fictions of their societies. The scholarship of the historian does this incrementally, the novelist more abruptly, from his unforgivable (but exciting) transgressions, as he writes his way in and around and under the historian's work, animating it with the words that turn into the flesh and blood of living, feeling people.
The historian and the novelist both work to deconstruct the aggregate fictions of their societies. The scholarship of the historian does this incrementally, the novelist more abruptly, from his unforgivable (but exciting) transgressions, as he writes his way in and around and under the historian's work, animating it with the words that turn into the flesh and blood of living, feeling people.
An Old Comrade Gets It at Last
As long as you are sane, eventually your eyes will see and your ears hear
Islam is Justice; example 2,467,434
Thanks to "Dhimmiwatch" for this story....Judge Rezaii's sounds like the sort of mind that only cretins akin to Yale's admission office could admire.
"Hanged From A Crane Aged 16," from the Sunday Mirror, with thanks to JE:
IT WAS exactly 6am and the start of another blisteringly hot summer day when 16-year-old Atefeh Rajabi was dragged from her prison cell and taken to be executed.
Every step of the way the troubled teenager plagued by mental problems shouted "repentance, repentance" as the militiamen marched her to the town's Railway Square.
The Iranian judge who had sentenced Atefeh to death was left unmoved as he personally put the noose around her neck and signalled to the crane driver.
Kicking and screaming, Atefeh was left dangling for 45 minutes from the arm of the crane as the crowd sobbed and - under their breath - damned the mullahs.
Atefeh's crime? Offending public morality. She was found guilty of "acts incompatible with chastity" by having sex with an unmarried man, even though friends say Atefeh was in such a fragile mental state that she wasn't in a position to say no.
But Judge Haji Rezaii was determined she should hang, regardless of the rules of international law which say only adults over 18 can be executed, and that the courts have a duty to children and the mentally ill.
[...]
It was when Atefeh appeared before Judge Rezaii for a fourth time that she lost her temper - and also her life. In a rage she tore off her hi jab - a headscarf - and told the judge she had been raped and it was his duty to punish her tormentors, not their victim.
Rezaii told her she would hang for her "sharp tongue" and that he would put the noose around her neck himself. It became a personal crusade as he travelled to Tehran and convinced the Supreme Court to uphold his verdict."
"Hanged From A Crane Aged 16," from the Sunday Mirror, with thanks to JE:
IT WAS exactly 6am and the start of another blisteringly hot summer day when 16-year-old Atefeh Rajabi was dragged from her prison cell and taken to be executed.
Every step of the way the troubled teenager plagued by mental problems shouted "repentance, repentance" as the militiamen marched her to the town's Railway Square.
The Iranian judge who had sentenced Atefeh to death was left unmoved as he personally put the noose around her neck and signalled to the crane driver.
Kicking and screaming, Atefeh was left dangling for 45 minutes from the arm of the crane as the crowd sobbed and - under their breath - damned the mullahs.
Atefeh's crime? Offending public morality. She was found guilty of "acts incompatible with chastity" by having sex with an unmarried man, even though friends say Atefeh was in such a fragile mental state that she wasn't in a position to say no.
But Judge Haji Rezaii was determined she should hang, regardless of the rules of international law which say only adults over 18 can be executed, and that the courts have a duty to children and the mentally ill.
[...]
It was when Atefeh appeared before Judge Rezaii for a fourth time that she lost her temper - and also her life. In a rage she tore off her hi jab - a headscarf - and told the judge she had been raped and it was his duty to punish her tormentors, not their victim.
Rezaii told her she would hang for her "sharp tongue" and that he would put the noose around her neck himself. It became a personal crusade as he travelled to Tehran and convinced the Supreme Court to uphold his verdict."
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Anatomy of a Deceit
So, since Prof. Harleigh did not exist they had to invent him? Talk about the singular lack of imagination.
The Imminently Late Lloyd of the Guardian?
As Mr. Lloyd demonstrates, evaluating Islam for what it says and does is something a liberal, or even a leftist, can do without shame. If he/she but have the intestinal fortitude
When it Raines, it Leaks
Are lawyers the most obviously predictable of all those who make their livelihood in a major profession?
Saturday, July 22, 2006
But they support the troops!
Hey, spitting on the soldiers returning from Vietnam was child's play compared to this.
Derb's Opus Secunda
His first effort was quite reasonable as a popular history of the Riemann hypthesis [did you read it?]...am curious if this one, over a far less delimited subject, will be of the same quality.
Friday, July 21, 2006
The Happy Place before Preemptive War
It is a sweet and seemingly thing to die for the Promises of Phillipe Morrillon
A Conscientious Objector
It would have been a better soundbite if she had gone with "Hell No, I won't go"
Stability problems
Tens of thousands crossed the bridge on its opening day but the structure suddenly developed a very worrying and obvious wobble.
Too much pastis?
Too much pastis?
Melting pot
We are the capitalists. They are the socialists. We are the racists. They are the equal opportunity egalitarians. Here at home, liberals have, for decades, cast themselves as the defenders of oppressed minorities. Their enemies in this war, we are told, are greedy conservatives, white businessmen (i.e., capitalists), and their political henchmen, the Republicans. Conservatism is the redoubt of racist oppressors, socialism the liberator of oppressed minorities. Perhaps the greatest article of liberal faith is that American racism is the most virulent strain to ever afflict the world. Racism, we are constantly scolded, is "everywhere" in America.
The Frenchy/Lefty dogma in a nutshell. On a par with the flat-earthers.
But are these presumptions warranted by logic, reason, or human experience? How is it that France has race riots in 2006, while the U.S. is the volitional home to more ethnicities and cultures than can be found in any other consensual political union on the planet? How is it that Azerbaijanis and Armenians, Hutus and Tutsis, Serbs and Croats, Hindus and Sikhs, and all manner of other people who used to butcher each back home, can all come to America and live in relative peace?
Ah, but Cartesian logic is too complicated to follow.
The Frenchy/Lefty dogma in a nutshell. On a par with the flat-earthers.
But are these presumptions warranted by logic, reason, or human experience? How is it that France has race riots in 2006, while the U.S. is the volitional home to more ethnicities and cultures than can be found in any other consensual political union on the planet? How is it that Azerbaijanis and Armenians, Hutus and Tutsis, Serbs and Croats, Hindus and Sikhs, and all manner of other people who used to butcher each back home, can all come to America and live in relative peace?
Ah, but Cartesian logic is too complicated to follow.
Les grands esprits se rencontrent
The 5,000-word letter is a rambling treatise outlining what Mr. Hussein asserts are the false reasons that the Bush administration used to justify the war in Iraq, from weapons of mass destruction to Iraqi links with Al Qaeda. Mr. Hussein blames Iran and pro-Israel interests for helping lead the Americans into war. He invokes the specter of Vietnam and the spirit of Mao Zedong, saying the Chinese revolutionary is “laughing in his grave because his prediction has been fulfilled and America is a paper tiger.”
Un air de deja vu?
Un air de deja vu?
Thursday, July 20, 2006
JJ driving?
Those Italian cops sure do have nice cars to catch him after he's had one too many ouzos!
Redefining chutzpah
Omar wants to go back to London. A meanie Anglo-Saxon denies his humble request. The horror! The horror!
As an aside, here are two quotes from dear Omar, courtesy of wiki:
"The life of an unbeliever has no value, it has no sanctity."
"I would like to see the Islamic flag fly, not only over number 10 Downing Street, but over the whole world."
Hey, it's just free speech, dontcha know?
As an aside, here are two quotes from dear Omar, courtesy of wiki:
"The life of an unbeliever has no value, it has no sanctity."
"I would like to see the Islamic flag fly, not only over number 10 Downing Street, but over the whole world."
Hey, it's just free speech, dontcha know?
FBRP-MV Sorry, Left Out this part
Zapatero, continuing.
'Understand Nazis'
Although many experts had foretold of the imminent disappearing of European Jews, nobody expected such a virulent explosion of anti-Semitism in Spain, not even under a Leftist government.
The first signal came on Monday, 5 December, when during a dinner with the Benarroch family, Zapatero and wife began claiming what Vidal Quadras, member of the European Parliament, described on the radio as "a tirade of anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism".
By the moment the Benarroch couple had left the table to express their regrets, Zapatero was explaining his lack of surprise about the Holocaust: according to the people present, Zapatero claimed to understand the Nazis.
'Understand Nazis'
Although many experts had foretold of the imminent disappearing of European Jews, nobody expected such a virulent explosion of anti-Semitism in Spain, not even under a Leftist government.
The first signal came on Monday, 5 December, when during a dinner with the Benarroch family, Zapatero and wife began claiming what Vidal Quadras, member of the European Parliament, described on the radio as "a tirade of anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism".
By the moment the Benarroch couple had left the table to express their regrets, Zapatero was explaining his lack of surprise about the Holocaust: according to the people present, Zapatero claimed to understand the Nazis.
Forward to the Brilliant & Radiant Past, Mein Volk
AI asked if the making of New Muslims out of the Left, as in the case of Joao Silva [or, for that matter, Trousset], is a thing on the rise. Speaking for Portugal, very much so. The making of New Muslims out of Comrades is one aspect of it, another is that this occurs on the fertile ground of overt alliance between Red and Green political parties and social movements in society in general. For example, restricting myself to Portugal, Joao Saramago, now Nobel Prize in literature, once a commmunist proud of his praxis [including personally recommending, to the security forces under the marxist "Troika" government in the mid 70s, the arrest of journalists who worked with him at the Diario de Noticias for "counterrevolutionary tendencies"], has made it a mission in the last robust decade or so, definitely by 1995, to encourage linkage and "convergence" [his phrase] of Marxism with Islam as the solution to the "Liberal corruption" [his phrase].
This is not just Portugal of course...It would be an interesting test of Pepe's seriousness on all this to see if he recognizes just how much further down this road France is...anyway, a little blurb below shows a nice touch of what is playing out in Spain.
Am I surprised by this, ?? Absolutely, and I mean absolutely, not. If you but looked it was already present long past, certainly when I was a child in Portugal in the 1960s and 70s. But that is a long enough story to warrant my making it to Boston one fine day to quaff a non-ouzo beverage of choice. [Am aiming for a short period at the end of this year]
"In Spain, anti-Semitism is new leftist trend
Spanish Jews knew there were hard times ahead. Prime Minister Zapatero has not disappointed them
Ignacio Russell Cano
Madrid: Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain and Secretary General of the Socialist Party, arrived to power at a time nobody expected, not even inside the Party.
Keen on populist tirades against the United States "Dickhead Bush" and "Ketchup Queen Kerry", his whole campaign did not bring much attention until the moment Al-Qaeda decided to blow up Madrid trains, killing almost 200 people and bringing to an end Spain's membership of the West.
From that moment on, everybody knew nothing would be the same, and Spanish Jews knew there were hard times ahead. Prime Minister Zapatero has not disappointed them.
This is not just Portugal of course...It would be an interesting test of Pepe's seriousness on all this to see if he recognizes just how much further down this road France is...anyway, a little blurb below shows a nice touch of what is playing out in Spain.
Am I surprised by this, ?? Absolutely, and I mean absolutely, not. If you but looked it was already present long past, certainly when I was a child in Portugal in the 1960s and 70s. But that is a long enough story to warrant my making it to Boston one fine day to quaff a non-ouzo beverage of choice. [Am aiming for a short period at the end of this year]
"In Spain, anti-Semitism is new leftist trend
Spanish Jews knew there were hard times ahead. Prime Minister Zapatero has not disappointed them
Ignacio Russell Cano
Madrid: Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain and Secretary General of the Socialist Party, arrived to power at a time nobody expected, not even inside the Party.
Keen on populist tirades against the United States "Dickhead Bush" and "Ketchup Queen Kerry", his whole campaign did not bring much attention until the moment Al-Qaeda decided to blow up Madrid trains, killing almost 200 people and bringing to an end Spain's membership of the West.
From that moment on, everybody knew nothing would be the same, and Spanish Jews knew there were hard times ahead. Prime Minister Zapatero has not disappointed them.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
focus
AA and AI - we have a pending debate on the reality of the threat that fundamental islam presents to western civ that i'd like to revive.
I have argued that, for all its will to inflict as much damage as possible on us, AQ fails to have the means to do anything more than cause sporadic and symbolic damage.
This is not to minimize the seriousness of events such as the London/Madrid/Bombay bombings of course, but to cast them in the context of what XXth century threats were - warsaw pact, nazis, ... which threatened the existence of every human being on the planet.
I have stated that compared to what this crowd could do, OBL & Co's achievements consituted little more than fireworks and have gotten sly comments after the bombay events (you call these fireworks?) but no substantial arguments.
My contention is that OBL & Co are worthy of special ops interventions but that a full blown war (turning civil in iraq) is overkill and a phenomenal waste of life and treasure.
Recently AA has argued for the threat to other islamic nations but not a word regarding western civ, while ai has stated that this was too long to explain (verbatim!).
Any of you care to make a case for the seriousness of the threat to western civ ?
I have argued that, for all its will to inflict as much damage as possible on us, AQ fails to have the means to do anything more than cause sporadic and symbolic damage.
This is not to minimize the seriousness of events such as the London/Madrid/Bombay bombings of course, but to cast them in the context of what XXth century threats were - warsaw pact, nazis, ... which threatened the existence of every human being on the planet.
I have stated that compared to what this crowd could do, OBL & Co's achievements consituted little more than fireworks and have gotten sly comments after the bombay events (you call these fireworks?) but no substantial arguments.
My contention is that OBL & Co are worthy of special ops interventions but that a full blown war (turning civil in iraq) is overkill and a phenomenal waste of life and treasure.
Recently AA has argued for the threat to other islamic nations but not a word regarding western civ, while ai has stated that this was too long to explain (verbatim!).
Any of you care to make a case for the seriousness of the threat to western civ ?
RSS
With so many open threads, it'd be great to have an RSS feed system hooked up to this blog. do y'all know if this can be done?
Spengler sees Doom, Gloom, more Doom
He also sees, as do a number of us, for disparate reasons, stupidity and misjudgement run rampant in Yankee policy....However, before Pepe salivates at the prospect of a kindred spirit, let it be noted that it is the easygoing kinder gentler "let's try to be nuanced and sophisticated and give 'em all a chance" kinda policy that sticks in Spengler's craw as particularly Gumpish. Not that the aristos in the Versailles of the Gulf don't have a soft spot for their wayward son.
Surely this comes as no surprise to most of you, but this "Spengler" is a pseudonym. Who he really is has not been made public over his years of writing in the "Asia Times", based in Singapore.
Surely this comes as no surprise to most of you, but this "Spengler" is a pseudonym. Who he really is has not been made public over his years of writing in the "Asia Times", based in Singapore.
Enfin! La France finds an Enemy worthy of War
From the website of Jacques Myard, MP in the French Parliament
War in Lebanon – Has Israel lost her mind ?
July 18th, 2006
Multiple direct testimonials from Lebanon are coming from French people residing in South Lebanon, and particularly Tyr, according to which the Israeli army is shooting at first sight on everything that moves, and notably on civilians.
These French saw a helicopter kill a whole family, including the children, by shooting at their minivan on sight and from a few meters afar, as they were fleeing the conflict zone. The church at Rachaya is said to have been destroyed while it was packed with refugees.
According to the same testimonials, the Israeli army would be using fragmentation bombs, and “vacuum packed” bombs that result in destruction by implosion. The bodies then look like totally dislocated puppets, like rag dolls.
That we shall let Israel act in such way is inadmissible. The French government must take every measure, including militarily, in accordance with international laws that allow it, to protect her nationals and put an end on these outrageous attacks against civilians.
On the same occasion, only an international intervention force that would disarm all militias according to resolution 1559 of the Security Council could stabilize the region.
France must act. She can’t simply make do with convincing her allies whose faint-heartedness with respect to this conflict is well known
War in Lebanon – Has Israel lost her mind ?
July 18th, 2006
Multiple direct testimonials from Lebanon are coming from French people residing in South Lebanon, and particularly Tyr, according to which the Israeli army is shooting at first sight on everything that moves, and notably on civilians.
These French saw a helicopter kill a whole family, including the children, by shooting at their minivan on sight and from a few meters afar, as they were fleeing the conflict zone. The church at Rachaya is said to have been destroyed while it was packed with refugees.
According to the same testimonials, the Israeli army would be using fragmentation bombs, and “vacuum packed” bombs that result in destruction by implosion. The bodies then look like totally dislocated puppets, like rag dolls.
That we shall let Israel act in such way is inadmissible. The French government must take every measure, including militarily, in accordance with international laws that allow it, to protect her nationals and put an end on these outrageous attacks against civilians.
On the same occasion, only an international intervention force that would disarm all militias according to resolution 1559 of the Security Council could stabilize the region.
France must act. She can’t simply make do with convincing her allies whose faint-heartedness with respect to this conflict is well known
Sipping ouzo in Beirut
It is a given among these folk that Lebanese Christians are right-wingers--fascists even--and yet here we are drinking among the so-called fascists, in fascist-owned bars, served by fascist bartenders, chatting up gorgeous fascist girls, because, alas, the heroic Islamic resistance does not traffic in this kind of lifestyle tourism.
Imagine.
Imagine.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
exporting american culture
let's pray the britts won't miss out on this fantastic cultural opportunity.
Caipirinha on the rocks
Is it any good? Having the chanteuse singing John Lennon's execrable "Imagine" in the background, though, would ruin the mood.
then and now
March of Folly
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: July 17, 2006
Since those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it — and since the cast of characters making pronouncements on the crisis in the Middle East is very much the same as it was three or four years ago — it seems like a good idea to travel down memory lane. Here’s what they said and when they said it:
“The greatest thing to come out of [invading Iraq] for the world economy ... would be $20 a barrel for oil.” Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corporation (which owns Fox News), February 2003
“Oil Touches Record $78 on Mideast Conflict.” Headline on www.foxnews.com, July 14, 2006
“The administration’s top budget official estimated today that the cost of a war with Iraq could be in the range of $50 billion to $60 billion,” saying that “earlier estimates of $100 billion to $200 billion in Iraq war costs by Lawrence B. Lindsey, Mr. Bush’s former chief economic adviser, were too high.” The New York Times, Dec. 31, 2002
“According to C.B.O.’s estimates, from the time U.S. forces invaded Iraq in March 2003, $290 billion has been allocated for activities in Iraq. ... Additional costs over the 2007-2016 period would total an estimated $202 billion under the first [optimistic] scenario, and $406 billion under the second one.” Congressional Budget Office, July 13, 2006
“Peacekeeping requirements in Iraq might be much lower than historical experience in the Balkans suggests. There’s been none of the record in Iraq of ethnic militias fighting one another that produced so much bloodshed and permanent scars in Bosnia.” Paul Wolfowitz, deputy secretary of defense and now president of the World Bank, Feb. 27, 2003
“West Baghdad is no stranger to bombings and killings, but in the past few days all restraint has vanished in an orgy of ‘ethnic cleansing.’ Shia gunmen are seeking to drive out the once-dominant Sunni minority and the Sunnis are forming neighborhood posses to retaliate. Mosques are being attacked. Scores of innocent civilians have been killed, their bodies left lying in the streets.” The Times of London, July 14, 2006
“Earlier this week, I traveled to Baghdad to visit the capital of a free and democratic Iraq.” President Bush, June 17, 2006
“People are doing the same as [in] Saddam’s time and worse. ... These were the precise reasons that we fought Saddam and now we are seeing the same things.” Ayad Allawi, Mr. Bush’s choice as Iraq’s first post-Saddam prime minister, November 2005
“Iraq’s new government has another able leader in Speaker Mashhadani. ... He rejects the use of violence for political ends. And by agreeing to serve in a prominent role in this new unity government, he’s demonstrating leadership and courage.” President Bush, May 22, 2006
“Some people say ‘we saw you beheading, kidnappings and killing. In the end we even started kidnapping women who are our honor.’ These acts are not the work of Iraqis. I am sure that he who does this is a Jew and the son of a Jew.” Mahmoud Mashhadani, speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, July 13, 2006
“My fellow citizens, not only can we win the war in Iraq, we are winning the war in Iraq.” President Bush, Dec. 18, 2005
“I think I would answer that by telling you I don’t think we’re losing.” Gen. Peter Schoomaker, the Army chief of staff, when asked whether we’re winning in Iraq, July 14, 2006
“Regime change in Iraq would bring about a number of benefits for the region. ...Extremists in the region would have to rethink their strategy of jihad. Moderates throughout the region would take heart, and our ability to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process would be enhanced.” Vice President Dick Cheney, Aug. 26, 2002
“Bush — The world is coming unglued before his eyes. His naïve dreams are a Wilsonian disaster.” Newsweek Conventional Wisdom Watch, July 24, 2006 edition
“It’s time for Democrats who distrust President Bush to acknowledge that he will be the commander in chief for three more critical years, and that in matters of war, we undermine presidential credibility at our nation’s peril.” Senator Joseph Lieberman, Democrat of Connecticut, Dec. 6, 2005
“I cannot support a failed foreign policy. History teaches us that it is often easier to make war than peace. This administration is just learning that lesson right now.” Representative Tom DeLay, Republican of Texas, on the campaign against Slobodan Milosevic, April 28, 1999
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: July 17, 2006
Since those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it — and since the cast of characters making pronouncements on the crisis in the Middle East is very much the same as it was three or four years ago — it seems like a good idea to travel down memory lane. Here’s what they said and when they said it:
“The greatest thing to come out of [invading Iraq] for the world economy ... would be $20 a barrel for oil.” Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corporation (which owns Fox News), February 2003
“Oil Touches Record $78 on Mideast Conflict.” Headline on www.foxnews.com, July 14, 2006
“The administration’s top budget official estimated today that the cost of a war with Iraq could be in the range of $50 billion to $60 billion,” saying that “earlier estimates of $100 billion to $200 billion in Iraq war costs by Lawrence B. Lindsey, Mr. Bush’s former chief economic adviser, were too high.” The New York Times, Dec. 31, 2002
“According to C.B.O.’s estimates, from the time U.S. forces invaded Iraq in March 2003, $290 billion has been allocated for activities in Iraq. ... Additional costs over the 2007-2016 period would total an estimated $202 billion under the first [optimistic] scenario, and $406 billion under the second one.” Congressional Budget Office, July 13, 2006
“Peacekeeping requirements in Iraq might be much lower than historical experience in the Balkans suggests. There’s been none of the record in Iraq of ethnic militias fighting one another that produced so much bloodshed and permanent scars in Bosnia.” Paul Wolfowitz, deputy secretary of defense and now president of the World Bank, Feb. 27, 2003
“West Baghdad is no stranger to bombings and killings, but in the past few days all restraint has vanished in an orgy of ‘ethnic cleansing.’ Shia gunmen are seeking to drive out the once-dominant Sunni minority and the Sunnis are forming neighborhood posses to retaliate. Mosques are being attacked. Scores of innocent civilians have been killed, their bodies left lying in the streets.” The Times of London, July 14, 2006
“Earlier this week, I traveled to Baghdad to visit the capital of a free and democratic Iraq.” President Bush, June 17, 2006
“People are doing the same as [in] Saddam’s time and worse. ... These were the precise reasons that we fought Saddam and now we are seeing the same things.” Ayad Allawi, Mr. Bush’s choice as Iraq’s first post-Saddam prime minister, November 2005
“Iraq’s new government has another able leader in Speaker Mashhadani. ... He rejects the use of violence for political ends. And by agreeing to serve in a prominent role in this new unity government, he’s demonstrating leadership and courage.” President Bush, May 22, 2006
“Some people say ‘we saw you beheading, kidnappings and killing. In the end we even started kidnapping women who are our honor.’ These acts are not the work of Iraqis. I am sure that he who does this is a Jew and the son of a Jew.” Mahmoud Mashhadani, speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, July 13, 2006
“My fellow citizens, not only can we win the war in Iraq, we are winning the war in Iraq.” President Bush, Dec. 18, 2005
“I think I would answer that by telling you I don’t think we’re losing.” Gen. Peter Schoomaker, the Army chief of staff, when asked whether we’re winning in Iraq, July 14, 2006
“Regime change in Iraq would bring about a number of benefits for the region. ...Extremists in the region would have to rethink their strategy of jihad. Moderates throughout the region would take heart, and our ability to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process would be enhanced.” Vice President Dick Cheney, Aug. 26, 2002
“Bush — The world is coming unglued before his eyes. His naïve dreams are a Wilsonian disaster.” Newsweek Conventional Wisdom Watch, July 24, 2006 edition
“It’s time for Democrats who distrust President Bush to acknowledge that he will be the commander in chief for three more critical years, and that in matters of war, we undermine presidential credibility at our nation’s peril.” Senator Joseph Lieberman, Democrat of Connecticut, Dec. 6, 2005
“I cannot support a failed foreign policy. History teaches us that it is often easier to make war than peace. This administration is just learning that lesson right now.” Representative Tom DeLay, Republican of Texas, on the campaign against Slobodan Milosevic, April 28, 1999
Monday, July 17, 2006
You Need to Read This: i NEED TO drink good beer
...or, I NEED a cup of coffee. Or, jj NEEDS TO drink ouzo.
Any others come to mind?
Any others come to mind?
Pompano Beach blues
Whose side do you guess the Left will take? OK, that's a no-brainer -- it's like a Pavlov reflex for them. They will side with Jeb Bush on this one, I bet.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Camel humping
Roosevelt Interpretations and Mis-interpretations
Dakota has an affinity for Teddy. How can we sort through the muddle of two seemingly contradictory interpretations?
Thomas Sowell says Teddy didn't know his trust-busting economic policy. For those of us who live in Dakota, we fully understand the impact (both good and bad) that magnum Rail Roads had in our early statehood (see James J. Hill of St. Paul for example).
Clay Jenkinson thinks otherwise of Sowell's interpretation: "Sowell claims that Roosevelt "fiercely applied" anti-trust laws. This is simply not true. By all accounts, T.R. was a cautious trust-buster, who preferred a few symbolic initiatives, in the hope that they would chasten the great corporations without depressing the economy or punishing capitalists for their success."
Teddy was said to consume almost a gallon of coffee -- per day. Another excerpt: "It is a grave mistake to belittle T.R.'s mind. He read a book a day all of his life. Try it for a week. He wrote more books than any other president. He lectured to German intellectuals on German literature at German universities, in German! And his academic audiences acknowledged that he knew their culture as well as they did."
Imagine this type of presidential candidate today, running for any party. I doubt the people would vote him or her into office on the grounds that he or she "uses big words and foreign languages to make him- or her-self feel important."
(Note: I want to comment more, but mom just called: she locked her keys in her car. Sorry gentlemen: Mothers trump blogger.com anyday of the week. I think you all understand. If you're looking to brushen up on your Rough Rider history, Edmund Morris remains one of the leading authorities on Teddy.)
Thomas Sowell says Teddy didn't know his trust-busting economic policy. For those of us who live in Dakota, we fully understand the impact (both good and bad) that magnum Rail Roads had in our early statehood (see James J. Hill of St. Paul for example).
Clay Jenkinson thinks otherwise of Sowell's interpretation: "Sowell claims that Roosevelt "fiercely applied" anti-trust laws. This is simply not true. By all accounts, T.R. was a cautious trust-buster, who preferred a few symbolic initiatives, in the hope that they would chasten the great corporations without depressing the economy or punishing capitalists for their success."
Teddy was said to consume almost a gallon of coffee -- per day. Another excerpt: "It is a grave mistake to belittle T.R.'s mind. He read a book a day all of his life. Try it for a week. He wrote more books than any other president. He lectured to German intellectuals on German literature at German universities, in German! And his academic audiences acknowledged that he knew their culture as well as they did."
Imagine this type of presidential candidate today, running for any party. I doubt the people would vote him or her into office on the grounds that he or she "uses big words and foreign languages to make him- or her-self feel important."
(Note: I want to comment more, but mom just called: she locked her keys in her car. Sorry gentlemen: Mothers trump blogger.com anyday of the week. I think you all understand. If you're looking to brushen up on your Rough Rider history, Edmund Morris remains one of the leading authorities on Teddy.)
Incredible courage?
How about head-butting the sniper, instead? That would take courage (remember Todd Beamer?) But hey, this is the NYT, and in their Alice in the Wonderland world, siding with the enemy is what gets their Profile in Courage award.
going around
you guys were all over the kennedy kid when the same story hit him a couple of months ago. Let's hear the cries of anguish over this one.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
what next?
Today, these four--two states, one near-state, and one state-within-a-state--are collectively motivated by opportunity, not fear. The opportunity arises partly because the hated Saddam Hussein is gone, replaced by a weak, terrorist-wracked Shiite-led Iraqi government, propped up by a bleeding America. But each of these actors has its own reasons for exultation and brinkmanship.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Jay Leno of the Left
After some polite applause and soft laughter, Churchill blurted out a joke regarding what he perceived as the hilarity over how passengers on the 9/11 flights were "easily" hijacked by terrorists and flown into the World Trade Center.
"You do remember, the incident which the terrorists overpowered the stewardess on the aircraft and tweezed her eyebrows with his tweezers, until she screamingly submitted to fly the plane into a building remember that one?" Joked Churchill. "Tweezers… tweezed into submission."
A smattering of nervous laughter followed
No hand-shaking, no siree
'The disbelievers are misguided and their ways based on sick or deviant views concerning their societies, their universe and their very existence.' It urges its adherents not to wear Western hats, walk dogs, watch sport or soap operas and forbids 'mingling and shaking hands between men and women'.
What's wrong with ten-gallon hats?
But the language of Jihad in Islam, written in 1930, may seem violent to a Western reader: 'The objective of Islamic "jihad" is to eliminate the rule of an un-Islamic system and establish in its stead an Islamic system of state rule. Islam does not intend to confine this revolution to a single state or a few countries; the aim of Islam is to bring about a universal revolution.'
You don't say!
What's wrong with ten-gallon hats?
But the language of Jihad in Islam, written in 1930, may seem violent to a Western reader: 'The objective of Islamic "jihad" is to eliminate the rule of an un-Islamic system and establish in its stead an Islamic system of state rule. Islam does not intend to confine this revolution to a single state or a few countries; the aim of Islam is to bring about a universal revolution.'
You don't say!
the real threat to civilization
On how the burkha is influencing current trends in fashion. The muslims are coming: you were right all this time.
Really good news
THAAD! Sounds like the right answer to an existential threat. Of course, the Left has been opposed to Star Wars ever since Reagan started it, in 1983. Oh, well, what do you expect?
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Google this...
Another web fad, or is google clever enough to usurp Bill?
Instead of trying to convince every consumer on the planet to buy a new machine, it makes a lot more sense for Google to build a super-service that you could log into from any computer, phone, or television, or car and airplane seatback. You would be able to access your files anywhere by logging in, calling up your desktop, and popping into Google's array of Gmail-like applications for word processing, photo editing, and anything else you can think of.
Instead of trying to convince every consumer on the planet to buy a new machine, it makes a lot more sense for Google to build a super-service that you could log into from any computer, phone, or television, or car and airplane seatback. You would be able to access your files anywhere by logging in, calling up your desktop, and popping into Google's array of Gmail-like applications for word processing, photo editing, and anything else you can think of.
Pooty sucker punches Dick
"I think the statements of this sort by your vice president are the same as an unsuccessful hunting shot. It's pretty much the same," Putin said in an interview with NBC.
Just in case Cheney is at a loss for a repartee, I suggest hitting on the kissie-kissie on that boy's belly. Any good one-liner you guys can think of?
Just in case Cheney is at a loss for a repartee, I suggest hitting on the kissie-kissie on that boy's belly. Any good one-liner you guys can think of?
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
How to
The present situation encourages our enemies to behave wantonly, while crippling our attempts to deal with terror. Consider today's norm: A terrorist in civilian clothes can explode an IED, killing and maiming American troops or innocent civilians, then demand humane treatment if captured - and the media will step in as his champion. A disguised insurgent can shoot his rockets, throw his grenades, empty his magazines, kill and wound our troops, then, out of ammo, raise his hands and demand three hots and a cot while he invents tales of abuse. Conferring unprecedented legal status upon these murderous transnational outlaws is unnecessary, unwise and ultimately suicidal. It exalts monsters. And it provides the anti-American pack with living vermin to anoint as victims, if not heroes.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Lefty experiments
Now, seriously, how stooopid can these "liberals" get? Maybe it's the fluoride in the water that does it?
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Song and dance
Is not allowed, according to the ideology objectively supported by the anti-anglo-saxons:
The Islamic fighters beat band members with electric cables and confiscated their equipment, said Asha Ilmi Hashi, a singer with the group Mogadishu Stars. "We had warned the family not to include in their ceremony what is not allowed by the sharia law. This includes the mixing of men and women and playing music," Sheik Iise Salad, who heads an Islamic court in the northeastern Huriwaa District, told The Associated Press. "That is why we raided and took their equipment."
The Islamic fighters beat band members with electric cables and confiscated their equipment, said Asha Ilmi Hashi, a singer with the group Mogadishu Stars. "We had warned the family not to include in their ceremony what is not allowed by the sharia law. This includes the mixing of men and women and playing music," Sheik Iise Salad, who heads an Islamic court in the northeastern Huriwaa District, told The Associated Press. "That is why we raided and took their equipment."
French crow
Aahhh, the putrid air of fin-de-règne. So when are Chirac and Villepin just gonna go away? I'm sick and tired of them, we need some fresh blood here. Maybe Sarko will clean house, and get on board with les Anglo-Saxons? Hope springs eternal...
Saturday, July 08, 2006
The French are being brainwashed
By the Ricains! Mais non, mais non, voyons voir, relax, it's all a Bushie-Cheney plot. Don't worry about little Molotov coctails, just have another sip of lime Perrier, and enjoy the view on Boul. St. Mich.
More free speech
Yet another Hero of the Left waxes poetical about the evils of Amerikkka. Is this speech protected by the infinitely elastic First Amendment? Or does Article 3, Section 3 of the Constitution have any meaning when prohibiting "aid and comfort to the enemy"? You know for sure where the Left will come down on this.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Yet another abuse of human rights
I can't wait for the ACLU & Co. to say all these bad guys also need to be set free, in the grand Liberal tradition.
Club Med for pinko-sandalistas
Hey, this sounds like the dream vacation for Bierkenstockers. Maybe JJ is lurking around?
The mainly youthful participants awake at 5:45 a.m. to the ballad "Guantanamera." By 7 a.m. they are clambering into the back of 1970s trucks, headed to the countryside to pick oranges, remove rocks from cane fields or repair schools.
...
Federico Beccia, a political science student from Amsterdam, said he wanted to experience Cuba first hand. "The European press says Fidel is a dictator and things here are awful. I wanted to see with my own eyes. Here you can see the truth. I am not going to believe anything the press says about Cuba," he said, while hauling stones from a cane field.
Keep on hauling, man.
The mainly youthful participants awake at 5:45 a.m. to the ballad "Guantanamera." By 7 a.m. they are clambering into the back of 1970s trucks, headed to the countryside to pick oranges, remove rocks from cane fields or repair schools.
...
Federico Beccia, a political science student from Amsterdam, said he wanted to experience Cuba first hand. "The European press says Fidel is a dictator and things here are awful. I wanted to see with my own eyes. Here you can see the truth. I am not going to believe anything the press says about Cuba," he said, while hauling stones from a cane field.
Keep on hauling, man.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Pair of deuces
Kim fizzles. So, what next?
Why should Bush make any concessions to Kim Jong-il when, as it turns out, Kim has nothing up his sleeve to trade back?
OK, hold'em tight. In the meantime, have a shot of Bourbon. Life is not so bad, after all.
Why should Bush make any concessions to Kim Jong-il when, as it turns out, Kim has nothing up his sleeve to trade back?
OK, hold'em tight. In the meantime, have a shot of Bourbon. Life is not so bad, after all.
Touchdown for Binnie
There's a lot of glee in his corner, where they know deep inside their hearts who the "good guys" are.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Genovese and Metamorphosis
Well, I hit the field again tomorrow. Last time out, I was a couple miles away from one of the Pentagon's ICBM radar stations (unlike the NYT, I won't provide photo or location) while doing archaeological survey -- a bit surreal, like a sci-fi movie or something.
My last blog until I can get to another computer. It's hit or miss depending on the small town hotels we are situated in. I'll be back in full effect next Wednesday evening. Hopefully jj and aa will have turned up by then. If not, perhaps we should think about contacting the Portuguese and Italian embassies.
Anyhow, here's how Mr. and Mrs. Genovese are doing these days.
My last blog until I can get to another computer. It's hit or miss depending on the small town hotels we are situated in. I'll be back in full effect next Wednesday evening. Hopefully jj and aa will have turned up by then. If not, perhaps we should think about contacting the Portuguese and Italian embassies.
Anyhow, here's how Mr. and Mrs. Genovese are doing these days.
not to restate the obvious
but isn't it time y'all take your head out of the sand (literally) and address this threat instead ? Unless you aren't paying attention, this is about a little more than blowing up a subway train.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Revisiting flag burning
If we can tell people that it's obscene to show pictures of children having sex (and it is), why can't we say it's obscene to burn the flag that is the symbol of this shining city on a hill, a flag for which many brave men and women have died? If it hurts women's feelings to hear sex jokes at the office and if that's illegal, doesn't it also hurt patriots' feelings to see the flag burned? I don't get it. Why is protecting the flag less of a priority than banning song lyrics or dirty jokes or pornography?
Aahhh, but hurting a patriot's feelings is never, ever a consideration, is it? In fact, sometimes it looks like that's the raison d'être of say, the Gray Old Lady.
capturing the hearts & minds
The NYT providing aid & comfort to the ennemy again. The liberal media is handing another victory to binnie if you ask me.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Pale Ale, Stouts, and the Future of Beer in America
There's much to think about as far as global politics go these days: war in the mid-East. Tehran's efforts to acquire the Bomb. North Korea keeping the Japanese (and surrounding neighbors) in the dark when it comes to missile testing. Pepe's choice of undergarmets. JJ's disappearence. AA's supposed trip to Bostonia. Bin Laden still on the move. Portugal vs. Brazil.
In light of all this, I thought it a good idea to get back to what's really important, and get impressions about summer time beers and ales if anyone has been trying any.
Anheuser Busch is making corporate moves and buying up Latrobe, and they have created a new stout which, I suppose, I'll try at some point. Murphy's and Guinness still have the upper hand when it comes to Irish stout proper (and I guess stout is lower in calories than I had ever expected).
If we're to consider national beers that can be closely associated with micro-taste, I'd have to recommend at least one bottle of Samuel Adams Summer Ale. In a more regional department, I'll still enjoy Boulevard Wheat. (I'm a sucker for the wheat beers)
Let me know if you've been drinking anything new fellahs.
In light of all this, I thought it a good idea to get back to what's really important, and get impressions about summer time beers and ales if anyone has been trying any.
Anheuser Busch is making corporate moves and buying up Latrobe, and they have created a new stout which, I suppose, I'll try at some point. Murphy's and Guinness still have the upper hand when it comes to Irish stout proper (and I guess stout is lower in calories than I had ever expected).
If we're to consider national beers that can be closely associated with micro-taste, I'd have to recommend at least one bottle of Samuel Adams Summer Ale. In a more regional department, I'll still enjoy Boulevard Wheat. (I'm a sucker for the wheat beers)
Let me know if you've been drinking anything new fellahs.
Philly cheese steak
Horror! Geno is not multiculti. Given a choice Cheese Whiz, American or Provolone, though, what would you do? Is this really cheese, or some chemical ersatz?
Saturday, July 01, 2006
of cows & politics
DEMOCRATIC
You have two cows.
Your neighbor has none.
You feel guilty for being successful.
Barbara Streisand sings for you.
REPUBLICAN
You have two cows.
Your neighbor has none.
So?
SOCIALIST
You have two cows.
The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor.
You form a cooperative to tell him how to manage his cow.
COMMUNIST
You have two cows.
The government seizes both and provides you with milk.
You wait in line for hours to get it.
It is expensive and sour.
CAPITALISM, AMERICAN STYLE
You have two cows.
You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows.
BUREAUCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE
You have two cows.
Under the new farm program the government pays you to shoot one, milk the other, and then pours the milk down the drain.
AMERICAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You sell one, lease it back to yourself and do an IPO on the 2nd one.
You force the two cows to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when one cow drops dead. You spin an announcement to the analysts stating you have downsized and are reducing expenses.
Your stock goes up.
FRENCH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You go on strike because you want three cows.
You go to lunch and drink wine.
Life is good.
JAPANESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk.
They learn to travel on unbelievably crowded trains.
Most are at the top of their class at cow school.
GERMAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You engineer them so they are all blond, drink lots of beer, give excellent quality milk, and run a hundred miles an hour.
Unfortunately they also demand 13 weeks of vacation per year.
ITALIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows but you don't know where they are.
While ambling around, you see a beautiful woman.
You break for lunch.
Life is good.
RUSSIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You have some vodka.
You count them and learn you have five cows.
You have some more vodka.
You count them again and learn you have 42 cows.
The Mafia shows up and takes over however many cows you really have.
TALIBAN CORPORATION
You have all the cows in Afghanistan, which are two.
You don't milk them because you cannot touch any creature's private parts.
You get a $40 million grant from the US government to find alternatives to milk production but use the money to buy weapons.
IRAQI CORPORATION
You have two cows.
They go into hiding.
They send radio tapes of their mooing.
POLISH CORPORATION
You have two bulls.
Employees are regularly maimed and killed attempting to milk them.
BELGIAN CORPORATION
You have one cow.
The cow is schizophrenic.
Sometimes the cow thinks he's French, other times he's Flemish.
The Flemish cow won't share with the French cow.
The French cow wants control of the Flemish cow's milk.
The cow asks permission to be cut in half.
The cow dies happy.
FLORIDA CORPORATION
You have a black cow and a brown cow.
Everyone votes for the best looking one.
Some of the people who actually like the brown one best accidentally vote for the black one.
Some people vote for both.
Some people vote for neither.
Some people can't figure out how to vote at all.
Finally, a bunch of guys from out-of-state tell you which one you think is the best-looking cow.
CALIFORNIA CORPORATION
You have millions of cows.
They make real California cheese.
Only five speak English.
Most are illegals.
Arnold likes the ones with the big udders.
You have two cows.
Your neighbor has none.
You feel guilty for being successful.
Barbara Streisand sings for you.
REPUBLICAN
You have two cows.
Your neighbor has none.
So?
SOCIALIST
You have two cows.
The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor.
You form a cooperative to tell him how to manage his cow.
COMMUNIST
You have two cows.
The government seizes both and provides you with milk.
You wait in line for hours to get it.
It is expensive and sour.
CAPITALISM, AMERICAN STYLE
You have two cows.
You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows.
BUREAUCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE
You have two cows.
Under the new farm program the government pays you to shoot one, milk the other, and then pours the milk down the drain.
AMERICAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You sell one, lease it back to yourself and do an IPO on the 2nd one.
You force the two cows to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when one cow drops dead. You spin an announcement to the analysts stating you have downsized and are reducing expenses.
Your stock goes up.
FRENCH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You go on strike because you want three cows.
You go to lunch and drink wine.
Life is good.
JAPANESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk.
They learn to travel on unbelievably crowded trains.
Most are at the top of their class at cow school.
GERMAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You engineer them so they are all blond, drink lots of beer, give excellent quality milk, and run a hundred miles an hour.
Unfortunately they also demand 13 weeks of vacation per year.
ITALIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows but you don't know where they are.
While ambling around, you see a beautiful woman.
You break for lunch.
Life is good.
RUSSIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You have some vodka.
You count them and learn you have five cows.
You have some more vodka.
You count them again and learn you have 42 cows.
The Mafia shows up and takes over however many cows you really have.
TALIBAN CORPORATION
You have all the cows in Afghanistan, which are two.
You don't milk them because you cannot touch any creature's private parts.
You get a $40 million grant from the US government to find alternatives to milk production but use the money to buy weapons.
IRAQI CORPORATION
You have two cows.
They go into hiding.
They send radio tapes of their mooing.
POLISH CORPORATION
You have two bulls.
Employees are regularly maimed and killed attempting to milk them.
BELGIAN CORPORATION
You have one cow.
The cow is schizophrenic.
Sometimes the cow thinks he's French, other times he's Flemish.
The Flemish cow won't share with the French cow.
The French cow wants control of the Flemish cow's milk.
The cow asks permission to be cut in half.
The cow dies happy.
FLORIDA CORPORATION
You have a black cow and a brown cow.
Everyone votes for the best looking one.
Some of the people who actually like the brown one best accidentally vote for the black one.
Some people vote for both.
Some people vote for neither.
Some people can't figure out how to vote at all.
Finally, a bunch of guys from out-of-state tell you which one you think is the best-looking cow.
CALIFORNIA CORPORATION
You have millions of cows.
They make real California cheese.
Only five speak English.
Most are illegals.
Arnold likes the ones with the big udders.
Elvis and chiffonade
Video.
At the White House, they dined on beef with cracked black pepper, shitake mushroom jus, silver corn pilaf and sesame-coated wild asparagus. Also on the menu: Maryland she crab soup; jicama and cucumber chiffonade; and an ornate dessert modeled after a bonsai garden, with a chocolate tree on a base of kumquat-stuffed cherries, surrounded by miniature chocolate pagodas.
Hmmmm.... I'll stay with a plain burger.
At the White House, they dined on beef with cracked black pepper, shitake mushroom jus, silver corn pilaf and sesame-coated wild asparagus. Also on the menu: Maryland she crab soup; jicama and cucumber chiffonade; and an ornate dessert modeled after a bonsai garden, with a chocolate tree on a base of kumquat-stuffed cherries, surrounded by miniature chocolate pagodas.
Hmmmm.... I'll stay with a plain burger.
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