No, no, not me. You looney lefties and right-wing religious wackos aren't that lucky (all your prayers to Marx and Yahweh, respectively, have been for naught).
However, it looks like Andrea Harris and Tony are each saying goodbye to the blogosphere.
Go forth and mock them incessantly for being such slackers. Or say goodbye. Whatever, really.
Long story short. Pancake Day. Happy birthday, blog! Had a lovely daughter. Independence Day. Lost a job. Found a friend. Got a job. Wife turned 31. I turned 32. Turkey Day. Family visit. Christmas. Family leaves. Year comes to a close, so far with a whimper, hopefully not with a bang (or a boom, or a crash, or whatever sound a mushroom cloud makes).
Now it's time to look forward to the 366 days ahead.
In the months and years prior to the liberation of Iraq, a common chorus was heard from many on the extreme left. The song was something along the lines of "sanctions are killing the Iraqi people!" Somewhere in the muddled minds that hummed along with this tune, Saddam was apparently just a misunderstood man who loved his people and wanted to provide for them, if only the nasty, bad men in the West would let him. Most of us toward the center and on the right thought they were idiots.
Allawi said Saddam admitted he invested stolen Iraqi money -- which the Iraq Governing Council estimates at US$40 billion -- in Switzerland, Japan and Germany, among others, under fictitious company names.There's blood on someone's hands, but not ours.
And this is interesting:
U.S. forces operating in the so-called Sunni Triangle -- the region of Iraq most loyal to captured former dictator Saddam Hussein -- found a significant weapons cache that included al Qaeda literature and videotapes, the U.S. military said Tuesday.Iraq. Al Qaeda. No connection.
Gary Farber of Amygdala needs a helping hand in tough times. I was surprised and moved by people coming forward to help me out when I lost my job last July - why not join me in helping Gary out?
No lip about cyber-begging please; sometimes life craps on you and asking for help (in exchange for a service, no less) is nothing shameful. Now, making a career of begging others to help you out of your enormous, self-inflicted credit card debt might be. I don't think that's quite the case here.
C'mon, be a good libertarian sort and help a blog-neighbor.
Andrew Olmsted is hosting the second edition of the Rocky Mountaing Blogger Roundup, a veritable e-smorgasbord of Colorado goodness. This, of course, should not be confused with the Rocky Mountain Blogger Bash, a veritable smorgasbord of Colorado debauchery.
OK, class, today's question:
If a stolen car packed with seven young people, none of whom is wearing a seatbelt or in possession of a driver's license, is driving erratically, catches the attention of the police, seeks to evade the police, and ends up crashing violently, killing all inside, who is to blame?If you said "stupid kids," you'd be right. However, some people think (being generous with that word) differently:
Howard Hurtt said his son and his friends had recently been borrowing cars from people they knew. He said he tried to get his son to stop the joyriding, but questioned why the group was pursued.Just out joyriding?"I've always been told that the patrolmen should follow them, but don't push them,'' Hurtt said. "They were just out joyriding and a cop pulls them over and here we have seven deaths. I lost my only son.''
If driving recklessly, unrestrained and without a license, in a stolen car is something of which you approve, Mr. Hurtt, might I suggest that you're a completely unfit parent?
Maybe we should have parenting licenses in addition to driver's licenses. Although I doubt Mr. Hurtt would care much about either one.
Rumor has it that Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown might be living in splitsville:
Is it possible Whitney Houston has finally awakened? I am told that she and husband Bobby Brown spent Christmas apart, and that they are if not officially detached, certainly separated geographically.Perhaps, but then again, even if she can't spend the holidays with her hubby, she'll always have the memories.
Fistmark: when you care enough to punch Whitney in the face.
Yeah, yeah, so it's not news. These two are just the Mike Tyson - Robin Givens of the year.
The FBI is warning police nationwide to be alert for people carrying almanacs, cautioning that the popular reference books covering everything from abbreviations to weather trends could be used for terrorist planning.Next week's memo will probably encourage law enforcement to look for anyone who might have access to the internet, or perhaps a set of encyclopedias that aren't covered in an inch of dust. Also, be on the lookout for tourists with local guide books. Might as well arrest local guidepeople while we're at it. Heck, anybody taking pictures of a landmark is probably guilty of something (beyond wearing shorts with knee-high, black socks and tennis shoes).
If this is what passes for Homeland Security, we're screwed.
Update: Al Qaeda, having apparently scanned the shelves of their local Al-Blockbuster for crappy infidel movies, are now targeting ocean liners. Thankfully, Tom Ridge is calling Jason Patric and Sandra Bullock back to active duty.
Should they fail in their mission to stop the Islamofascists, be prepared to watch the most boring terrorist attack in history unfold repeatedly on network television.
Every once in a while, among his lies and distortions, Ted Rall provides us a keen insight.
Bush says he wants Americans to adopt a "responsibility culture." But his Ownership Society concept requires more responsibility than most folks should be asked to bear. The health insurance tax credit, for example, would come in the form of a big refund check after taxpayers file their 1040s. Many workers, hit hard by stagnating wages and unexpected expenses, will spend the government windfall on other bills. The same thing goes for reemployment accounts. If a guy blows his lump-sum unemployment payment on a casino riverboat or Internet gaming-site bender, he and his family could end up out on the street. You and me, we might spend the money on computer classes. But for too many people, it's too big a temptation.That's right, the government is there to protect you from yourself, to bear burdens you are unwilling to bear.
I'm all in favor of communities and individuals coming together to help those who want to help themselves. Rall and the looney left (currently helming the Democratic party based upon the rise of Dean) would demand we help those who simply won't help themselves.
Get your hand out of my wallet, Ted - it's not welcome.
Fox News has turned its eye to the kooks at Indymedia, stumbling across one lefty looney proclaiming:
I don't imagine that it was the intention of the director or the producers of the Lord of the Rings films to paint a racist stereotypical tapestry over what could be described as a basic set of principles of humanity's behavior in the natural environment and with each other. However, the fact is that the only people of skin color in the entire three part series of films are all associated with the Dark Lord Sauron, the destruction of the earth and all of its occupants.I see. However, when Indymedia and other moonbats paint white conservatives as the destroyers of planet Earth and all of mankind, it's not racism, it's called "being progressive."
Speaking of race in America, here's an interesting story:
After a lifetime as a black man, Wayne Joseph discovered he probably isn't black at all.Whoops.
I wonder, if September 11 was a result of the Christian God dropping his magical protective shield over America because of atheists, gays, abortion, and general disobedience, does this mean that Allah is REALLY pissed?
The death toll from a massive 6.7 magnitude earthquake in Iran has hit 20,000 and will likely go higher, according to the Interior Ministry.Bam? Wait, is Allah really this guy?
More than 30,000 were also injured in the quake that devastated the historic city of Bam.
Naturally, the Great Satan is offering assistance. Of course, this will go duly unrecognized in the Arab world.
So, I was going to post a link to my favorite David Sedaris Christmas essay, Six to Eight Black Men, a great tale of Santa and his slaves and why bad Dutch children pack a bag on Xmas Eve, but alas as digital stuff will do, it has been moved.* So since I had to scratch Sedaris I'll leave you with my next best gift for Christmas+1- a picture of me, finally over the flu, standing in my mama's back yard with the wee laddies who've made this a truly memorable holiday.
Gimme gimme more more more »
For those keeping score at home, Tom has written four posts in the last five months. I'm being generous, because his last post was actually two months ago today.
Slacker.
I'm Pooh Shady, yes I'm the Pooh Shady
All you other Pooh Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Pooh Shady please stand up,
She can't stand up, she can't stand up...
Hey, I'm a new parent. I'm allowed to do cutesy stuff on the blog.
More evidence that a woman can really muck up a man's brain:
A man in Sicily asked a friend to shoot him in the groin in the hope of making his ex-girlfriend feel sorry for him, police said on Friday.In order to get his girlfriend back, he very nearly made sure he'd never be able to please her in bed (or on the couch, or wherever else people tend to do such things).
Ché idiot!
While apparently able to conduct unvalidated miracles across the globe, when it comes to something quite well-understood like the flu, the Lord Jesus finds himself powerless (or at least assumed as such by some parts of the Church):
The Boston Archdiocese is asking parishioners with cold or flu symptoms to forgo long-standing traditions of Mass — including communion and shaking hands as a symbol of peace — to avoid spreading the illnesses...If only they were like the Pentecostal snake-handlers...oh ye of little faith!Earlier this month, Catholic church officials in parts of the San Francisco area abandoned communion procedures including sharing a chalice of wine and placing wafers on parishioners' tongues to avoid spreading the flu.
The dioceses of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Reno, Nevada, sent letters suggesting other ways to offer Communion, such as dipping the wafer in the consecrated wine or handing it to the parishioner.
Nevermind that their faith doesn't seem to help much once they get bitten either.
Anyway, everyone have a good Christmas or whatever holiday you might celebrate around this time of year?
Given that our marriage is half Ass-Kicking-Yankee and half Funny-Accent-Limey, we felt it was only fitting that the holiday season find us mixing and matching holiday traditions, our very own Festivus if you will.
I grew up leaving out milk and cookies for Santa Claus* (one of the many myths in which I believed and then grew out of, perhaps many of you should try to keep up), whereas Mrs. World Wide Rant had a slightly more adult variation: whiskey and mince pie. Sometimes I wish I had grown up English. Then I think about the wonders of general dentistry and decide better of it.
Anyway, as this is the night during which Santa will climb down the chimney we don't have, we're leaving out a fine combination of Glenturret and Chips Ahoy! cookies (see photo). Well, not so much leaving out as left out, and then drank and devoured. I think Santa might need seconds.
* Yes, the classic atheist dilemma of "do I teach my kids about Santa"...I figure the answer is yes, and I'll do it in such a way that it will sharpen their critical thinking skills. Some might say it's the magic of Christmas, but it strikes me as more like outright lying. So, I'll modify yet another tradition to fit in with what I see as my parental duty. Anyway, enough about that. Merry Xmas, Happy New Year, whatever and whatnot. Amen.
Over the last 18 months, I've been called any number of derogatory names by those who, in their obviously misguided and very special ways, have chosen to disagree with me. Granted, I've not particularly helped matters with my smug, abrasive, self-righteous style of posting; fear not, I have no plans on changing that and I wear the insults as a badge of honor, or at least as confirmation that I'm making somebody think. Even if doing so pisses them off. It usually does.
However, as it's the season of the birth of Binky Magic the Space Clown - He who encourages us to honk the big red nose of love in unity, to wear the giant floppy shoes of prosperity and peace, and to celebrate His coming into the world via nooky in the backseat of a little circus clown car - I thought I might take a few moments to send out Season's Greetings to people near, far, close to my heart, and those who would rather have it served to them on a silver platter. And here we go:
Ah hell, the list could go on and on, and probably should because I don't say thank you enough to people. However, that'll have to wait until January 1, 2004 as part of a New Year's resolution. If you weren't mentioned above, but should be, consider yourself thanked, hugged, and otherwise non-monetarily compensated.
In particular, I would like to thank everyone who sent some funds my way when I was laid off in July. I do this for the fun of it (although that doesn't mean you shouldn't feel compelled to hit the Paypal button frequently and with great zest), and was touched that people actually wanted to help me and my family. Times are much better now at WWR Global HQ, and I hope to pay it forward, if only to spend time with Helen Hunt.
Here's hoping your holidays go well, that you get to spend quality time with friends and family, and that the hangovers in the coming days are bearable (but if they're not, just drink more - nothing like a little hair of the dog). I'll be here off and on continuing to entertain or befuddle as time permits - do check in.
May the Magic Space Clown bless you with the holy water of His squirting flower and hold you in the palm of His ridiculously over-sized white-gloved hands. -- Ancient proverb
* Note: A figure of speech. I do not have a soul. Not even one that is black and like a lump of coal.
Intrigue and escapades within the British Royal family:
Queen Elizabeth II was said by British media reports to be "absolutely devastated" over the death of one of her beloved corgi dogs, killed by an English bull terrier owned by her daughter Princess Anne.Clearly a plot by William to drive the Queen into a premature, grief-stricken death, shortly followed by Charles' abdication to be with Ms. Parker-Bowles, and then William's ascension to the largely decorative throne - but, man, think of the chicks!
Pharos the corgi was savaged at Sandringham by Dotty, the same dog which attacked two children in Windsor Great Park, according to newspaper reports.I see irresponsible pet ownership is a global thing. When a dog attacks a child, it's time for that dog to be destroyed. Idiots.
The Portuguese holiday marketplace is all abuzz:
LISBON (AFP) - A spoof of the deck of cards of wanted Iraqi leaders put out by Washington, which instead depicts "the 52 most dangerous American officials," has proven to be a big hit with holiday shoppers in Portugal.Additional big sellers are reported to be Torture Me Al-Elmo and Plastic Shredder Barbie.
I'm being repressed!
Be sure to vote in AFA's "gay marriage" poll. You know the AFA - the American Family Association, representing all American families, or at least those that happen to fit their Wonder-bread, praise-Jeebus definition. They're promising to provide the results of the poll to Congress.
No, I don't know what the value of presenting a web-based poll to Congress is. It's obvious they were hoping that their sheep would come out in flocks and boldly proclaim that we must "stop the gay people from marrying while conveniently ignoring all the problems in heterosexual marriage because homos are icky and to prove it just look at our marriage activism page which mentions nothing about problems in heterosexual marriages!" However, it seems that word got out - as it tends to do on the internet (it's going to be big someday - buy dot com stocks now!). So, as of right now, the combined value for "civil unions" and "hey, hey, hey, gay marriage is a-ok!" is 63.6%.
I wonder if they'll present that to Congress. I have my doubts.
For those interested, AFA is also working hard to make sure that we never hear the "F-word" on television ever again. Talk about fucked up priorities. Oops, I said the F-word. I hope they don't take action against me.
Fox News Channel is joining the fray of the "help! help! i'm being repressed!" Christian persecution complex that is so common from the right today:
Burning the flag is considered free speech; erecting crosses as roadside memorials is not.Someone burning their own flag is a private property issue. Someone placing a memorial of any sort on public highway property is, oddly enough, not a private property issue. Duh.
The FCC allows the "F-word" on television, but thanking God at a high school graduation is a no-no.The FCC decision still prevents the use of the "F-word" in an obscene connotation; hey, they're just enforcing those obscenity laws that you conservatives cherish. As always, turn the channel, vote with your remote. How this ties into the Establishment clause issues with offering thanks to the divine in a public education situation is beyond me. I suppose the Freepers are easily confused by internetidigiation.
And some schools freely dispense condoms to kids, but pencils that read "Jesus loves little children" were confiscated from a first-grade class in Virginia.See the previous comment, if you're not too confused.
Some, like "War on Christianity" author David Limbaugh, say the list of examples is long and is evidence of an undeclared cultural war on the religion.Limbaugh then proceeded to note the complete freedom of people to worship privately as much as they want; to observe that churches are not being shut down, burned, or otherwise destroyed by the government; that every kook from Fred Phelps to Pat Robertson to the Raelians can babble on and on about their favorite monkey in the sky with the only threat being public ridicule.
Come down off your cross, oh poor "persecuted" Christians of the right.
* I think that should win the "clever title of the day" award.
Update: Damnit, someone beat me to it. Ah well give me my prize anyway.
Breaking news on the Native American front:
OKLAHOMA CITY - Ten women belonging to the Kickapoo tribe have barricaded themselves inside tribal headquarters, saying they won't leave until their tribe is investigated for misuse of funds.Let's only hope it doesn't turn out like the case of the Drinkapee tribe.
Normally, when I argue with my wife I find that simply leaving the room is a fine way to end it. However, perhaps I should try this tactic:
A Kenyan man chopped off one of his testicles in a row with his wife and then walked naked to a police station to report the incident, police said on Monday.Or perhaps not. Ouch.
No, that's not what I am. Not yet anyway.
It's the title of a book I recently read as part of my decision to digest as much as possible about investing in a very short time. Bottom line: not much new there. Get out of debt. Pay yourself first. Invest in index funds. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Probably a decent introduction for anyone who is completely new, otherwise it ends up being basically a plug for The Armchair Millionaire website (which, in turn, is a plug for the book and other similar products).
On the fiction side of the reading room, there was Neil Gaiman's "Stardust," the tale of a number of adventurers pursuing a fallen star in the land of Faerie. An easy read, enjoyably light-hearted, with a wee bit of the naughty to keep it interesting. I never know how much to write when I mention a book, as I'd hate to ruin it for someone interested in picking it up. So, pick it up anyway.
This makes me quake in my boots:
Michael Jackson is "fighting mad" about the allegations surrounding the multiple charges of child molestation he is facing, his spokesman told reporters Saturday.Just a guess, but I bet that Michael is actually "girly slap fighting mad" about it. Just a guess.
(Seriously though, I think he's both innocent and a complete freak - I suppose we'll see)
Sorry for the blogging absence, but the parents have arrived in town for the holidays, so they're the priority at the moment (which isn't to say that I don't love each and every one of you, some more than others naturally, but then life is sometimes so cruel that way). I'll be back in full blogging swing on Monday, with a 50% chance of intermittent opinions before then.
In the meantime, hope your holidays are going well. See ya!
Found this blog the other day and have been enjoying reading it: Personal Finance Blog. It's written, according to the tagline, by someone seeking to retire at 40 as a millionaire. Of course, it could also be the latest incarnation of internet pump and dump, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt (particularly because it is only receiving 30-40 hits per day). If personal finance interests you, check it out.
I stumbled across it while doing some research on investment clubs. I've recently gotten inspired to launch one and possibly incorporate it. I'm asking friends and coworkers if they have any interest - and, if so, maybe it will work out and we'll all be rich someday down the line. Or broke. But at least we'll have fun getting there.
Aside from work demands, reading everything I can about investing and forming a club is taking up a lot of time. Recommendations on what to read would be welcome - so far it's been some Motley Fool stuff, Armchair Millionaire, and now a guide from the NAIC. Awaiting me are books from Peter Lynch and Warren Buffet. A holiday period of light reading, you see.
I figure I need to amass great wealth so that the World Wide Runt can glide gracefully into her position as rightful benevolent ruler in the decades ahead.
...except anything remotely resembling a refined sense of humor or taste?
Courtesy of Mark Shea, taking a break from making bitter and offensive jokes about homosexuals (odd, considering how much he whines about anything portraying his view of Catholicism in any but the purest light), we have this great gift idea:
Question: What do you get when you cross authentic Catholic teaching with "Weird Al" Yankovic?I don't know, maybe some terribly unfunny gay bashing or the like? Careful, you wouldn't want to tread into Mark's territory!
NOW, there are two answers: Nick Alexander's A Time To LAUGH and his latest, ETERNAL LIFE, the Party Album!!Oh. Sweet. Jesus.
This is newsworthy?
Saddam's Daughter Cried at Dad's CaptureAw, how do you find the strength to go on? And how many times did you break down and cry when Saddam was slaughtering his own people?Saddam Hussein's eldest daughter said she broke down and cried when she heard news of her father's capture....
Drop dead, bitch.
In response to his viewing of "The Passion," Mel Gibson's upcoming Jesus biopic, the Pope had this to say:
"It is as it was."Of course, this depends on what the definition of "was" is - because I'm pretty sure that John Paul, even though he's well into the "adult diapers" stage of life, wasn't present for the Passion of the Christ.
His statement is pretty much akin to a nerdy Lord of the Rings uber-fan standing athwart the box office and proclaiming "Verily, I say unto you, Peter Jackson, thou hast made a fine recreation of the words writ holy and verbose by Tolkein!"
The obvious difference being that most of us (nerdy uber-fans excepted) realize that Tolkein is, at best, naught but an inspirational mythology, and at worst, hundreds of pages of drudgery. If only we could achieve the same realization about religion on a widespread basis.
In the meantime, let's amend John Paul's statement to read: "It is as it was - in the book I read."
Update: In the comments, Phil Dennison asks:
What are people supposed to get from this movie - besides hearing dead languages spoken aloud for two hours - that they cannot get from King of Kings or The Greatest Story Ever Told?That's easy, Phil. The answer is: Monica Bellucci.
One of my personal business ethics has always been that I wouldn't work for a company that sold a product I wouldn't be willing to use or recommend myself (hence, you'll never see me working for Big Tobacco or The Christian Broadcasting Network). I'm glad to see that the same principle is alive and well (even if it's proponents aren't) in Nigerian witchcraft.
A traditional doctor in central Nigeria has been shot dead by a patient who was testing the potency of an anti-bullet charm the herbalist had prepared for him, police told AFP.My official consulting recommendation is that a product redesign is probably in order. Or maybe dropping ignorant belief in black magic and spooky monsters that go bump in the night."To confirm its efficacy, the herbalist tied the charm around his neck and insisted that Akor should fire a gun at him. The experiment proved fatal for the herbalist and his skull was shattered," he added. "He died immediately".
Belief in Binky the Magic Space Clown, however, is always encouraged - particularly because his birthday is coming up next Thursday. Honk! Honk!
It's official - glurge has gone commercial, with Jesus-tastic Flash animation too!
Something about a fool. And money. And their parting of ways.
The Washington congressman who criticized President Bush while visiting Baghdad last year has questioned the timing of the capture of deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.Upon reading the headline "Dem Rep. Suspicious of Timing of Saddam Capture," my first thought was - honestly - "Wait, I thought Cynthia McKinney got the boot back in 2002?"
Rep. Jim McDermott (search), D-Wash., told a Seattle radio station Monday the U.S. military could have found Saddam "a long time ago if they wanted." Asked if he thought the weekend capture was timed to help Bush, McDermott chuckled and said: "Yeah. Oh, yeah."
I was right; it just so happens that the Democrats have found another wonder-loon to take her place. I expect this sort of conspiratorial nonsense from the likes of the Democratic Underground (so called because they have their heads buried). I, perhaps foolishly, expect better from most others, particularly those in the Congress who, one could argue, are likely to have in excess of three functioning brain cells (ok, ok, it's a reach, but bear with me).*
Rep. McDermott, isn't there some second gunman on a grassy knoll you should be chasing? Maybe aliens and crop circles?
* Meanwhile, I politely ask that Monica Belluci bare with me. Yeah, yeah, so I'm intrigued by her at the moment.
After considerable pondering, thought, reflection, and - yes - beer, I've decided we need to add a new term to the scientific literature of evolution. That term is:
Blog DarwinismNo, it's not the survival of the fittest. It's the amazing way in which an Instalanche can force a blog to evolve in the Blogosphere Ecosystem, only to see the forces of blognature drive it back into the organic soup from which it sprung. You know, kind of like what is happening here, now.
Science, ain't it grand?
Or HISTORY OF VATICAN CORRUPTION: FROM FUGGER TO FUGEES
Volume 321: FUGEES
The Vatican was dissed at its Xmas party by a Diva of Soul.
Still to come at Vatican Xmas Party MMIII: Sinead O'Connor sings "What Child is This?", Rosie O'Donnell and Ricky Martin sing "Do You Hear What I Hear" and special guest star Joey Lawrence arrives to hand out gifts.
Oh boy. Sometimes the Church ought to just shut up.
A top Vatican official said Tuesday he felt pity and compassion for Saddam Hussein and criticized the U.S. military for showing video footage of him being treated "like a cow."Yeah, I kind of felt the same way at first, and then that logical part of my brain screamed: "He's a mass murdering tyrant!" Jesus, it makes you wonder if this Cardinal would have offered Hitler tea and cookies had he not plugged himself in the head before his capture."I felt pity to see this man destroyed, (the military) looking at his teeth as if he were a cow. They could have spared us these pictures," he said.
Come in, Johnny Cochran:
Saddam Hussein's oldest daughter told Al-Arabiya television network Tuesday the family of the former dictator will hire the best attorneys it can find to fight for her father.If the mass grave doesn't fit, you must acquit!
Hey, maybe Jesse Jackson will get involved as well, defending his dark-skinned brother from oppression of The Man.
Update: Apparently other people had the same thought before I did, may Allah curse their name. Via Overtaken by Events. Yeah, Allah can curse his name too, why not?
Today's installment of the much loved DVD review section is: "Brotherhood of the Wolf," a 2001 period piece mixing a bit of the supernatural with the hair of the werewolf, some Matrix-esque fighting sequences, and Monica Belluci in varying state of undress.
What more do you need to know?
Somewhere, someone could make money running a school for clear headline writing. If they did, we might avoid getting headlines like this:
Prostate Cancer Most Common Among MenApparently, women with prostates are the next most likely to get it? Errr....
Saw this little item over at ResurrectionSong.
Iraq's coalition government claims that it has uncovered documentary proof that Mohammed Atta, the al-Qaeda mastermind of the September 11 attacks against the US, was trained in Baghdad by Abu Nidal, the notorious Palestinian terrorist.Stories like this come about here and there, and - granted - they are just small pieces. But eventually enough pieces kind of give you a picture of the whole puzzle, even if you don't have the front of the box at hand.Details of Atta's visit to the Iraqi capital in the summer of 2001, just weeks before he launched the most devastating terrorist attack in US history, are contained in a top secret memo written to Saddam Hussein, the then Iraqi president, by Tahir Jalil Habbush al-Tikriti, the former head of the Iraqi Intelligence Service.
The puzzle I see forming is of the "my enemy's enemy" variety (hell, the US has played that game plenty in the face of political realities; it's a fact of life for those of us who live in the real world - so I imagine it was the same for our pal Saddam).
Or, more accurately, while I wait for the repairs on my car to be completed (no idea what is wrong or how much it will cost, but chances are that loud shriek of terror you hear in about an hour is from me), why not go check out Walter's round-up of the best of the Rocky Mountain bloggers from the last week.
Yes, Walter too has learned that the secret to traffic is a good meme.
It is definitely Monday.
How do I know? Well, it started with the fact that the weather sucks. Overcast, winds gusting to ridiculous speeds, and the possibility of snow is looming. This, however, was merely the beginning of my woes.
I shower, dress, and go to the car. Close the door. Insert the key. Turn the key. The engine won't turn over, try as it might. Maybe it's the battery? Hmm, all the lights work - radio seems ok. Lets turn on the lights and then crank it. Click. Battery is dead now. OK, fine, let's wrangle the car out of the garage and into the driveway, then turn the wife's car so that I can try to jumpstart mine.
Did I mention it was cold and windy? Really cold and windy?
So, on the slow road to a frozen death, there I am, working in the pre-sunrise darkness. Finally, we're all hooked up and ready to jump it - so I do - and, same problem. It just won't catch.
I assume it's the starter. The battery is quite new and should be ok, and it's not -30 or anything outside. Looks like I'll be missing work today, which sucks because I generally like to use my vacation time for - oh - vacation.
And spending the afternoon at the car shop is anything but. So now I am waiting for the tow truck to arrive, and then my fun day can begin.
Yay for Monday.
Denver is going to have some unique visitors this week:
Four members of the Baghdad City Council arrived at Denver International Airport late Saturday, looking more like refined American businessmen than fledgling leaders wrangling with how to build a democracy in politically unstable Iraq.It's a good thing they didn't come for lessons while former Mayor Wellington Webb was in office. The answer to all their problems would have been hiking the parking meter rates.They hope to find answers during their week-long stay in Colorado, where they will visit with elected officials in Lakewood, Aurora, Denver, Douglas County and Littleton.
AD-DAWR, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. troops captured Saddam Hussein hiding in a hole near his hometown of Tikrit in a major coup for Washington's beleaguered occupying force in Iraq.Someone notify the Democrats to mark this issue off their talking points.
Let's hope that removing the fear of Saddam's return from the minds of the Iraqi people will prove a turning point in the occupation and rehabilitation of the country.
And to our troops both here and abroad, you folks kick ass!
(Yes, I know I'm a little slow on getting to this story, but it's Sunday and I do like my sleep!)
This site would kill 18 diabetics per minute with ease, but I'm in awe of the coding. (Totally safe to open from any computer with sound.)
PS- If you wanna know why I'm p.o.d with Mel Gibson, just ax. Go ahead and ax. Or are ya chikkin?
You know it's a Friday and I'm anxious to be elsewhere when I resort to things like this:
Found via The Accidental Jedi.