Thursday, August 31, 2006
Dakota Megawatts
Kotkin might be embellishing (a true sign of an idealist) a bit, but he's got it right as far as NoDak's lignite coal, and untapped oil reserves go.
"We're on the verge of a gold rush driven by energy," crows Bob Valeu, state coordinator for North Dakota Sen. Byron Dorgan. Mr. Valeu and other leaders here in both political parties see their state as a growing bastion of energy production for the U.S. Already North Dakota is among the major exporters of energy to the rest of the country, exporting roughly three-fourths of its 4,000 megawatts of electricity.
If anything, this is pleasing in the sense that it takes a bit of relief off our dependency on mid-East oil. Americans, still, will have to figure out if they want bigger Hummer's (and thus become even more dependent on the stuff), while physicists try to make those floating, anti-gravity cars that we were teased with back in the '80s.
And as AI has reminded us, "It's good to walk."
"We're on the verge of a gold rush driven by energy," crows Bob Valeu, state coordinator for North Dakota Sen. Byron Dorgan. Mr. Valeu and other leaders here in both political parties see their state as a growing bastion of energy production for the U.S. Already North Dakota is among the major exporters of energy to the rest of the country, exporting roughly three-fourths of its 4,000 megawatts of electricity.
If anything, this is pleasing in the sense that it takes a bit of relief off our dependency on mid-East oil. Americans, still, will have to figure out if they want bigger Hummer's (and thus become even more dependent on the stuff), while physicists try to make those floating, anti-gravity cars that we were teased with back in the '80s.
And as AI has reminded us, "It's good to walk."
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
The Source of the Lys
In case you boys was wonderin', I's back in the humid, dank swamp the Red Sox are sloshing in. To answer your questions about where I was, the picture above can answer.
Latitude and Longitude
The department of geography is keying me in on, in contemporary lingo, "some pretty sweet" sites.
For political-historical map of the United States, check out The National Atlas.
Here's Earth Explorer, a site (I'm told) where you can crop particular satellite images of global areas and order prints.
If you're interested in recreation, here's the National Park Service GIS link. It might take a little while to download each map, and every park has their own GIS team so one park map isn't standardized with another.
For political-historical map of the United States, check out The National Atlas.
Here's Earth Explorer, a site (I'm told) where you can crop particular satellite images of global areas and order prints.
If you're interested in recreation, here's the National Park Service GIS link. It might take a little while to download each map, and every park has their own GIS team so one park map isn't standardized with another.
Gas Temps
Crude oil is an interesting indicator, and I guess the price per barrel hiked above $70.00. Something about Iran ignoring the U.N.'s nuclear weapons manufacturing sanctions. Yeah, imagine that.
For some reason Montana looks to be getting socked while the south enjoys sweet crude at relatively cheap prices (as of 08/30/06). I wonder what might explain that?
For some reason Montana looks to be getting socked while the south enjoys sweet crude at relatively cheap prices (as of 08/30/06). I wonder what might explain that?
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
AI, where the hell are our other bloggers? Perhaps Pepe is busy with New Orleans reconstruction and swooning over the positive aspects of government dykes? Maybe AA is still settling into his new BC hacienda (what would that be in Canadian?). What about JJ? Is he cruising Harvard or MIT? I thought my Chicago Left-leaning buddy would at least bite on the blog. No such luck.
It's fine if it's just you and I. I mean, afterall, you're worth at least twenty normal people combined.
Anyhow, I guess we'll just have to continue to keep the porch light on. In the meantime, I'm gonna go grab another beer.
It's fine if it's just you and I. I mean, afterall, you're worth at least twenty normal people combined.
Anyhow, I guess we'll just have to continue to keep the porch light on. In the meantime, I'm gonna go grab another beer.
Hit and run
Echoes of Tarheel Jihad? Naahhh, says the SF Chronicle, chanelling JJ -- nothing to see, just move on. Have another ouzo & pastis.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Good cop routine
The first unit of 26 women will work in the centre of Volgograd, said the police chief, Mikhail Tsukruk. [He] said applicants "don't have to be blondes with long legs, but we'd like them to be attractive... let people admire them!"
They're not PC in Stalingrad, are they?
Einstein's gravitational pull on "further" and "farther"
William Strunk Jr., and E.B. White's The Elements of Style says that a distinction must be made when using farther and further. Says Strunk and White:
Farther. Further. The two words are commonly interchanged, but there is a distinction worth observing: farther serves best as a distance word, further as a time or quantity word. You chase a ball farther than the other fellow; you pursue a subject further.
Their argument is based on, as they say, the disparity between space and time. Yet can't we use Einstein's general theory -- that space and time are inextricably bound in that gravity can manipulate and influence either -- to argue against Strunk and White's postulation that "farther" and "further" are to be ascribed and used in such concrete and distinct manners?
Farther. Further. The two words are commonly interchanged, but there is a distinction worth observing: farther serves best as a distance word, further as a time or quantity word. You chase a ball farther than the other fellow; you pursue a subject further.
Their argument is based on, as they say, the disparity between space and time. Yet can't we use Einstein's general theory -- that space and time are inextricably bound in that gravity can manipulate and influence either -- to argue against Strunk and White's postulation that "farther" and "further" are to be ascribed and used in such concrete and distinct manners?
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Purrfect Angelz
Their tours, which organizers say are paid for by the military, have occasionally stirred some controversy. During the group’s 2005 visit to Baghdad, a female Air Force officer complained that the dancers’ wardrobes and routines encouraged insensitive attitudes toward women in the military.You don't say!
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Spencer vs Johnson
Paul Johnson is usually quite sharp. But he must have hit that mythical ouzo bottle lately: see his essay here, if you can get it (I couldn't). Islam collapsing into secularism? Lucy in the sky with diamonds, more likely.
Islam could learn from Mennonites
I personally wouldn't live this way, but I can understand why others might want to. Anyhow, when two disciple groups of Menno Simons disagree about what might keep them closer to the land, and hence closer to their religion, they simply part ways. For example, the article states that,
Wenger Mennonites were originally part of an Old Order branch that split from the more progressive Lancaster Conference in 1893 over issues such as the introduction of Sunday school and the use of English during church services, instead of the German dialect known as Pennsylvania Dutch.
In 1927, the Old Order would split almost exactly in half over the automobile. The opponents, who argued that accepting cars would fragment the community, became Wengers, led by bishop Joseph Wenger.
The Koran says to deal with dissent in a bit different a fashion, eh?
Wenger Mennonites were originally part of an Old Order branch that split from the more progressive Lancaster Conference in 1893 over issues such as the introduction of Sunday school and the use of English during church services, instead of the German dialect known as Pennsylvania Dutch.
In 1927, the Old Order would split almost exactly in half over the automobile. The opponents, who argued that accepting cars would fragment the community, became Wengers, led by bishop Joseph Wenger.
The Koran says to deal with dissent in a bit different a fashion, eh?
New-comer to FreeCounterPoint: urbs in horto representation
Gentlemen:
Since Pepe's disappearence, and since JJ's mountain retreat into the goat-valleys of italia, I felt FreeCounterPoint has been a bit lacking in providing just that: Free Counter Point. Therefore, in an effort to bring argument and essentially health to this blog spot, I placed a call to a polylingual friend with left-leanings this Saturday afternoon.
Akin to the rest of the Free Counter Point contributors, this friend spends his time detecting bullshit while in Urbs in Horto. I also know that he tries to vacation in Brazil as often as possible.
My hope is that he will provide as much of an introduction as he thinks is necessary, and once he has done that, the rest of us can re-introduce ourselves with as much re-introduction as we think necessary.
And now, I conclude by saying, "Chicago: the ball, as they say, is in your court."
~mft
Since Pepe's disappearence, and since JJ's mountain retreat into the goat-valleys of italia, I felt FreeCounterPoint has been a bit lacking in providing just that: Free Counter Point. Therefore, in an effort to bring argument and essentially health to this blog spot, I placed a call to a polylingual friend with left-leanings this Saturday afternoon.
Akin to the rest of the Free Counter Point contributors, this friend spends his time detecting bullshit while in Urbs in Horto. I also know that he tries to vacation in Brazil as often as possible.
My hope is that he will provide as much of an introduction as he thinks is necessary, and once he has done that, the rest of us can re-introduce ourselves with as much re-introduction as we think necessary.
And now, I conclude by saying, "Chicago: the ball, as they say, is in your court."
~mft
Lefty wet dreams
What if another terror attack just before this fall's elections could save many thousand-times the lives lost? I start from the premise that there is already a substantial portion of the electorate that tends to vote GOP because they feel that Bush has "kept us safe," and that the Republicans do a better job combating terrorism. If an attack occurred just before the elections, I have to think that at least a few of the voters who persist in this "Bush has kept us safe" thinking would realize the fallacy they have been under.
Are these guys serious, or is it a case of too much cannabis?
Are these guys serious, or is it a case of too much cannabis?
From the deck of the Monkey Business
Comes a profound comparison between Octavianus Augustus and George W.
En attendant JJ
Anyone cares to make a bet as to when JJ will wake up from his prolonged slumber? I'm putting a dime on Monday morning, 2AM, EST.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
George Washington "Small Beer" recipe
Do we got any patriotic brew-masters out there? Anyone do home-brewing?
Here's Washington's mix, and it was probably consumed in great quantites prior to deciding the best "strategic" location for Fort Necessity.
Take a large Sifter full of Bran Hops to your Taste -- Boil these 3 hours. Then strain out 30 Gall. into a Cooler put in 3 Gallons Molasses while the Beer is scalding hot or rather drain the molasses into the Cooler. Strain the Beer on it while boiling hot let this stand til it is little more than Blood warm. Then put in a quart of Yeast if the weather is very cold cover it over with a Blanket. Let it work in the Cooler 24 hours then put it into the Cask. leave the Bung open til it is almost done working -- Bottle it that day Week it was Brewed.
Here's Washington's mix, and it was probably consumed in great quantites prior to deciding the best "strategic" location for Fort Necessity.
Take a large Sifter full of Bran Hops to your Taste -- Boil these 3 hours. Then strain out 30 Gall. into a Cooler put in 3 Gallons Molasses while the Beer is scalding hot or rather drain the molasses into the Cooler. Strain the Beer on it while boiling hot let this stand til it is little more than Blood warm. Then put in a quart of Yeast if the weather is very cold cover it over with a Blanket. Let it work in the Cooler 24 hours then put it into the Cask. leave the Bung open til it is almost done working -- Bottle it that day Week it was Brewed.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Hunting the Taliban in Las Vegas
Gentlemen,
Without providing much more analysis than "I think these Predators are neat," here's an excerpt taken from Robert D. Kaplan, "Hunting the Taliban in Las Vegas," in the Atlantic (September 2006): Requiring no life support for a pilot and no redundant safety systems, it [MQ-1B Predator drone] costs only $4.2 million: for the price of one F-22, you can build more than forty Predators... a Predator flies at 15,000 feet—almost three miles up—where no one on the ground can hear it or see it. Picture a satellite that does not need to remain in a fixed orbit, and is armed with two Hellfire missiles.
Yup, neat-oh.
Without providing much more analysis than "I think these Predators are neat," here's an excerpt taken from Robert D. Kaplan, "Hunting the Taliban in Las Vegas," in the Atlantic (September 2006): Requiring no life support for a pilot and no redundant safety systems, it [MQ-1B Predator drone] costs only $4.2 million: for the price of one F-22, you can build more than forty Predators... a Predator flies at 15,000 feet—almost three miles up—where no one on the ground can hear it or see it. Picture a satellite that does not need to remain in a fixed orbit, and is armed with two Hellfire missiles.
Yup, neat-oh.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Binnie watch
Michael Scheuer, who once headed the CIA's bin Laden unit, says bin Laden has been given permission by a young cleric in Saudi Arabia authorizing al Qaeda to "use nuclear weapons against the United States ... capping the casualties at 10 million."
"He's had an approval, a religious approval for 10 million deaths?" I asked him.
"Yes," Scheuer responded.
Just a little Molotov cocktail, away from Versailles, so nothing to worry about, Pepe would say. As for JJ, we all know what he would say: have another ouzo, bud. I'll go with Jack D. Ripper: please make me a drink of grain alcohol and rainwater.
"He's had an approval, a religious approval for 10 million deaths?" I asked him.
"Yes," Scheuer responded.
Just a little Molotov cocktail, away from Versailles, so nothing to worry about, Pepe would say. As for JJ, we all know what he would say: have another ouzo, bud. I'll go with Jack D. Ripper: please make me a drink of grain alcohol and rainwater.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Mathmatacian-ography
A math junkie told me the conference (I think the IMU) is in Madrid this year. I'm out of touch with mathematics, so what can you fellahs close to the field tell me about in regards to the recipient of the Fields Medal? Is there a Russian who is not accepting it too?
Friday, August 18, 2006
Useful gadget?
Looks pretty good to me. But of course the bureaucracy is dragging its collective feet. They'd rather confiscate tons of deodorants (so we can all feel more Frenchy?) than take the psysicky approach....
Thursday, August 17, 2006
JJ's Whereabouts?
In looking at the ClustrMaps, I see that JJ may have attempted to visit our conversations from either London, Reykjavik, or Valencia, Spain. Any more thoughts on his whereabouts? Do you think he'll have presents for us upon his return?
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Seriously, now
Can you read through this article without as much as a smirk? If you can, you've won yourselves a bottle of grand cru Haut Medoc.
D.C. Lobbyist Worth Supporting
Prohibition lasted 13 years, 10 months, 19 days, 17 hours, 32 minutes and 30 seconds too long. At least according to the Here's To Beer lobby in D.C. Maybe I'm missing something, but the web-site suggests it's a beer lobby.
It looks like January and February are the two months where we are missing a major beer festival. I suggest that, in order to become a more Civilized Western Society, we begin nominating places where a January and February festival could take place. Keep in mind climate, geography and lodging, and make a case for it.
Right off I'm thinking of Eastern Europe, somewhere in Bohemia. A friend of mine was through the Czech Republic about seven years ago and remarked that one could get a good sized glass of Pilzner Urquell for less than a dollar. The festival itself, being towards central and eastern Europe, would act as a taunt toward the Morality Imams of Mecca.
We'll all face east and raise glasses in toast for binary reason: we can taunt Mohommad while paying tribute to the first beer recipe that was discovered on a clay Babylonian tablet.
It looks like January and February are the two months where we are missing a major beer festival. I suggest that, in order to become a more Civilized Western Society, we begin nominating places where a January and February festival could take place. Keep in mind climate, geography and lodging, and make a case for it.
Right off I'm thinking of Eastern Europe, somewhere in Bohemia. A friend of mine was through the Czech Republic about seven years ago and remarked that one could get a good sized glass of Pilzner Urquell for less than a dollar. The festival itself, being towards central and eastern Europe, would act as a taunt toward the Morality Imams of Mecca.
We'll all face east and raise glasses in toast for binary reason: we can taunt Mohommad while paying tribute to the first beer recipe that was discovered on a clay Babylonian tablet.
Terrorists then, Jihad now
Hitchens is being a bit reductionistic in his comments, but I think we can recognize what he's saying. Although Marxists were (and are) willing to inflict violence for the sake of the Great Utopia, they have a tendency to be ideological rather than fanatically religious (where religion and ideology are bound under the banner of Jihad). Here's a snippet for your thought:
Conversation with these men over the years was enough to convince me of what I already knew: It is indeed possible for one man to have been both a terrorist and a freedom fighter, though it is probably better to have skipped the "terror" phase altogether. The Iraqi Kurds, for example, never tried to involve noncombatants in their war of liberation. Nonetheless, evolution can and does occur.
This is only one of the many ways in which to appreciate how much the current phase of Islamic "terrorism" is utterly different. Whether or not the London plot turns out to have been real, one knows for sure that similar plots have been afoot ever since the 1990s, when Ramzi Yusef and others conspired to bring down several jumbo jets over the Pacific. And one day fairly soon, we may be sure that human and mechanical debris will fall from the sky upon a city. If you look at the four men I cited above, you will find that they did not plan to inflict murder at random, that they had at least a reasonable belief that they were left with no other recourse, that they had some concept of tomorrow being better than today, and that they accepted—and still accept—responsibility for their actions. What could be more different from those who plan to inflict mass death at random, whose agenda is tyrannical and theocratic, and who are so arrogantly exalted by fanaticism that they wish only to be among the dead? This isn't at all about bad methods being used for "justifiable" reasons or causes. It's about being able to tell a great deal about the "end" from the sort of "means" that are employed to attain it.
Conversation with these men over the years was enough to convince me of what I already knew: It is indeed possible for one man to have been both a terrorist and a freedom fighter, though it is probably better to have skipped the "terror" phase altogether. The Iraqi Kurds, for example, never tried to involve noncombatants in their war of liberation. Nonetheless, evolution can and does occur.
This is only one of the many ways in which to appreciate how much the current phase of Islamic "terrorism" is utterly different. Whether or not the London plot turns out to have been real, one knows for sure that similar plots have been afoot ever since the 1990s, when Ramzi Yusef and others conspired to bring down several jumbo jets over the Pacific. And one day fairly soon, we may be sure that human and mechanical debris will fall from the sky upon a city. If you look at the four men I cited above, you will find that they did not plan to inflict murder at random, that they had at least a reasonable belief that they were left with no other recourse, that they had some concept of tomorrow being better than today, and that they accepted—and still accept—responsibility for their actions. What could be more different from those who plan to inflict mass death at random, whose agenda is tyrannical and theocratic, and who are so arrogantly exalted by fanaticism that they wish only to be among the dead? This isn't at all about bad methods being used for "justifiable" reasons or causes. It's about being able to tell a great deal about the "end" from the sort of "means" that are employed to attain it.
Treppenwitz Goes Where Only Jay Did Not Fear to Tread?
For a few weeks I've pondered writing out a long, tightly reasoned, evidentially heavy, essay on what it is we are facing and why we are not facing it well....but at this moment I'm just too tired, in truth exhausted, as well as dispirited, in truth disgusted, as well as preoccupied by things of personal significance, to carry out any such project. So, as a sop unto that distant day where the essay sees print, here is a post from the Trappenwitz blog, by David Borden [?], giving a series of rabbit punches to the Islam is MultiCulti Peace theme. Interspersed throughout, inside [...], are some oddjob comments of mine. To any who are offended by David's, or my, words, I have but one thing to say: O que vais fazer quando encontras o Camelo na came, Pateta?
"IT'S ISLAM, Stupid
In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, American comedians didn't quite dare wade into the topic of the new reality. For several weeks following the attack, the stand-up acts were strangely devoid of anything related to homeland security or terrorism. That is, until Jay Leno stepped up and decided that enough was enough.
In his opening monologue one evening he delivered what has since become a classic bit:
"I'm not saying they're profiling at the airports these days. But if your first name is 'Mohammed' and your last name isn't 'Ali'... leave a little extra time."
He nailed it. "
[Actually, I remember CAIR protesting to NBC about this, demanding Jay apologize...did he? ]
"Unfortunately, for some reason the people who are paid to understand such things still don't 'get' the prescient truth behind Leno's timely joke."
[What, Pepe Le Pew get's paid?]
"With the exception of North Korea, every single trouble spot on the planet can be directly tied to the doctrine of Islam."
[Well, I would qualify this with "Major International" trouble spot.]
" Please take note that I didn't use the words 'radical' or 'militant' to modify the word Islam. Islam, as preached and practiced from it's primary source (the Koran), is quite simply incompatible with other cultures and religions. Since its inception in the 7th century, Islam has demanded that its followers submit themselves completely to the will of Allah... and that they in turn bend the rest of the world completely to the pitiless domination of Islam.
The best any non-Muslim can expect according to the Pact of Umar is a barely-tolerated status known as 'Dhimmi'... which is basically a subservient second class status in Muslim society. In short, Islam does not play nicely with others. It's all or nothing."
[Question, I'm curious, does the root/prefix "dimi", as in "diminutive", "diminish", come from dhimmi?]
"Since Islam was invented (yes, you read that correctly) it has been the cause of countless wars, conquests and overt attempts to dominate the known world. Throughout its history, Islamic leaders have made absolutely no secret of their intentions to carry out Allah's global ambitions. And in every generation since, the non-Muslims of the world have said to themselves (as we are again saying to ourselves today), that they don't really mean it... that this is just the way those people talk and it is a cultural thing for which we need to make allowances."
[On a related note, while doing research for a now "in limbo" project on the fall of Constantinople I read a 13th century analysis, by a priest, of "The Cult of Mecca". He specifically raised the question on whether the adherents of this cult really meant what they said about unbelievers and the ambitions of Islam [his conclusion was that most did].]
"I honestly don't understand this willful blindness.
Listen up people... they mean it! Really!!! When people in charge of nearly limitless resources and vast armies stand up and state quite openly that they intend to wipe a country off the map, they mean it! When these leaders state their intention to return to the lines of demarcation (and beyond) where previous Muslim invasions/conquests faltered in Europe... they mean it. "
[Well, Poitiers is certainly in their grasp today! ]
"When they tell us in the most unambiguous, straightforward language that they won't stop until they have conquered the world... THEY REALLY MEAN IT!
Every advance in global communication and travel that should have made the world a better, smaller, safer place to live has been exploited by Islam as a weapon against us. Because of the tenets of Islam, every man woman and child must now wait in endless lines to enter public buildings and travel on buses, trains and airplanes. And each time we think we have figured out a way to return to some semblance of normalcy in our daily lives, we discover (often too late) that Muslims have figured out a new way to target us and kill us in large numbers."
[Perhaps their corporate motto should be "Better Killing Through Chemistry"?]
"Over the past few days British and U.S. security officials have been interviewed about the new security measures in place after the [apparently] foiled attempt to smuggle liquid explosives onto a bunch of trans-Atlantic flights. Their solutions make absolutely no sense! They have little old ladies from Peoria throwing away their Florida Water. They have teenagers dumping shampoo, hair gel and conditioners from their purses and backpacks. They have people tossing out their contact lens solution!!!"
[And they have AI bereft of lotions and emollients with not so much as a pence of restitution. Fortunate for AA's composure that he was not travelling with his Box of Port at the time]
"What they aren't doing is mining the database which contains the name and salient details of every Muslim man woman and child in the free world (a database I assure you exists), and demanding that every one of these potential jihadists be subjected to the same waiting period to buy a plane ticket as most U.S. citizens have to endure before purchasing a handgun. "
[ Hell, if the uber-effective Able Danger was shitcanned for being unPC what chance does the above version have? ]
"There it is. Call me a racist. Call me a bigot. Call me whatever you want. "
[No doubt the Pepean Way would call you "Ridiculeuse"]
"Obviously not every Muslim in the world is actually a terrorist or dreams gleefully of subjugating the world under the heel of Islam. But the ones who don't represent a clear and present threat to us are the exception rather than the rule. To pretend otherwise and formulate our approach to dealing with our enemies based on our experience with this tiny minority of benign Muslims is insanity."
[We moderns have built Madness on Methodless Madness. That is our Triumph]
"The Muslim countries and individuals that have proven themselves (thus far, anyway) capable of peaceful coexistence with non-Muslim cultures are those who have deliberately moved towards secularization of their religion and society. They have basically created an 'Islam Lite' that preserves many of the cultural touchstones if Islam without demanding the subservience and militancy of the Full Monty Wahhabi. What does it say about a religion that in order for it to coexist peacefully with other cultures and faiths it must be de-clawed of its more dangerous statutes?"
[It says it is a Feral Religion]
"Just because we can point to Jordan or Egypt and say, "See... it's possible to be both Muslim and a peaceful neighbor", is no disproof of what I've said here. Both of these countries have had mixed results creating secular societies, and as a result are facing destabilizing internal insurgencies from their religious citizens."
[They have as much of a future as Hirsan Ali does in Holland]
"Likewise, we can point to many wonderful Muslim individuals around the world who are neither personally dangerous nor supporters of global Jihad. But these people are marginal players in their own societies and would certainly not put their lives at risk telling the Mullahs to just 'give peace a chance'. I mean, did you ever notice that these moderate Muslims are always calling on the non-Muslim world (especially Israel and the U.S.) to be the ones to back down in the face of threats and violence... y'know, as a humanitarian gesture? Yet all the while Islam remains on the march with no hint of concession or regret in sight."
[There are many Muslims with the courage of their convictions....but, by some bizarre coincidence, a true probabilistic marvel, they are almost never, ever, the moderate ones ]
"The sudden massive immigration of Muslims into western Europe over the past 30 years is no accident or coincidence. This is a conquest plain and simple, although without the swords and horses most refuse to recognize it as such. Europe has historically been able to tolerate immigration because their own cultures have been strong enough to absorb and influence the new arrivals. "
[Enfin, Enfants de La Patrie, c'est Le Fin]
"Of course, we Jews know from painful experience that refusal to be absorbed can lead to unwanted negative attention from European hosts. Perhaps the Europeans learned the lesson too well with us (the Jews) and are therefore doubly vulnerable to the Muslim hordes. "
[Nah. You Jews were weak and lacked feistiness. So it was easy for Euros, even the French, to find their semblance of courage....Muslims don't have the same...'reputation' shall we say? And Europe, particularly the French, behave accordingly]
"But make no mistake... these aren't a bunch of wandering Huguenots or Jews who refuse to be absorbed into European society. Islam demands the home team advantage even when on the road... and is acting as an aggressive, belligerent cancer that has metastasized on the vital organs of European society. "
[sort of like the Yankees being Islam and the Red Sox being the hapless Kufr?]
"Think about this for a moment: A practitioner of a non-Muslim religion would be barred from most outward practices of his or her faith in any Muslim country. But let anyone or anything trod on the toes of Islamic practices anywhere in the free world and there will be riots and murder in the streets.
Let a Muslim be arrested for breaking the law... rioting, destruction and murder ensue.
Let a cartoon be drawn that insults any aspect of Islam... rioting, destruction and murder ensue.
Let anyone suggest that women be photographed for national identity cards in such a way that they can actually be identified (i.e. without a veil or chador)...rioting, destruction and murder ensue."
[Islam is nothing if not consistent...No fear of hobgoblins in those small minds!]
"Throughout the free world there are now cultural no-go zones where the police, politicians and even military dare not tread for fear of inciting Muslim violence"
[You mean like Dearborn and Hamtrack? ].
"A Buddha can't be tolerated in Afghanistan. A crucifix is an affront in Iran. Entire Jewish communities in every Muslim country have been uprooted and expelled (and all their holdings and property seized by the mobs). Yet I challenge you to name a city in Western Europe where the skyline isn't marred by turgid minarets and where the residents aren't subjected to the amplified din of the muezzin from pre-dawn til late at night."
[Not major city at least....but, hey, if Mayor Menino had his way Boston would now be in that happy place]
"The west willfully turns a blind eye to the abuse of women and children and tacitly condones honor killings in our midst. Our laws are well written and equipped to deal with these issues... yet those sworn to uphold and defend the laws are fearful of lighting the powder keg called 'Muslim Sensibilities'.
And yet each time Muslims up the stakes in their declared war on the rest of the world, we pretend they don't really mean it. We patronize them and infantalize them... and we pooh-pooh their rantings and crimes as we would those of an ill-behaved child. At a certain point one has to wonder if world leaders are just stupid or if they are actually complicit in the attacks on their own societies!"
[One can be both stupid and complicit, can one not?]
"Anyone who gets on TV and says that Islam is a religion of peace is either an ignoramus or a liar. "
[Unfortunately, a large demographic...particularly in our universities and "elite" institutions]
"Anyone who stands up after a kidnapping and tells the world not to worry about the welfare of the hostages because Islam requires that prisoners be treated humanely, is pulling a Jedi mind trick in an attempt to make us forget the countless hostages that have been tortured, shot, knifed or beheaded to satisfy the ongoing blood-lust of a 7th Century L.Ron Hubbard*. "
[But, hey, at least some of the Prisoners/Captives seem to escape death or torture. Perhaps even more than win the Powerball lottery ]
"Wake up folks!"
[What, and forego the bliss of Ouzo?]
"The people who are funding and carrying out these attacks are Muslims. It isn't that they just happen to be Muslims. If you take the time to read the Koran (instead of blindly taking the world of Muslim murderers and apologists) it is full of very straight-forward directives to dominate, subjugate, and if necessary, kill the infidel while taking over the world.
Each time a Muslim politician gets up after an attack and claims that the terrorists do not act in the name of Muslims and that such attacks are damaging the standing if Islam around the world, you can bet they are speaking in English... and that the version delivered to their co-religionists will be an Arabic or Farsi riff on Queen's hit 'We are the Champions'!"
[Queen and Village People are indeed a fave of the Madrassah set]
"The answer isn't to negotiate with Islam. The streets are no longer safe. Travel is no longer safe. Commerce is no longer safe. Even speaking or writing what we think is risking a death sentence! We can't possibly concede anything more to Islam because, quite literally, we have nothing left to give. Any concessions from here on in will simply amount to handing them our little remaining autonomy and freedom piece-by-piece. "
[oh, there is always something left to give...money, land, women, your head]
"Yes folks, we are witnessing the beginning of the end in the global war of cultures... and true to form, we still refuse to even name the enemy.
[ But, if one names the enemy, doesn't that put a crimp in the "Nuance and Sophistication" lifestyle?]
"IT'S ISLAM, Stupid
In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, American comedians didn't quite dare wade into the topic of the new reality. For several weeks following the attack, the stand-up acts were strangely devoid of anything related to homeland security or terrorism. That is, until Jay Leno stepped up and decided that enough was enough.
In his opening monologue one evening he delivered what has since become a classic bit:
"I'm not saying they're profiling at the airports these days. But if your first name is 'Mohammed' and your last name isn't 'Ali'... leave a little extra time."
He nailed it. "
[Actually, I remember CAIR protesting to NBC about this, demanding Jay apologize...did he? ]
"Unfortunately, for some reason the people who are paid to understand such things still don't 'get' the prescient truth behind Leno's timely joke."
[What, Pepe Le Pew get's paid?]
"With the exception of North Korea, every single trouble spot on the planet can be directly tied to the doctrine of Islam."
[Well, I would qualify this with "Major International" trouble spot.]
" Please take note that I didn't use the words 'radical' or 'militant' to modify the word Islam. Islam, as preached and practiced from it's primary source (the Koran), is quite simply incompatible with other cultures and religions. Since its inception in the 7th century, Islam has demanded that its followers submit themselves completely to the will of Allah... and that they in turn bend the rest of the world completely to the pitiless domination of Islam.
The best any non-Muslim can expect according to the Pact of Umar is a barely-tolerated status known as 'Dhimmi'... which is basically a subservient second class status in Muslim society. In short, Islam does not play nicely with others. It's all or nothing."
[Question, I'm curious, does the root/prefix "dimi", as in "diminutive", "diminish", come from dhimmi?]
"Since Islam was invented (yes, you read that correctly) it has been the cause of countless wars, conquests and overt attempts to dominate the known world. Throughout its history, Islamic leaders have made absolutely no secret of their intentions to carry out Allah's global ambitions. And in every generation since, the non-Muslims of the world have said to themselves (as we are again saying to ourselves today), that they don't really mean it... that this is just the way those people talk and it is a cultural thing for which we need to make allowances."
[On a related note, while doing research for a now "in limbo" project on the fall of Constantinople I read a 13th century analysis, by a priest, of "The Cult of Mecca". He specifically raised the question on whether the adherents of this cult really meant what they said about unbelievers and the ambitions of Islam [his conclusion was that most did].]
"I honestly don't understand this willful blindness.
Listen up people... they mean it! Really!!! When people in charge of nearly limitless resources and vast armies stand up and state quite openly that they intend to wipe a country off the map, they mean it! When these leaders state their intention to return to the lines of demarcation (and beyond) where previous Muslim invasions/conquests faltered in Europe... they mean it. "
[Well, Poitiers is certainly in their grasp today! ]
"When they tell us in the most unambiguous, straightforward language that they won't stop until they have conquered the world... THEY REALLY MEAN IT!
Every advance in global communication and travel that should have made the world a better, smaller, safer place to live has been exploited by Islam as a weapon against us. Because of the tenets of Islam, every man woman and child must now wait in endless lines to enter public buildings and travel on buses, trains and airplanes. And each time we think we have figured out a way to return to some semblance of normalcy in our daily lives, we discover (often too late) that Muslims have figured out a new way to target us and kill us in large numbers."
[Perhaps their corporate motto should be "Better Killing Through Chemistry"?]
"Over the past few days British and U.S. security officials have been interviewed about the new security measures in place after the [apparently] foiled attempt to smuggle liquid explosives onto a bunch of trans-Atlantic flights. Their solutions make absolutely no sense! They have little old ladies from Peoria throwing away their Florida Water. They have teenagers dumping shampoo, hair gel and conditioners from their purses and backpacks. They have people tossing out their contact lens solution!!!"
[And they have AI bereft of lotions and emollients with not so much as a pence of restitution. Fortunate for AA's composure that he was not travelling with his Box of Port at the time]
"What they aren't doing is mining the database which contains the name and salient details of every Muslim man woman and child in the free world (a database I assure you exists), and demanding that every one of these potential jihadists be subjected to the same waiting period to buy a plane ticket as most U.S. citizens have to endure before purchasing a handgun. "
[ Hell, if the uber-effective Able Danger was shitcanned for being unPC what chance does the above version have? ]
"There it is. Call me a racist. Call me a bigot. Call me whatever you want. "
[No doubt the Pepean Way would call you "Ridiculeuse"]
"Obviously not every Muslim in the world is actually a terrorist or dreams gleefully of subjugating the world under the heel of Islam. But the ones who don't represent a clear and present threat to us are the exception rather than the rule. To pretend otherwise and formulate our approach to dealing with our enemies based on our experience with this tiny minority of benign Muslims is insanity."
[We moderns have built Madness on Methodless Madness. That is our Triumph]
"The Muslim countries and individuals that have proven themselves (thus far, anyway) capable of peaceful coexistence with non-Muslim cultures are those who have deliberately moved towards secularization of their religion and society. They have basically created an 'Islam Lite' that preserves many of the cultural touchstones if Islam without demanding the subservience and militancy of the Full Monty Wahhabi. What does it say about a religion that in order for it to coexist peacefully with other cultures and faiths it must be de-clawed of its more dangerous statutes?"
[It says it is a Feral Religion]
"Just because we can point to Jordan or Egypt and say, "See... it's possible to be both Muslim and a peaceful neighbor", is no disproof of what I've said here. Both of these countries have had mixed results creating secular societies, and as a result are facing destabilizing internal insurgencies from their religious citizens."
[They have as much of a future as Hirsan Ali does in Holland]
"Likewise, we can point to many wonderful Muslim individuals around the world who are neither personally dangerous nor supporters of global Jihad. But these people are marginal players in their own societies and would certainly not put their lives at risk telling the Mullahs to just 'give peace a chance'. I mean, did you ever notice that these moderate Muslims are always calling on the non-Muslim world (especially Israel and the U.S.) to be the ones to back down in the face of threats and violence... y'know, as a humanitarian gesture? Yet all the while Islam remains on the march with no hint of concession or regret in sight."
[There are many Muslims with the courage of their convictions....but, by some bizarre coincidence, a true probabilistic marvel, they are almost never, ever, the moderate ones ]
"The sudden massive immigration of Muslims into western Europe over the past 30 years is no accident or coincidence. This is a conquest plain and simple, although without the swords and horses most refuse to recognize it as such. Europe has historically been able to tolerate immigration because their own cultures have been strong enough to absorb and influence the new arrivals. "
[Enfin, Enfants de La Patrie, c'est Le Fin]
"Of course, we Jews know from painful experience that refusal to be absorbed can lead to unwanted negative attention from European hosts. Perhaps the Europeans learned the lesson too well with us (the Jews) and are therefore doubly vulnerable to the Muslim hordes. "
[Nah. You Jews were weak and lacked feistiness. So it was easy for Euros, even the French, to find their semblance of courage....Muslims don't have the same...'reputation' shall we say? And Europe, particularly the French, behave accordingly]
"But make no mistake... these aren't a bunch of wandering Huguenots or Jews who refuse to be absorbed into European society. Islam demands the home team advantage even when on the road... and is acting as an aggressive, belligerent cancer that has metastasized on the vital organs of European society. "
[sort of like the Yankees being Islam and the Red Sox being the hapless Kufr?]
"Think about this for a moment: A practitioner of a non-Muslim religion would be barred from most outward practices of his or her faith in any Muslim country. But let anyone or anything trod on the toes of Islamic practices anywhere in the free world and there will be riots and murder in the streets.
Let a Muslim be arrested for breaking the law... rioting, destruction and murder ensue.
Let a cartoon be drawn that insults any aspect of Islam... rioting, destruction and murder ensue.
Let anyone suggest that women be photographed for national identity cards in such a way that they can actually be identified (i.e. without a veil or chador)...rioting, destruction and murder ensue."
[Islam is nothing if not consistent...No fear of hobgoblins in those small minds!]
"Throughout the free world there are now cultural no-go zones where the police, politicians and even military dare not tread for fear of inciting Muslim violence"
[You mean like Dearborn and Hamtrack? ].
"A Buddha can't be tolerated in Afghanistan. A crucifix is an affront in Iran. Entire Jewish communities in every Muslim country have been uprooted and expelled (and all their holdings and property seized by the mobs). Yet I challenge you to name a city in Western Europe where the skyline isn't marred by turgid minarets and where the residents aren't subjected to the amplified din of the muezzin from pre-dawn til late at night."
[Not major city at least....but, hey, if Mayor Menino had his way Boston would now be in that happy place]
"The west willfully turns a blind eye to the abuse of women and children and tacitly condones honor killings in our midst. Our laws are well written and equipped to deal with these issues... yet those sworn to uphold and defend the laws are fearful of lighting the powder keg called 'Muslim Sensibilities'.
And yet each time Muslims up the stakes in their declared war on the rest of the world, we pretend they don't really mean it. We patronize them and infantalize them... and we pooh-pooh their rantings and crimes as we would those of an ill-behaved child. At a certain point one has to wonder if world leaders are just stupid or if they are actually complicit in the attacks on their own societies!"
[One can be both stupid and complicit, can one not?]
"Anyone who gets on TV and says that Islam is a religion of peace is either an ignoramus or a liar. "
[Unfortunately, a large demographic...particularly in our universities and "elite" institutions]
"Anyone who stands up after a kidnapping and tells the world not to worry about the welfare of the hostages because Islam requires that prisoners be treated humanely, is pulling a Jedi mind trick in an attempt to make us forget the countless hostages that have been tortured, shot, knifed or beheaded to satisfy the ongoing blood-lust of a 7th Century L.Ron Hubbard*. "
[But, hey, at least some of the Prisoners/Captives seem to escape death or torture. Perhaps even more than win the Powerball lottery ]
"Wake up folks!"
[What, and forego the bliss of Ouzo?]
"The people who are funding and carrying out these attacks are Muslims. It isn't that they just happen to be Muslims. If you take the time to read the Koran (instead of blindly taking the world of Muslim murderers and apologists) it is full of very straight-forward directives to dominate, subjugate, and if necessary, kill the infidel while taking over the world.
Each time a Muslim politician gets up after an attack and claims that the terrorists do not act in the name of Muslims and that such attacks are damaging the standing if Islam around the world, you can bet they are speaking in English... and that the version delivered to their co-religionists will be an Arabic or Farsi riff on Queen's hit 'We are the Champions'!"
[Queen and Village People are indeed a fave of the Madrassah set]
"The answer isn't to negotiate with Islam. The streets are no longer safe. Travel is no longer safe. Commerce is no longer safe. Even speaking or writing what we think is risking a death sentence! We can't possibly concede anything more to Islam because, quite literally, we have nothing left to give. Any concessions from here on in will simply amount to handing them our little remaining autonomy and freedom piece-by-piece. "
[oh, there is always something left to give...money, land, women, your head]
"Yes folks, we are witnessing the beginning of the end in the global war of cultures... and true to form, we still refuse to even name the enemy.
[ But, if one names the enemy, doesn't that put a crimp in the "Nuance and Sophistication" lifestyle?]
Monday, August 14, 2006
Post-mortem
.. in a manner that emulated Sherman's march through Georgia. Is this gonna happen? Fat chance.
Where have you gone, William Tecumseh?
A nation turns its lonely eyes to you
(Woo woo woo)
What’s that you say, Mrs. Robinson
‘Joltin Joe’ has left and gone away?
(Hey hey hey – hey hey hey)
Where have you gone, William Tecumseh?
A nation turns its lonely eyes to you
(Woo woo woo)
What’s that you say, Mrs. Robinson
‘Joltin Joe’ has left and gone away?
(Hey hey hey – hey hey hey)
Cocktails galore
"Six weeks ago, this [the alleged aircraft bombing scheme] was one of a dozen plots that were being investigated. It was not our main priority. Things began to change and the inquiry was accelerated so that it became a priority. But it is by no means unique. There are dozens and dozens of plots like this one, in terms of people planning to commit mass murder in the UK. This is just the tip of the iceberg people have got to start realising how serious the current situation has become."
Ah, don't worry, be happy, it's all under control -- say JJ & Pepe through the ouija board.
Ah, don't worry, be happy, it's all under control -- say JJ & Pepe through the ouija board.
Logic 101
He said that it was irrational to subject a 75-year-old grandmother to the same checks as a 25-year-old man who had just paid for his ticket with cash.
.. and looks like an extra from Clockwork Orange. Ah, but this is verboten! PC trumps logic any day, much as stone trumps scissors. Yes?
.. and looks like an extra from Clockwork Orange. Ah, but this is verboten! PC trumps logic any day, much as stone trumps scissors. Yes?
A new blogger on the block
Looks pretty badly done to me, but then again, I could not understand a word of it, and nothing works there. Oh, well, maybe that's a good sign.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Dastardly plots
I was out of the loop for a week -- sort of like JJ, in blissful ignorance of what's going on. Was jolted back to reality at the airport, where the guys checking things pulled me over, and started taking away my toothpaste, deodorant, etc. Whoa! I said, what's wrong with that? So they said, hey man, dontcha know we're on orange alert? Hah! Can't wait to see what happens when JJ checks in, after 4 months chasing the mountain goats in the Alps... That ouzo stashed away will surely go down the drain.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Thursday, August 10, 2006
vignette of Mr. Clemens on matches
One of the few good excerpts found in the September 2006 issue of Harper's. This is a piece by an anonymous (thus far) individual who interviewed Twain between 1871 and 1910.
The first word I heard from his lips was an amusing anathema upon the recalcitrant match, which, despite all he could do to the contrary, obstinately refused to light his pipe. The way he condemned that match, the pathetic solemnity of his protest against the ignominy of being 'insulted by a mere inanimate thing' lingers with me to this day.
His particular drone, being a difficult matter to reproduce with the ordinary, copper-faced type commonly in use among the high class of American newspapers, must be left for the imagination of the reader to supply.
One unaccustomed to Americans would conclude that Mr. Clemens is a phenomenally lazy man, one word following the other as though each was being mentally turned over, its full worth in the sentence weighed.
With a slow and distinct enunciation, tinged with a slight American accent, which gives piquancy to his delivery, he pours forth a flood of most graphic word painting.
A woman could do up her hair twice while he pronounced the word Mississippi. He lingers over it, plays with it, handles it as a young mother does her first baby.
He talks slowly and extracts each of his vowels with a corkscrew twist that would make even the announcement of a funeral sound like a joke.
A pause. A longer pause than usual. An abominably protracted pause. A pause of hovering on the abyss of irretrievable silence.
Note: this was pulled from Mark Twain: The Complete Interviews, (U of Alabama Press, 2006), appearing on p. 16 of Harper's, a magazine that has taken a serious dive since Twain stopped publishing in it.
The first word I heard from his lips was an amusing anathema upon the recalcitrant match, which, despite all he could do to the contrary, obstinately refused to light his pipe. The way he condemned that match, the pathetic solemnity of his protest against the ignominy of being 'insulted by a mere inanimate thing' lingers with me to this day.
His particular drone, being a difficult matter to reproduce with the ordinary, copper-faced type commonly in use among the high class of American newspapers, must be left for the imagination of the reader to supply.
One unaccustomed to Americans would conclude that Mr. Clemens is a phenomenally lazy man, one word following the other as though each was being mentally turned over, its full worth in the sentence weighed.
With a slow and distinct enunciation, tinged with a slight American accent, which gives piquancy to his delivery, he pours forth a flood of most graphic word painting.
A woman could do up her hair twice while he pronounced the word Mississippi. He lingers over it, plays with it, handles it as a young mother does her first baby.
He talks slowly and extracts each of his vowels with a corkscrew twist that would make even the announcement of a funeral sound like a joke.
A pause. A longer pause than usual. An abominably protracted pause. A pause of hovering on the abyss of irretrievable silence.
Note: this was pulled from Mark Twain: The Complete Interviews, (U of Alabama Press, 2006), appearing on p. 16 of Harper's, a magazine that has taken a serious dive since Twain stopped publishing in it.
Wordsmiths hard at work...
Excerpt from review:
"The first edition, with different editors, was published in 2001. What has changed in four years?... Definitions continue to be organized around the "core" meanings--that is, "the one that represents the most literal use that the word has in ordinary modern American usage." Similar to other current dictionaries, biographical, proper, and place-names are included--al Qaeda; Botox; 9/11; Rice, Condoleezza; Splenda; and Sunni Triangle are new additions to NOAD."
"The first edition, with different editors, was published in 2001. What has changed in four years?... Definitions continue to be organized around the "core" meanings--that is, "the one that represents the most literal use that the word has in ordinary modern American usage." Similar to other current dictionaries, biographical, proper, and place-names are included--al Qaeda; Botox; 9/11; Rice, Condoleezza; Splenda; and Sunni Triangle are new additions to NOAD."
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
The Ode of Will He Joe?
A former editor of Tikkun finally gets....I suppose it is better to wake up when the knife is at the throat, than never wake at all.
"I Ain’t Kumbaying Any More (A Former Pacifist’s Lament)
(With due credit to Phil Ochs for the original)
Oh I marched to the protest of the Iraq war
With Cindy Sheehan and fat pig Michael Moore
The insurgents kept on growing
And our soldiers’ blood started flowing
So I ain’t Kumbaying anymore
For I’ve borne my share of peace signs
At a thousand different sites
I protested the Viet Nam War
I heard John Kerry lying
While his fellow vets were dying
But I ain’t Kumbaying anymore
It’s always the Left that opposes the war
And then even more young men fall
To turn our backs and run when we drop the sabre and the gun
Is to risk losing one and all
For I called our men baby killers when they came home
from the bloody Viet Nam War
That’s how I knifed my brother
And so many others
So I ain’t Kumbaying anymore
For I marched against the battles of the Iraqi trench
In a war that should have ended all wars
Saddam must have killed a million men
And I didn’t give a damn back then
But I ain’t Kumbaying anymore
It’s always the Left that opposes the war
And then even more young men fall
To turn our backs and run when we drop the sabre and the gun
Is to risk losing one and all
Now North Korea and Iran are putting missiles in the sky
To bring the atomic flash and roar
I have seen the Towers burning
So I am finally learning
Not to sing “Kumbaya” any more
Now the radical Left is screaming to impeach the President,
While terrorists are invading our own shores,
I called it “hate” and “militarism”
But now I call it “Reason”
And I ain’t Kumbaying any more. "
"I Ain’t Kumbaying Any More (A Former Pacifist’s Lament)
(With due credit to Phil Ochs for the original)
Oh I marched to the protest of the Iraq war
With Cindy Sheehan and fat pig Michael Moore
The insurgents kept on growing
And our soldiers’ blood started flowing
So I ain’t Kumbaying anymore
For I’ve borne my share of peace signs
At a thousand different sites
I protested the Viet Nam War
I heard John Kerry lying
While his fellow vets were dying
But I ain’t Kumbaying anymore
It’s always the Left that opposes the war
And then even more young men fall
To turn our backs and run when we drop the sabre and the gun
Is to risk losing one and all
For I called our men baby killers when they came home
from the bloody Viet Nam War
That’s how I knifed my brother
And so many others
So I ain’t Kumbaying anymore
For I marched against the battles of the Iraqi trench
In a war that should have ended all wars
Saddam must have killed a million men
And I didn’t give a damn back then
But I ain’t Kumbaying anymore
It’s always the Left that opposes the war
And then even more young men fall
To turn our backs and run when we drop the sabre and the gun
Is to risk losing one and all
Now North Korea and Iran are putting missiles in the sky
To bring the atomic flash and roar
I have seen the Towers burning
So I am finally learning
Not to sing “Kumbaya” any more
Now the radical Left is screaming to impeach the President,
While terrorists are invading our own shores,
I called it “hate” and “militarism”
But now I call it “Reason”
And I ain’t Kumbaying any more. "
Jolting Joe
No, not the Ouzophornicator, the Ach Du Lieber Man.......This primary only involved a very few voters, but that the Vice Presidential candidate for the Democrats is railroaded out of the party in two short years is an omen of significant things. It seems Zell Miller, back in 2004, did read well what lay ahead......
Monday, August 07, 2006
Hitchens on re-constructing language
Cuba's geographic position from Moscow, and it's close proximity to Capitalist Pig America, secured support from the Kremlin. Hitchens says the Corporate Kremlin is the next phase for Havana, but that term (a "highly commercial dictatorship") still seems a bit ambiguous.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
BHL meets JJ at the ouija board
An officer with a literary bent deciding that, with our two cars immobilized in the blazing scree, nothing is more urgent than discussing jihad, enlightenment Islam, the trouble with Huntington’s theory of the clash of civilizations, Karachi and its terrorist mosques...
Who but JJ would give a rat's ass about Huntington's theories?
Who but JJ would give a rat's ass about Huntington's theories?
Apocalyptic Rapture from the Left
I wish Harper's had an on-line feature. They don't. But if you guys find yourselves wandering through Harvard Square, grab one of the undergrads and ask if you can borrow their copy. Check out Bryant Urstadt, "Imagine There's No Oil: Scenes From a Liberal Apocalypse," Harper's, August 2006: 31-40.
Urstadt investigates the growing Peak Oil movement and draws analogies with Christians (or, in other cases, Puritans too) who are looking forward to armageddon.
Urstadt excerpt: Americans seem born to love the apocalypse, even though it jilts us every time. Peak Oil and Left Behind are mere froth on the sea of doomsaying that stretches back to the Puritans.
In weighing our options (oil ain't gonna last forever), Urstadt suggests we look at building more nuclear reactors (for example: the 103 nuclear reactors in the United States produced the equivalent of 1.4 billion barrels of oil in energy in 2004). However he seems to think that war in the mid-East would suddenly cease if oil was non-existent. Again we have another example of a Harper's writer either failing to read the smite, spite, and resentment of the Quran, or merely cruising around with blinders on.
Urstadt investigates the growing Peak Oil movement and draws analogies with Christians (or, in other cases, Puritans too) who are looking forward to armageddon.
Urstadt excerpt: Americans seem born to love the apocalypse, even though it jilts us every time. Peak Oil and Left Behind are mere froth on the sea of doomsaying that stretches back to the Puritans.
In weighing our options (oil ain't gonna last forever), Urstadt suggests we look at building more nuclear reactors (for example: the 103 nuclear reactors in the United States produced the equivalent of 1.4 billion barrels of oil in energy in 2004). However he seems to think that war in the mid-East would suddenly cease if oil was non-existent. Again we have another example of a Harper's writer either failing to read the smite, spite, and resentment of the Quran, or merely cruising around with blinders on.
Time for ouzo in the heartland?
Just drove from Grand Forks thru Fargo and onto Bismarck yesterday. At certain points along I-94 I wondered if the Road Warrior might fly past me.
The hortoculturalists recommend on giving up on watering grass and rather just focus on keeping the trees hydrated. Yesterday a friend said the Missouri River reservoirs in Nebraska were getting a bit low too. Maybe it's time for ouzo in the Heartland?
The hortoculturalists recommend on giving up on watering grass and rather just focus on keeping the trees hydrated. Yesterday a friend said the Missouri River reservoirs in Nebraska were getting a bit low too. Maybe it's time for ouzo in the Heartland?
Piece of yellowcake
How long before Joe Wilson is put on the case? Sipping mint tea will make the whole thing go away, fer sure.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Italian logical thinking
Is kind of lacking. Oh, well -- too much dolce farniente makes the brain shaky. Too many convincts? Easy: just let them all out. JJ could have told them that, after a night of grappa libations.
At First I Scoffed...
but the more I thought about it, the more admirable it became as a shortcut/ideograph to some very common phenomenon. It has predictive power, and that is more than can be said of a number of "scientific" mathematical statements which pretend to be more than shortcuts/ideographs [such as the statistical analysis behind the predictions for this hurricane season]. Empirically, as the decades have rolled by, the American universities are indeed more and more full of P.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Roissy & Orly
Due to "far-right politician's allegations", the French close down peaceful prayer rooms at the Paris airports. It's all Bush's fault!!!
slow mo
Talibanization of Bradford, and sundry other places. So OK, Voltaire, Rousseau, and Moliere are DWM's, off with them. But now, the plus sign also gotta go, as being insensitive? Ah well, says JJ, keep on cavorting in the grass, life is good.
The Dog Days
So, August sees MFT and AI living in searing heat? I presume, in his cave of goats, Pan JJ is the coolest of us all [although here in the Northwest, it is delectable]. As for Pepe, a little acid rain seems to have melted him completely away.....dommage.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
The Unbearable Lightness of Gauchiste Being
Happy Campers to the Left, Bushcabalists to the Right, all's well in Loose Change World...and here I was beginning to think that humour sinistre was an empty notion.
The Owl of Minerva goes High Tech
Refreshing to see a worthy piece of the past get saved from oblivion by the best of modern science and engineering. Now, let me celebrate by indulging in that other contemporary wonder, Wine in a Box
Watch Out: this kind of Sucks
Some, if not all, of you are exposed to late-teen jargon. Cultural inertia has grabbed, and the German's have, yet again, woven their words into the fabric of American English. I can't say I use the word regularly, but it doesn't seem like we have a choice whether or not we want to hear it. French is still considered more sophisticated:
Excerpt: "English speakers have traditionally turned to our tongue's Germanic side when we seek to be direct. (Some Germanic words: run, eat, beat, and yes, suck.) But we turn to our French romance roots when we're looking for a little more formality. (Romance words: saunter, devour, chastise.)"
Excerpt: "English speakers have traditionally turned to our tongue's Germanic side when we seek to be direct. (Some Germanic words: run, eat, beat, and yes, suck.) But we turn to our French romance roots when we're looking for a little more formality. (Romance words: saunter, devour, chastise.)"
don't box out the wine just yet
I've taken in a bit of box wine in the past couple of years. It's really more bagged and then "boxed." I've tasted some really bad stuff, but have also had some that passes for a good table red -- you can usually get some good tasting wine that was purchased for real cheap, served in a coffee mug, when visiting AA. I wonder if Pepe would react to boxed wine the way he did toward baseball?
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Jihad = gangsta rap?
Whatever, Jessica, whatever. Surely those lectures at Harvard are fascinating. Maybe JJ can tell us all about it when he stops cavorting in his endless Garden of Eden.
Off by just a smidgeon.
For such a small proportion of the USA's population, it is astounding how so many of these cases of slavery have to do with Islam [the bulk of the rest seem to come out of eastern asia]. Pity the gal, for she had been so lucky as to be born a couple of centuries ago she and her hubby's fine upholding of quranic mores would have been problematic not at all [at least south of the good old Mason-Dixon line]. Truly, timing is everything.
Anyhow, no doubt she can indulge freely in her special tastes in domestic help back in the House of Saud.
Anyhow, no doubt she can indulge freely in her special tastes in domestic help back in the House of Saud.
Pining for Castro
The French are. Birds of the same feather, and all that.
Vilified by opponents as a totalitarian dictator, Castro is admired in many Third World nations for standing up to the United States and providing free education and health care.
Castro was greeted by crowds like a rock star in Argentina this month. Anti-globalization youths see him as a hero, along with revolutionary Che Guevara. "Fidel and Che are symbols of socialist ideals, equality and solidarity, lost in today's capitalist world," said Jose Fierro, a teacher from Latronquiere in Southern France. "Young people want to believe it is possible," he said, while visiting earlier this month Castro's hide-out atop the Sierra Maestra mountains.
Vilified by opponents as a totalitarian dictator, Castro is admired in many Third World nations for standing up to the United States and providing free education and health care.
Castro was greeted by crowds like a rock star in Argentina this month. Anti-globalization youths see him as a hero, along with revolutionary Che Guevara. "Fidel and Che are symbols of socialist ideals, equality and solidarity, lost in today's capitalist world," said Jose Fierro, a teacher from Latronquiere in Southern France. "Young people want to believe it is possible," he said, while visiting earlier this month Castro's hide-out atop the Sierra Maestra mountains.
The Old Trick--Imam Style
They should also have asked him his opinion of the Imam in Denver, in the mid 80's, who was assassinated after insisting he would continue to let men and women have joint services when he preached. [it was only recently revealed that the killers were attached to an Islamic "charity" affiliated with the Egyptian IB , Zwahiri's launch pad for Al Qaeda]
"Denver imam refuses to affirm loyalty to U.S.
Note how he uses indignation to try to divert the questioner. From "Torkelson: Mosque adapting to its diversity," in the Rocky Mountain News, with thanks to Twostellas:
A local landscaper, a Denver-born consultant, and a kid from Kansas - if you hung around Denver's largest mosque at 2071 S. Parker Road, it's likely you'd bump into them all. They reflect Islam's changing profile from foreign-born faith to American presence.
On Sunday, I found myself in the company of the three - Mohammad Noorzai, Malik Taylor and Ammar Amonette - because I had heard big changes were coming to the mosque, whose formal name is the Colorado Muslim Society. It's a major, influential Islamic center where thousands of Colorado's estimated 15,000 Muslims worship, and where the demographics are changing.
Non-Arabs represent slightly more than half the mosque's members. The fastest growing segments are African Americans, whites and Latinos.
"We're a community that's more diverse than any (American) parish," says Amonette.
Three major firsts reflect the mosque's efforts to adapt.
• Amonette, 45, has been named the society's first American-born imam, or spiritual leader. He's believed to be the only American-born imam to run a major Islamic center in the U.S. His predecessor was the Egyptian-born Ahmed Nabhan, who left in December by "mutual decision."...
Today, with the Mideast aflame, there was one question that I thought many Americans, rightly or wrongly, might want to ask: If America were attacked by terrorists who professed to do it in the name of Islam, whom would you support?
"I can't believe that question - I'm shocked," Amonette, open-mouthed, said. "You don't ask that kind of question of other people."
But Noorzai, the mediator, recognized the question as an opportunity to help Americans understand how Muslims express the values of their faith: "She just wants to shed light on it," he said. "Muslim loyalty - where is it?"
The first loyalty is to Islam's principle of not harming innocent people, ever. "We're going to be on the side that's just and fair," he said.
Note that they didn't give a straight answer."
"Denver imam refuses to affirm loyalty to U.S.
Note how he uses indignation to try to divert the questioner. From "Torkelson: Mosque adapting to its diversity," in the Rocky Mountain News, with thanks to Twostellas:
A local landscaper, a Denver-born consultant, and a kid from Kansas - if you hung around Denver's largest mosque at 2071 S. Parker Road, it's likely you'd bump into them all. They reflect Islam's changing profile from foreign-born faith to American presence.
On Sunday, I found myself in the company of the three - Mohammad Noorzai, Malik Taylor and Ammar Amonette - because I had heard big changes were coming to the mosque, whose formal name is the Colorado Muslim Society. It's a major, influential Islamic center where thousands of Colorado's estimated 15,000 Muslims worship, and where the demographics are changing.
Non-Arabs represent slightly more than half the mosque's members. The fastest growing segments are African Americans, whites and Latinos.
"We're a community that's more diverse than any (American) parish," says Amonette.
Three major firsts reflect the mosque's efforts to adapt.
• Amonette, 45, has been named the society's first American-born imam, or spiritual leader. He's believed to be the only American-born imam to run a major Islamic center in the U.S. His predecessor was the Egyptian-born Ahmed Nabhan, who left in December by "mutual decision."...
Today, with the Mideast aflame, there was one question that I thought many Americans, rightly or wrongly, might want to ask: If America were attacked by terrorists who professed to do it in the name of Islam, whom would you support?
"I can't believe that question - I'm shocked," Amonette, open-mouthed, said. "You don't ask that kind of question of other people."
But Noorzai, the mediator, recognized the question as an opportunity to help Americans understand how Muslims express the values of their faith: "She just wants to shed light on it," he said. "Muslim loyalty - where is it?"
The first loyalty is to Islam's principle of not harming innocent people, ever. "We're going to be on the side that's just and fair," he said.
Note that they didn't give a straight answer."
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