Does MGD Or PBR Leave You Flat?

Then perhaps you should try......

These guys have a great sense of humor. It not only sounds like they must really enjoy their work, perhaps sampling it a tad too much, it is "The Chosen Beer" ™ , and it's kosher! Ya just can't beat that.

Odds And Ends

Just some house cleaning today. And perhaps a couple of lite posts.

First off to those who have added this bit of Naval lint to their blogrolls thank you! There have been a number of new additions to the blogroll on the left side of the page, stop and visit em. They all have some interesting points of view, and some great things to share.

Amy Ridenour's National Center Blog

Blimpish

CIA

Clarity & Resolve

CUANAS

Dr Forbush

Dust My Broom

Ice Vikings

IsraPundit

Jacob Brothers

Life More Abundant

Middle Age Madness

Mystery Achievement

Mystical Paths

Notes and Musings

Ogres Politics & Views

Okie On The Lam

Overtaken By Events

Pajama Pundits

Rite Turn Only

Secret Life Of Shoes

Sky Watching

SlaggleRock

Somewhere On A1A

Swanky Conservative

Target Centermass

The Donegal Express

The Royal Flush

Tom Carter's Notes

Top of My Head

Tragically Normal

Unicow Farm

To them and to all of you who stop by here and have linked to this speedbump on the information highway thank you....you made it possible for me to make it to the ranks of "Marauding Marsupial". I can't say thanks enough!

I may also have an interesting little graphic either up above Chris Muir's daily smile, or it may end up on the right hand side o' the blog. Initial indications, barring any blogspot hiccups, are looking good for "it" to appear ASAP.

And finally, did I mention my Sweetieheart has her home on the net back in full swing? Go check it out...she is even meaner and more conservative then I am *grin*.

It Was Sixty Years Ago Today

The Germans, indeed most of Europe (and Russia), had Jewish populations. They were merchants,teachers, professors, doctors, lawyers, laborers (skilled and unskilled). Your next door neighbor, might have been Jewish. In short, they were members in good standing in all European countries. But there was an undercurrent, often subtle, but almost always present, which was anti-Semitic. This smoldering anti-semitism, needed nothing more then the right national mood, and a spark, to set it off into full fledged hatred. The depression, and the Nazi party, helped set the mood. The spark was a Bavarian Corporal.

Hitler, admitted in "Mein Kampf" to being an anti-Semite. To him, they were the root cause for most of the economic ills Germany (and Europe) faced. As the Nazi party rose in power and influence, and the opposing political parties, for any reasons, did not or would not rid Germany of this cancer (the Nazis), when they had the chance, it sealed the fate of any who opposed Hitler or his henchmen, especially "der Jude".

And it all started with words...with names...with denigrating a people, who through out the history of western civilized men, wanted nothing more then to be allowed to practice their faith in peace, and be a productive part of the brotherhood of man.

It almost ended with The Holocaust.

The Holocaust, symbolized by Auschwitz, the worst of the death camps, occurred in the wake of consistent, systematic, unrelenting anti-Jewish propaganda campaign. As a result, the elimination of the Jews from German society was accepted as axiomatic, leaving open only two questions: when and how.

As Germany expanded its domination and occupation of Austria, Czechoslovakia, France, the Low Countries, Yugoslavia, Poland, parts of the USSR, Greece, Romania, Hungary, Italy and others countries, the way was open for Hitler to realize his well-publicized plan of destroying the Jewish people.

After experimentation, the use of Zyklon B on unsuspecting victim was adopted by the Nazis as the means of choice, and Auschwitz was selected as the main factory of death (more accurately, one should refer to the “Auschwitz-Birkenau complex”). The green light for mass annihilation was given at the Wannsee Conference, January 20, 1942, and the mass gassings took place in Auschwitz between 1942 and the end of 1944, when the Nazis retreated before the advancing Red Army. Jews were transported to Auschwitz from all over Nazi-occupied or Nazi-dominated Europe and most were slaughtered in Auschwitz upon arrival, sometimes as many as 12,000 in one day. Some victims were selected for slave labour or “medical” experimentation. All were subject to brutal treatment.

In all, between three and four million people, mostly Jews, but also Poles and Red Army POWs, were slaughtered in Auschwitz alone (though some authors put the number at 1.3 million). Other death camps were located at Sobibor, Chelmno, Belzec (Belzek), Majdanek and Treblinka.

Auschwitz was liberated by the Red Army on 27 January 1945, sixty years ago, after most of the prisoners were forced into a Death March westwards. The Red Army found in Auschwitz about 7,600 survivors, but not all could be saved.

For a long time, the Allies were well aware of the mass murder, but deliberately refused to bomb the camp or the railways leading to it. Ironically, during the Polish uprising, the Allies had no hesitation in flying aid to Warsaw, sometimes flying right over Auschwitz.

There are troubling parallels between the systematic vilification of Jews before the Holocaust and the current vilification of the Jewish people and Israel. Suffice it to note the annual flood of anti-Israel resolutions at the UN; or the public opinion polls taken in Europe, which single out Israel as a danger to world peace; or the divestment campaigns being waged in the US against Israel; or the attempts to delegitimize Israel’s very existence. The complicity of the Allies in WW II is mirrored by the support the PLO has been receiving from Europe, China and Russia to this very day.

If remembering Auschwitz should teach us anything, it is that we must all support Israel and the Jewish people against the vilification and the complicity we are witnessing, knowing where it inevitably leads.

And to that end, today, We seek to keep the memory of mans inhumanity to its fellow man alive. That as the generations who were first hand to hatred pass from this earth, the present generation shall pay homage and tribute to their memory. So future generations will never carry the tattoos, will never know to fear the knock at the door, and will be judged by their own personal worth. Not on the basis of their relation to their G-d, or the heritage of their family.

UPDATE:
Tom at Tom Carter's Notes has a very well thought out post on The Holocaust, please, go and read same.

And Another One Bites The Dust

Ya know, it is sad enough when a good blog closes its doors. But this makes TWO good ones that were also (at least I would like to think so) good friends who have turned out the lights and locked the door. Mike, may you find a new outlet for your passion and commentary. And know there is a light in the window for you, right next to Mrs. Du Toit. And your name will stay until you have Commando come over and snap my arm off or something *grin*.

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words...

Tomorrow is the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. It is also the date of the blogburst. I have written a number of posts about this event and the various events/places which are being remembered.

Today, as sometimes words do not do justice in conveying the evil, perhaps pictures will help drive home the message. We must never let this happen again.

Some of the following are NSFW, and are not for those with weak stomachs or constitutions. You might not want to look if you have just had lunch or dinner.

Ash pit at Auschwitz, when the water level lowers you can still see bits of bones.

Members of the Sonderkommand burning corpses 1944.

"Relevant" Math

New Math

"Some of you who have small children may have perhaps been put in the embarrassing position of being unable to do your child's arithmetic homework because of the current revolution in mathematics teaching known as the New Math. So as a public service here tonight, I thought I would offer a brief lesson in the New Math. Tonight, we're gonna cover subtraction. This is the first room I've worked for a while that didn't have a blackboard, so we will have to make do with more primitive visual aids, as they say in the ed biz. Consider the following subtraction problem, which I will put up here: 342 minus 173. Now, remember how we used to do that:

Three from two is nine, carry the one, and if you're under 35 or went to a private school, you say seven from three is six, but if you're over 35 and went to a public school, you say eight from four is six ...and carry the one, so we have 169.

But in the new approach, as you know, the important thing is to understand what you're doing, rather than to get the right answer. Here's how they do it now:"

You can't take three from two,
Two is less than three,
So you look at the four in the tens place.
Now that's really four tens
So you make it three tens,
Regroup, and you change a ten to ten ones,
And you add 'em to the two and get twelve,
And you take away three, that's nine.
Is that clear?

Now instead of four in the tens place
You've got three,
'Cause you added one,
That is to say, ten, to the two,
But you can't take seven from three,
So you look in the hundreds place.

From the three you then use one
To make ten ones...
(And you know why four plus minus one
Plus ten is fourteen minus one?
'Cause addition is commutative, right!)...
And so you've got thirteen tens
And you take away seven,
And that leaves five...

Well, six actually...
But the idea is the important thing!

Now go back to the hundreds place,
You're left with two,
And you take away one from two,
And that leaves...?

Everybody get one?
Not bad for the first day!

Hooray for New Math,
New-hoo-hoo Math,
It won't do you a bit of good to review math.
It's so simple,
So very simple,
That only a child can do it!

"Now, that actually is not the answer that I had in mind, because the book that I got this problem out of wants you to do it in base eight. But don't panic! Base eight is just like base ten really - if you're missing two fingers! Shall we have a go at it? Hang on..."

You can't take three from two,
Two is less than three,
So you look at the four in the eights place.
Now that's really four eights,
So you make it three eights,
Regroup, and you change an eight to eight ones
And you add 'em to the two,
And you get one-two base eight,
Which is ten base ten,
And you take away three, that's seven.
Ok?

Now instead of four in the eights place
You've got three,
'Cause you added one,
That is to say, eight, to the two,
But you can't take seven from three,
So you look at the sixty-fours...

"Sixty-four? How did sixty-four get into it?" I hear you cry! Well, sixty-four is eight squared, don't you see? "Well, ya ask a silly question, ya get a silly answer!"

From the three, you then use one
To make eight ones,
You add those ones to the three,
And you get one-three base eight,
Or, in other words,
In base ten you have eleven,
And you take away seven,
And seven from eleven is four!
Now go back to the sixty-fours,
You're left with two,
And you take away one from two,
And that leaves...?

"Now, let's not always see the same hands!
One, that's right.
Whoever got one can stay after the show and clean the erasers."

Hooray for New Math,
New-hoo-hoo Math!
It won't do you a bit of good to review math.
It's so simple,
So very simple,
That only a child can do it!

"Come back tomorrow night...we're gonna do fractions!"

From the album "That Was The Year That Was"
"New Math" Written by Tom Lehrer

Ahhhhh public schools; "Where an unindoctrinated mind is a terrible thing!" ™

What brings about all this mathematical hullabaloo you ask? Well, it's like this.

The youngest ape in residence ™ was having his homework looked over by his mother, when she came to an interesting answer to one of his math homework questions. It seems he was convinced enough in his third grade level math mind to place "18 inches" down as being the answer to how much was a third of a yard? Now being somewhat curious at how he arrived at that conclusion, He was asked; "How many inches are there in a foot?" After offering three or four different answers to that one. (And we are not talking about a rider of the short bus here. The youngster in question has a B+ - A- grade average, over all, on his last report card) Our intrepid scholar settled on 12 inches being the answer.

This was not a good thing. Having a 10 year old unable to spit out "12 inches" without even thinking about it. Or knowing what 1/3rd of a yard is, with out hesitating is sad. And granted it is not the end of the world. But it does start sending off warning signals saying something is amiss at the local institute of learning.

Hmmm well, his grades are not showing there being a problem (A's and B's across the board....my parents would have been doing cartwheels and handstands had my report card been that good at that age). He hasn't been absent from school for any major amount of time, in fact any days off were the same ones every one else had. There have not been any questions about "this math problem or that math problem", so to the best of our knowledge he was understanding what was/is being taught. And at the last teacher conference there were no indications anything major was amiss.

Yet here is a child, for all intents and purposes, through no fault of his own (that we are aware of), is unclear about basic breakdowns of common units of measure.

(Looking back on a couple of other areas, there are some other concerns as well, but they can wait for another day. But be thinking about when you were taught how to use a dictionary, thesaurus, the encyclopedia, and other reference works.)

They are dumbing down our kids. With the "new approaches" to Mathematics being used by more and more schools across the country, it's only a matter of time before your kid or grandkid can receive the same quality mathematics education as we have here. And ours is considered one of the better school districts in a three county wide area (if not the whole state).

The system they use has what is called a "student reference book" and "student math journals". The first publication is what we, in more simpler times, would have called a Math book or text. The second is more commonly referred to as "homework" (or if you had a specific book to do your working directly relating to that subject/textbook, "it" was called a "workbook").

I can understand an honest effort to find ways to improve the absorption of math in to minds otherwise occupied with anything from Spongebob Squarepants to the latest video game, to heaven knows what else, anything but Maaaaath! There were many a day I would have much rather looked out the window at the falling leafs, the new snow fort, the bright spring afternoon calling for a game of baseball. But thanks to good teachers, parents with strong and long arms, and knowing I had to memorize the multiplication tables assigned for that days homework or I couldn't go out, I somehow was able to get the basics. Per pressure helped too. Better to know what an isosceles triangle was (and possibly becoming a math geek) then to not know the answer when called on, and be laughed at "Isn't that the place out in the ocean where all those ships and planes keep disappearing?" just doesn't cut it for an answer. "No, Spicoli, wrong triangle, wrong country, wrong answer, please sit down!"

Now the kids are using calculators at an ever younger age. Punching keys to get an answer may build up your finger muscles, it does little for your brain, and in enforcing lessons to be learned. (Well, ok, it does get rid of the *boring* repetition of writing out a math problem...now doesn't THAT make math more exciting for your Johnny?). I can see them being used as tools for those who have ventured on into advanced Calculus and Trigonometry. They have no place in grade school.

Having math experiences (we used to call em word problems) that try to make math *relevant* or *directly relate* to a child's day to day environment.....paaalease! The folks in the ivory towers have no clue as to what is going on out in the real world. And as PC as they are (despite the fact you cannot make every book "relevant" to every child) I wonder when we will see the following relevant math problem:

Johnny, while walking to the lunch room is asked by Bob if he wants to purchase three (3) Thai sticks after school. Each stick is twenty-five (25) dollars and with the right amount of skill each will result in twenty (20)joints each. If Johnny agrees to the deal he has to come up with the money when the deal goes down that afternoon.

A. How much money does Johnny need to get all three (3) sticks?
B. How many joints can Johnny produce from his purchase?
C. At five dollars per joint, how much money can Johnny make over the cost of his purchase, by selling the joints to others in the hood?

Answers:
A. A hundred (100) dollars...Seventy-five (75) dollars for the weed, and another twenty-five (25) to slip to his little sister so she will keep her mouth shut about Johnny ripping off the c-note from the cookie jar.

B. Thirty (30) joints....and ten (10) *big bombers* for the party next Friday.

C. Shiiiiit I don't know, I blew all the cash on munchies

As you can see from the above, all three answers are correct (There are no longer any *wrong* answers, just students who are not asked the *right* questions.) If you thought the answers were as follows:
A. $75.00
B. 60 joints @ 20 joints per stick
C. $225.00

Well, you just have an old math mind, and/or are terribly insensitive and unaware of the world around you.

*Sigh*, I am off to go find my old slide rule and see if I can remember how to use it.

Right About Now At The Pearly Gates......

some angel standing to the side of St Peter is saying...."Heeeeeerrrreeess JOHNNY!!"

AP is reporting, former latenight talk show icon Johnny Carson, has died.
The Tonight Show, was a bit of relaxation for the nation after a hard days work. We knew at nights end, well after the kids were in bed, but before we called it a night, there was that welcome mental foot rub, which more often than not would produce something to talk about 'round the water cooler the following morning. Some quip or remembered one liner, lifted from Johnny's monologue. A guest who perhaps did something out of the ordinary or said just a bit more than they should about an upcoming movie or an ex spouse.

Over his long run as host, Johnny endeared himself to millions of Americans who came to think of him as more of a part of their family then just a funny fella on TV. The parade of celebrates, politicos, the quirky and eccentrics, made the show a constant late night visit. Johnny's quick wit, warm personality, and self effacing humor won him a place in our collective hearts.

Good night Johnny, and thank you.

If I Start Blending Puppies, Blame Rodger!!

Was wandering 'round the blogroll, visiting Rodger's SFW site, when I came upon this. Being the incredibility easy curious fella I am, thought I would give it a try...and whadda you know.....

Your Famous Blogger Twin is InstaPundit

Smart, well-informed, a true polymath Don't be surprised if your blogging brings you fame as well!

Who's Your Famous Blogger Twin?

Perhaps I could use this as leverage to bribe get into "The Alliance". But is the world ready for TWO "Puppy Blenders" ™ ?? Aye, now if that isn't enough leverage to get into the Alliance, I don't know what is *grin*.

New Math

Yesterday it was mentioned in this post there would be a blogburst on the 27th of this month.

Remembering the Wannsee Conference and the Liberation of Auschwitz

"This article is posted as part of the January 27, 2005, BlogBurst (see list of participants at end of article), to remember the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp, sixty years ago, on January 27, 1945.

On January 20th, we marked the anniversary of the 1942 Wannsee Conference. In the course of that Conference, the Nazi hierarchy formalized the plan to annihilate the Jewish people. Understanding the horrors of Auschwitz requires that one be aware of the premeditated mass-murder that was presented at Wannsee.

Highlighting these events now has become particularly important, even as the press reports that '45% of Britons have never heard of Auschwitz' (Jerusalem Post, December 2, 2004,
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1101960938940).”

The above was from here and there is much more info on the upcoming day to be found there.

But my message for today really concerns the article referenced in the blockquote above. "That 45% of Britons have never heard of Auschwitz" The fates, it seems, wanted to be sure we took the above statistic as fact. For in little more than a month , this incident took place.

And even here in the "states", I would hazard a guess, not all that many youngsters are being taught about the atrocities which took place a scant 60 years ago. If that really were the case, how could anyone in their right mind equate our current Commander in Chief (like him or not)to Hitler. Or label his advisors, members of the President's political party, and those who supported and voted for him, as Nazis or (in the case of the conservative voices on the web) "Digital Brownshirts"? If they really knew and fully understood what monstrous evils were done by the Bavarian paper hanger and his henchmen, and had any conscience, the very thought would or should have been repugnant.

For those of you who are young and either did not listen when it was taught, or were never given the lessons from history, in the first place, if you have a conscience at all, go to the library and look up the Nazi Party, Hitler, or "The Final Solution". The computerized data base should let you know what is available for checking out. Failing that, there is always a librarian (or even the old Dewey Decimal Card System if that is still in use). See the real horrors carried out in the name of Hitler and Nazism, the evils done to Jew and non Jew alike...any who would differ with the "master race"...see the truth, try to understand the history, and be thankful for what you have and the opportunities which are available to you for your future, here in this country.

For those adults (in your 40's or older) who either funded, supported, or promoted the ideas that we live in a fascist state and our current (or for that matter any past administration) leadership is on par with or equivalent to the Nazis. I will be happy to send you to towns and cities throughout the country, (I know of two, not more than 100 miles from where I am right now) where you can meet up with people who have numbers tattooed into their arms who would tell you differently. Were he still alive, I would let you talk with my Great Uncle who saw the human skeletons as they were liberated from the concentration camps. You have the right, and some would argue, the duty, to disagree with your government...but to label them the same evil, as that which could be considered the greatest evil of the twentieth century...well, you need to check your history.

Finally, for those who regardless of what the truth may be, would still spew your lies and want your fantasy of the world to exist. You petulant worms out there who wish to equate the President to Hitler and his followers to the Nazi Party, here's some questions for you.

Where are the ovens?
When did someone come to YOUR house, knock on the door in the dark of night, and take YOU or YOUR FAMILY away. Never to be seen again?
Has your business, home, church been burnt down by a group of uniformed thugs?
Where are the gas chambers?
Have there been conferences held at the highest level of government on how to deal with "YOU and YOUR KIND"? And did they arrive at a "FINAL SOLUTION"?
Where are your mass graves?
Have "scientific" and "medical" experiments been done to YOU or YOUR CHILDREN against your will and for little or no benefit at all, other than to feed the twisted perversions of your captors/government?
Where are your huddled, slowly starving masses, confined to forced labor camps?

When you can produce evidence ,in the millions, of all the above, THEN I will agree with your *new math*. Until then, you do nothing but bring dishonor to those who fought and died to free all who were under Hitler's boot. You denigrate the deaths and suffering of a people who were well on the way toward EXTERMINATION. You cheapen humanity by your foolish words and actions, and in so doing lessen your own humanity as well.

She's Gone??

It looks like one of the brightest, and most enlightening voices in the blogoshere has gone silent.

May, whatever the causes or reasons be for your sudden departure, have a positive and speedy solution. It is with our sincerest hope(s) your leaving is because you've chosen to go on to bigger and better things, vice personal tragedy or crisis forcing your hand.

We will keep a light in the window for you, a plate at the table, and your spot on the rolls stays until further notice. Our thoughts are with you. Your absence is keenly felt already.

The Day After

Yesterday marked the 63rd "anniversary" of what came to be called the Wannsee Conference. This was a meeting of many in Hitler's inner-circle with a number of the Nazi party officials who were outside of the loop, so to speak, on the internal goings on. They discussed "the final solution" to the Jewish concern. And make no mistake about it, all parties involved, came to understand at this meeting, if they were not clear on it before, that the final solution, was just that... the total incarceration and extermination of the Jewish peoples. And to a lesser(though equally as important)extent, any other group of people who did not conform with the Nazi view of "the perfect German"..

I have commented on this before, this being the last post on such, and will be again. Go and check out Israpundits original post. You will note those gates in the picture at the top of his post are not for some fantasy, "Hogan's Hero's" ..."oh, those crazy bumbling Nazis, how will Hogan, fool em this time" camp. They are the gates to hell.

I will be posting probably once a day on this til the blogburst. If you want more information, or to see the ever growing list of participants, go here.

Never Forget!!...Never Again!!

He's Back

This Gent appears to be posting again. And the world is a better place because of it. It is great to see a voice one thought was all to quickly silenced for what ever reason, has found a way to be heard yet again. Welcome back.

Oops They Did It Again

The folks a Jib Jab have struck again! It may take awhile to load but just to see Hillary smack 'ol Bill upside the head is worth the wait. Go check it out

Big tip 'o the squid lid to Mudville Gazette for the heads up.

But Teacher, I'm Not Fat, Just "Well Rounded"

Remember when it was report card time? Most kids, for one reason or another, dreaded that day. Especially when it wasn't sent home via the mail, but you had to hand carry the not so good news home and hand it over to your parents. Even if you were not failing in any given subject, anything lower than or equal to a "C" was viewed as not working to your level of potential. The teacher(s) didn't have to say so, your parents would know that for a fact. And heaven help you if there was an "F" in any subject (even PE). Now, mom may be somewhat less harsh on a bad PE grade, but not dad..."NO KID OF MINE IS GOING TO FAIL PE UNLESS YOU HAVE A BROKEN LEG OR SOMETHING...AND THAT CAN BE ARRANGED!!" This, of course, was back in the day when little Johnny's or Suzie's teacher was not considered to be the (first)reason why they were lacking in one subject or another. Way back when, it was assumed it was the students fault for not absorbing what was presented in the classroom. You were expected to get your homework done and returned to the classroom complete and on time. There was no reward system for doing so, you did it because it was expected of you to do so. Failure to comply with this was cause for a major lecture from the parental units...and could escalate to a full scale ass woupping if the trend continued.

We had kids of all shapes, sizes, abilities, and personalities, when I was in school. There were the different cliques and you learned either how to get along or suffer for the lack of that skill. We had bullies and such too, along with the "delinquents in training" and others who round out "Your school environment" ™ . We had pressures and concerns, which from time to time seemed all but impossible to tolerate. But most of us survived, to either head out to the world at large or continue on at college.

What we didn't have was the PC environment present today at all levels of education. We didn't have grief counselors. We didn't have day care centers for unwed mothers (and don't recall more then one of those out of 4 years of high school either). We didn't have "skills" or "empowerment" classes. We didn't have (though it was changing at the high school level, even then) "touchie-feelie" teachers/teaching methods.

We also didn't have our appearance being graded or annotated on our report cards!! Yes, you read the last line correctly, students in the great state of Texas, are now going to see an entry on their report card which will *notify* the parents, the school feels their student does not meet BMI or Body Mass Index. This mean the child for their particular height and weight are outside the *acceptable* limits for a n individual of that height/gender. As of now it will not *supposedly* effect the students grades or hinder their chance of advancement to the next grade. But to the masters of socialization, incrementalism is not a foreign word or practice. It will be just a matter of time until, "little Johnny" is being held back in the 5th grade because he is 40 pounds overweight. We hate to do this, but it is for his own good."

I can see you of the "big government is our friend" ™ persuasion, getting all knotted up..."but if the parent can't get his eating habits in control (assuming it is even an eating disorder in the first place) then the government should, as they only have the best interest of the child at heart." To this, and those who espouse same, I say "BULLSHIT".

You can take your socialist-communist-socialization/experimentation and park it and all your other excrementally enhanced ideas where the sun don't shine. You should be familiar with it...it's the same place one can find your heads at any given time of the day or night.

But let's take a look at what could be next....

"We are sorry Mr. & Mrs. Jones, but your child refuses to accept the diversity policies here at John Kerry Elementary."

"Has he been in a fight or bullying any of the students?"

"No, no, not at all. But he refuses to acknowledge that a same sex lifestyle is normal. In fact he has gone so far as to state his parents said it was wrong *shudder* in the eyes of God." Now, we can't have that kind of thinking going on here. Had we known in advance your child was a *shudder* Christian, we would have either recommended counseling, or have advocated he be placed in a private school."

OR....

"Mr Jones, I'm from the NEA child education enforcement and indoctrination department. And we are concerned your son is not conforming to the standards we have set for your educational district."

"He does all his work, and he has had no negative reports from the school. What is the problem?"

"Well, that's just it Mr. Jones....he is doing too well in school...in fact he is at the top of his class, the star of the football team, and from what we have been able to gather, all the girls think he is the best *catch* in the whole school. The bottom line is...if he doesn't lower his standards a bit...so the other boys don't feel so...so ...so inferior around him, we will have to suggest you send him to a private academy. Good god sir, our budget just can't handle the overload in counseling fees from the parents of children who are having complexes, are filing with us."

Yes, the two "examples" above sound far fetched. 30 years ago, had it been suggested that the lowering of any schools overall curriculum be advocated to meet the needs of *disenfranchised students*, as well as a reward system be implemented to *encourage* the turning in of homework. Well, they would have been laughed out of the school.

If I lived in Texas, I think there could only be two choices for my kids with the above becoming law. Either homeschool, or if affordable, private schooling. Though stringing up anyone from the NEA or Dept of Education (local, state, or fed) wouldn't hurt either.

MLK Day

Today was Martin Luther King Day. And as usual, the rants for and against the newest of January holidays is being bandied about the blogoshpere. Most the folks who are for it tend to be on the blue state side of things, while most against it a red staters.

Dr. King most likely had skeletons in his closet. Being he was human, that would not be surprising. And it is possible he had correspondence with those of a socialist nature or even communist ideals. That having been said, looking at what the man was trying to do and what his legacy was are perhaps far more important. That men such as Jackson, and Sharpton have usurped his legacy and the vision he wanted for All Americans, speaks more to the shortcomings and vileness of both those men, and politics toward black Americans, (no the Democratic Party would never try to subjugate a race of people for their own political advantages...perish the thought) rather then to Dr. King.

And to those who say "We should have a holiday for a major black leader...just because you have (or had)same for all those old white 'cracker' founding fathers." You miss the point as well. And sell short the very man you seek to memorialize. Yes, the founding fathers, Washington, Jefferson, et all, had feet of clay. But in the case of those we have chosen to give holidays to (even if they are clumped together now, and more's the pity), it is to acknowledge their positive accomplishments, and or the unique part they played on the national stage. In this same light, I could see Dr. King being so honored. Not (just) because he was black, or a leading activist for the rights of all men regardless of race,creed, color, or national origin, but because of the actions he took, and the over all effect he had while on the national stage. MalcomX had many who followed his thoughts and beliefs...but did not have the overall acceptance Dr. King did. Yet he does not get the *holiday nod*. Going back to the founding fathers a second, John Adams was as fiery a voice for the freedoms we have today, and a President as well. But we honor Washington, because he was the first, and as it turned out, the right man at the right place at the right time. The point I am trying to get at is (and I can see the detractors out there, well taking away the race question, then why not honor Gandhi..."cause he wasn't 'our activist'"....well then why not Christ...err wait a minute...never mind.) Dr. King was the right man at the right time, that he paid the ultimate price for stating his beliefs makes it all the more a reason to honor him. He wasn't perfect, but neither were our forefathers.

Now, I can see only one valid agrument for not recognizing this day. And that would be in the case of a state (Arizona) deciding through their appointed legislature not to set this day aside. I may not agree with them, heck I may even want to protest (you gotta love the right to assemble) their course of action. But to have the federal government twist their arm to conform with the rest of the country is wrong and a direct violation of states rights. (They may be wrong headed but they went through the legal motions...you don't like their choice...either move out of said state or take proper legal recourse to bring about change) You don't threaten em with the removal of their highway monies. It is a classic case of two wrongs not making a right. And all of us are the poorer for it. Better the good people of what ever state are given enough of the facts to make a sound decision. Or over time, they see what ever concerns there were...are groundless, and the initial change is implemented via the ballet box at some future date.

In the end wouldn't it be better to remember what the man, himself, had said at the end of that most famous of his speeches...."When we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last."

Wouldn't working honestly toward that goal, everyday, along with setting this one day of the year aside to remind us of same, be a far better way to remember the man, then all the posturing, politicizing, and pandering? Just a thought.

History Lessons

The current (as of the writing of this post) Drudge headline and accompanying picture shows a young Prince Harry dressed as German WWII desert troop with swastika emblazoned on his arm. Yes, the story goes, he was at a costume party and it should be considered nothing more than an extreme case of poor taste.

It is troubling however, when one of the (potential) future leaders of the western world embraces, even in jest, what could be considered the greatest evil of the twentieth century.

This brought up a couple of concerns. And this salty old scribe will address one of them here, and the other in a future post.

Is the current generation (and to some extent their parents) forgetting the lessons history has taught? Or has there been a trend in our schools to ignore that kind of teaching, replacing it with that which is "more relevant" (at least in the eyes of the teaching staff)?

Just yesterday, the middle ape at large, here at the harbor, brought home a paper which discussed the "Justinian Code". The wielder of "The Fry-Pan of Doom" ™ was curious why no (or little) mention was made of the fact Justinian was Christian. And that, had to have flavored his laws.

Indeed, recognition of the emperors faith and its flavoring of the law can be found here.

I countered with, at the age group this is being introduced (middle school, what we used to call jr. high) the mentioning of Justinian Codes (and one hopes Hammurabi's Codes...and possibly Mosaic Law as well) without going into too much depth would be reason enough to celebrate. Highschool history classes would be a better place to go more in depth. Or perhaps parental discussion with the student (gasp, we have to inter-act with our kids???) about the days studies would help broaden their base.

What does this situation have to do with *history* or even current events? Well, not too long ago, there was an Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice removed from his position because of a sculpture of the Ten Commandments he had allowed to stay, in place, in the rotunda of that State's Supreme Court building. The argument being, the display of same was in direct violation of separation of church and state. If the powers that be in Alabama, had a true understanding of the origins of Western Civilization law(s), they would have sided with the Chief Justice. If the population at large had a better grasp of the above, they, one would hope, would have raised a hue and cry to the same powers that be, and prevented his removal.

As important as it is to learn about Justinian Codes, without the addition of all major influences to our current system of laws, we do our kids a disservice. If the other parts are not included, will they be given cause to believe it was roman law, by itself, which was the basis for our current system? If that be the case, then my better half is quite correct in assuming the school system is, once again, taking an activist agenda (albeit a somewhat subtle one this time) and feeding it to our kids.

That we, as a nation, seem to be allowing our (national) history to be re-written, glossed over, or ignored, as supposed difference to "separation of church and state" (as an example), then we may come to a time when the moral and religious vacuum produced is filled by a society devoid of any sense of "right and wrong". Or a case of the pendulum swinging too far the other way, a theocracy, which restricts all to one belief system at the exclusion of all others. Perhaps the very one we are, even now, fighting against.

Want another example of history being ignored? How about the ongoing siege against the Second Amendment.

There are those who seek to usurp the real intent and meaning of the Second Amendment as well. Again, ignoring what the founding fathers clearly felt was the keystone in our ability to continue to exist as a society of freemen.

Not only with the multitude of gun/firearms laws on the books, but more importantly, with the outright unconstitutional actions of fools folks, like the Mayor of Chicago, who has an outright ban on handguns within the city limits of Chicago. Yet we as caretakers of the Constitution, and supposed students of history, let lessons learned in the blood of our forefathers and their forefathers, be forgotten. Or worse yet, we seek to ransom our inalienable rights, for the greater "well being" of all.

History is a strict headmistress, she will not be forgiving of fools and dreamers.

These are but two examples, there are many more. And that brings us back to the beginning of this rant. Drudge presents us with yet another example of history being ignored. This time by a public figure from across the sea. Yet one who's country shares with us, a common bond of laws and morals. And, one of sharing in the fight against the great evil of the 20th century.

Imagine the (an alleged) discussion about the prince's poor choice in costumes.

Prince Harry: "What is the big deal? That was a war fought a long time ago, it will never happen again. And they did have some cool looking uniforms. It's not like I was burning a swastika in the yard of some Jew or something."

Prince Charles: "What you fail to understand is this country was all but lost to those who wore that uniform, and your grandparents and great-grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, and those of the countrymen you may very well come to rule over, if only figuratively, lived each day as if they would quite possibly never see another. Or gave their lives fighting for this nations freedom from same."

"Your choice of costume has brought shame to the royal family." "You would do well to study your history, that of the peoples you may someday lead."

"And that you were scheduled to visit the place where some of the greatest of evils men perpetrated upon their fellows, was allowed to happen, by the very same group which followed the swastika,makes me wonder if you *do* fully grasp what took place back then."

As a parent, I would like to believe a conversation of that sort took place. As one who had Uncles, and Great Uncles who fought against the madmen who brought their evil to bear against the freemen of the world, I would hope that conversation took place. As one who has roots (as yet unsubstantiated by documentation, but believe in the verbal family history) in middle German Jewish (Yiddish) background, I would hope the prince was admonished for his actions.

He has said he is sorry for what he did. It would be far better if he could demonstrate his appreciation of that eras evil, by joining the vanguard against the current evil which assails us.

Perhaps upon graduating from university, he could be found among the ranks of those actively fighting same. Not only would it show (the world) actions speaking louder than any words could, it may also bring favor to the royals, in showing what leaders do...they lead in causes they feel are right and proper. And surly the fight against world wide terror and those who have corrupted one of the worlds major religions, would qualify as a "right and proper" cause.

Prince Andrew in his fashion, fought for what he considered was right and proper, during the Falklands crisis. Perhaps Harry could emulate his Uncle and do the same.

The Self-Destructing Senator

Jay over at Wizbang, wonders if the senatorial hemorrhoid on the American body politic has perhaps gone a tad too far. It seems John "Hey, it worked for me after Viet Nam, it should work here too" Kerry (D-Mass), has once again opened his pie hole and let his back log of fecal matter spew forth. According to Jay,via Yahoo News, Kerry also met with Syrian President al-Assad.

Jay wonders if Kerry's meeting with the Syrian President, who's country has alleged ties with any number of terrorist groups and militant organizations throughout the Mid-east, constitutes a violation of the Logan Act. If the full context of their conversation came out, and parts of said conversation could be taken to be the "private citizen" John Kerry speaking, vice the "member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee" John Kerry, he might have a valid point. So, all in all, much as I despise the character of the man (and I use that last noun, very loosely, in describing Kerry), it would seem on the face of it he was acting, or could be thought of as acting with in his purview as as Senator.

But getting back to the words he shared with members of the US armed forces stationed in the region. I think it is here where he treads on much thinner ice. And this would not fall under the Logan Act, but at the very least does border on out and out Seditious statements. If we assume we're in an active state of war, which has not been officially terminated. And Kerry is suggesting/implying to subordinates the way they are being used and or the way the conflict is being addressed/resolved suggests they might (at the very least internally) question the actions of the Offices and Officers appointed over them. It would seem to meet the requirements of what should pass for Sedition, and is unacceptable across the board. This, is very close to inciting malingering,willful disobedience, or planting seeds for far worse. It would also (notice I did not say could, I said would. And stand by that) lead toward a demoralizing of the troops as doubt about their leadership and its ability to effectively carry out its plans, policies, and or objectives.

Kerry has a history of subverting the actions of his Chain of Command, so his actions are not without precedent. That he was not charged, tried, and convicted the first time, is no reason why he should not be brought to trial for his current actions. Anything less would be a slap in the face to not only the American service men and woman in harms way along with the senior Chain of Command (all the way up to and including the Commander in Chief).

The time is long past due, where we allow political expediency, to take priority over the well being and welfare of troops in the line of fire. And the effective implementation of US military policy/actions. Kerry's words to the troops once again show the measure of the man, to be far short of what this country should have as a representative of our nation. That our troops did not personally send him on a one way/one man, Senate fact finding tour of Hell, speaks volumes about their professionalism, and his lack of same.

The Spirit Mourns

Three days ago one of the greats in the world of cover art and illustration in general took his leave of this mortal coil. Kelly Freas passed on in peaceful slumber at the age of 82.

And now comes word that Will Eisner, passed away on January 3rd, 2005 at the age of 87 following quadruple bypass heart surgery.

Both men were giants in the field of illustration, and for many a young man who grew up reading the pulps, along with the old EC comics, you knew you were in the presents of greatness. There was magic in their images. And the keen artistic eye each man possessed allowed for exactly the right scene to appear before the reader. "Why, that was exactly what I thought the Dragon Lady would look like."

The "worlds of wonder" and "what if" are poorer for your passing, but rich beyond measure in the works your talents have left behind for all to enjoy.

Our deepest sympathies and condolences to the loved ones of both Kelly Freas, and Will Eisner, Rest in Peace.

Perhaps It Is Time To Use The "Big Stick"

The following started as a reply to this post by Connie Du Toit. I felt the need to let it have a life of its own and so it ended up here. If it isn't Connie , it's Fran , or Kim...they all get ones braincells moving. The dinner conversations at their respective abodes must be very interesting to say the least. I envision it being sort of a conservative version of the old David Suskind show (You'd have to be an old fart like me to remember that one. *grin*) But on to the topic at hand....

Is Islam the root of all (terrorist) evils?

No, of course not. There have been many groups and factions over the years, the IRA, the Red Army, the Black Panthers and the SLA (the last two here in this country), which sought to use terror and terrorist methods to achieve their goals. And there are others.

Is Islam a "religion of peace"?

Despite what they want you to believe, no, not in its current form. Especially when all sects of the overall faith (at least) tacitly endorse the actions of the radical cancer, Wahhabism. It is much like the Germans a short 60 years ago or so, who decried "No I was not a Nazi, I did not support them or their actions." Yet by doing nothing they were doing exactly that. I have no doubt there are those of the Islamic faith who believe it is or has the potential to evolve into a legitimate "religion of peace". And they live their lives to that end. But if they and their more militant brothers allow the evil to continue in Allah's name, then they are no better.

Should we expect those enemies of western civilization, specifically those who embrace the Islamic faith or at least selected tenets of it, to follow accepted "western civilizations" rules of engagement as applies to warfare? And should we expect the same "cause and effect" reactions from them, on either the field of war, or diplomatic circles?

The answer to both is NO

Does that mean they are of lesser intelligence or ability to understand the last two givens? No

Does that mean they will, if given the option to change to "our type of thinking/understanding" they would do so?

No!!!

And the last of our little question and answer session above, is what is at the bottom of it all. We may, through superior technology and the overall superior training, outfitting, and health/fitness of our forces, win the battles. But if we ignore the last bit, that they not only don't play "by our rules", they don't want to play by our rules, we will run the serious risk of loosing the war against terror in the long run.

Folks, Connie is right. It is them or us. Either in the long term if we fight and seek to get them to "come 'round to our way of thinking". Or the (much) shorter term, if we are really serious about ending this threat to western man and western civilization. Truman faced a similar situation with Japan....and yes, I am suggesting the same thing.

Those who embrace the faith of Islam...I would imagine you have a window , a time frame if you will, where you can talk and decide amongst yourselves whether or not you want to have a faith to follow or not. What that implies is you seriously get your religious house in order.

A) Take an active part in the removal of the radical cancer which seeks to use and abuse your faith. The time is well past when words alone will atone for the actions of those who have despoiled your faith....if, in fact, yours truly is a religion of peace, and you are not collectively trying to blow smoke up the butt of western civilization.

B) Take Israel off your "Shit List". If as your holy book says, those of the Christian and Judaism faiths share in the same God, then the time for enmity is long past. You might want to note, of all the countries in the Middle East, Israel is the only functioning Democracy. And her ties to the US have not resulted in her becoming either the "51st state", or caused her to be forced into lockstep with every facet of our foreign policy. But you mess with them and you are in effect slapping us in the face..."Never forget" is more to many of us in this country, then just words. And the thought behind the words carries much more then just the memory of what happened to 6 million in German concentration camps. It is a mind set.

If you do these two things, oh follower(s) of the "religion of peace", perhaps there can be a way toward peace all can live with.

But your time grows short, and our patients grows shorter. If you take no action then I, soulless bastard that I am, would accept that it is because you, at least, tacitly believe the fanatic correct. And if that be the case, I will not morn the passing of Islam or her followers, for it would indeed be a corrupt faith. And as one does away with even one they love and cherish, once they have committed a crime which goes beyond the pale. So too would the family of man find it must do the same in this case.

So, then let the dogs of war be unleashed...and in a hundred years from now, when the glass which once was Mecca, Tehran, Saudi Arabia, and all other gathering places for the islamafascist/terrorist and their ilk, has cooled enough to abide the footsteps of man upon its soil....may they find a simple plaque at the edge of each crater, which reads.

"We would have left these people to their beliefs, and their God in peace. We would have willingly brought them into the society of man. They sought only war and the destruction of any and all who would refuse to follow their path. They sought to arrive to their God and to their heaven in as quick a fashion as their ways would allow. In the end, We the community of man, gave them that path. If you are able to read this marker, the pathway is finally closed and the followers no more."

Odds and Ends

There are two new members to the links at the left side of the page. First, if you like a good cigar and all that goes with em, check out the CIA, no it's not the cloak and dagger folks in DC. But two rather shady characters who go by the handles "J" and "M". Enjoy, and the smoking lamp is always lit there!

The second addition is amplified upon in the last post. Varifrank is now on the required reading list.

And though I have been very remiss in doing so....Chris Muir's delightful and insightful daily look into the lives and times of Zed, Sam, Jan, and Damon is on the roll in its place of honor at the top of the page. Chris I apologize for not including you sooner. You give the blogging community so much, the least we can do is link back to you. And what better way to do that, then to have the gang at the top of the page.

Courage

Sometimes when you wonder 'round the ol' blogsphere you come across a gem. Today was one of those days. While paying a visit to everyone's favorite Rottweiler, one of the comments pointed to an event the commenter wanted to share with any who were interested. So I followed the link......and found a cross between Ray Bradbury, Ernie Pyle, and the late Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mike Royko. Varifrank is a bouillabaisse of events and points of interest along the way, courtsey of Frank.

I started reading this and felt had I been in his place I would have tried to do the same, though my retort would not nearly been as eloquent. To do what he did took courage...perhaps not the same as charging the enemy knowing the odds are against you, but the kind one hopes resides in everyman. The quiet courage you find inside which compels you to do *that which is right*, at the risk of losing status, respect of ones peers, (potential) friends, or possibly your career/job. Frank has this courage. He is a better man for it, and we are all the better for being able to read about same.

I was going to end this post at the point above, but reading a bit further down on at Varifrank,this gem produced visions of a dumbfounded press corps getting an "Olympian clue bat ™ " upside their collective heads. It gets better. Here is the mother load. The story of a kid and his bike, and yet about so much more.

Gentle readers out there, do something special for yourselves, on the start of this new year, go check out Varifrank you'll be glad you did.