A New Star in the Heavens

As noted over the news wires, Sir Arthur C. Clarke passed from this life and onto the next great adventure on Wed. (Tuesday our time) It has been noted around the interweb as well. I feel this gentleman says it best. He will be missed.

I started my long love affair with reading around 40 years ago. (It can't have been that long ago, can it??) Shakespeare and Bradbury, turned the spark into a flame. A flame which was fed and nurtured by the likes of Asimov, Heinlein, Tolkien, yes and most definitely, Arthur Clarke.

The big four in my mind where (and probably always will be) Asimov, Bradbury, Clark, and Heinlein. They also were at least partially to blame for my love of all things aviation related ... space related ... and for a youthful optimism in the hope man would (will, damnit!!) one day soon, be able to free himself form this little blue marble. That we will be able to travel easily to other worlds. We will explore, advance our talents to the fullest, and become all that human kind is able to be.

Clarke helped to continue this dream and for that, even though I never met or corresponded with the man, I am forever in his (and the afore mentioned colleagues) in his debt. He was indeed one of the giants of his genre.

Your pen may have finally been silenced, but your written legacy will live on long after. Rest easy, sleep sound, be at peace Sir. You've earned it more then a thousand times over.

At Least 12" of Global Warming Outside ...

... and more forecast for the rest of the day. And after spending better then 15 hours at the polls yesterday (election judging) ... Well, Misha talks about Super Tuesday Hangovers here, with voting and monitoring the ongoing results via television and radio. Try spending all that time at the polls ... people, it ain't pretty. The high point of the day was seeing a number of young people coming out and voting for the first time. They were excited and really wanted to be a part of things. I only wish there had been more of them.

We had about 40-50% turnout. And were busy for the majority of the day, despite the beginnings of a major storm starting to dump snow by around noon.

Off to go and start to shovel out the drive. Going to try and use the snowblower...but don't know if it will be up to the task, it's better then a foot deep now.

Wonder if we can get a pizza delivered for dinner tonight?

Click For Cathy

Chris Muir, cartoonist extraordinaire, is being the kind of brother everyone should be lucky enough to have. His sister Cathy, is battling against cancer. One of the tools in her arsenal is American Cancer Ablation Center. Chris wants to give this most noble group of doctors and their platform, as much exposure as possible, thus bringing them more recognition. To this end, Chris is having a ten day "Click-A-Thon". You can also read today's cartoon, on the left column, or click on the button directly underneath same. That button will stay there, as a reminder to support those who seek to rid cancer from the list of human maladies. So give it a click, it doesn't cost a thing, and may make a difference in the good doctors receiving the visibility they so richly deserve.

UPDATE 2 Chris has had a rousing success with his "Clik-A-Thon!" And has drawn it to a close (see today's cartoon!) So the image below is gone. But for those who would like to keep the American Cancer Ablation Center link on their site there are, in the original links place, two "buttons" you can take and use if you so desire. And this post will now move down as others are added.

UPDATE This will stay up for the next week or so for the length of Chris's Clik-A-Thon.

Kate Needs A Hand...

...more correctly, she needs a tooth...a few teeth. Last Monday Kate (of Venomous Kate fame) had a terrible biking accident. The end result was she is now minus a number of her front teeth, and has a couple others needing to be removed and replaced, or repaired as well.

The reason I mention this, is Kate is one of the folks I first started reading a couple of years back, even before starting this blog, she is one of the reasons "Snugg Harbor" is here. And getting the word out to the blogosphere at large, is the least I can do, in a very small way, to say thanks.

This is one of those events in a persons life you don't expect to happen....and yes she has insurance....the irony of it was, there was going to be other dental work done (and monies from the insurance company, plus the deductible, had already been put in motion for this), and now she has exceeded her allowable coverage for this year.

In short, she needs a hand. You can Go Here, click on the button in the left hand column, and drop a couple of shekels in there. She has never been the sort to beg, but the lady is in need, help her out if ya can.

American Zero

Alan, over at Barking Moonbats is highly peeved at the worlds worst excuse for a cartoonist, and all around putz, Ted Rall. Well, I thought Rall was at his usual low standards...and felt it was only fair...things were balanced out a bit...check *below the fold*updated below the fold.

Scotty Beams Up

ABC radio is reporting James Montgomery Doohan has died. Doohan was born March 3rd, 1920. A versatile actor, most noted for his portrayal as chief engineer CDR Montgonery Scott, of the "Enterprise", in the original television series Star Trek, and in a number of the movies which followed. James Doohan, was a WWII vet. He left home at 19 to serve in the Canadian Forces.

... fighting with the Allies in World War II. After outscoring his fellow soldiers on an officer's exam, he became Captain in the Royal Canadian Artillery. While leading his men into battle on D-Day, Doohan was wounded in the leg and hand, and eventually lost a finger. For the remainder of the war, he became a pilot observer, and received the dubious distinction of being called the "craziest pilot in the Canadian Air Forces."

His characterization of "Scotty", was, of all the personalities of the original Star Trek series, my favorite. His love of his ship, his duty and devotion to his Captain, and his legendary fondness for scotch, made him a joy to watch. May he never run out of dilitium crystals, well aged scotch, and have the finest engine department in the heavens.

St Peter, you have one to beam up...

Fatawah Cheese

Things seem to be going pretty hot and heavy on the ol' net these days. What with politics, exotic interpretations of the Constitution, and lately even bloggers having fatawah's issued against them (whose legitimacy was confirmed by the FBI). The resulting fallout from the last can be seen at any number of blogsites out there.

Jim at Smoke On The Water takes the ball, and runs with it quite well.

Harbor Master, and Roustabout Riverdog, takes wordsmithing to new levels in his take on the missionary techniques of the "Religion of Peace" ™ .

Everyone's favorite Rottweiler, Emperor Misha, looks at this from a somewhat different angle, along the lines of "Who Does a Guy Have to Fuck to Get a Fatwah in This Town?" His somewhat tongue in cheek response, none the less, shows his stout heart, and willingness to stand by a fellow blogger when faced with a potential threat. At the same time taking some of the bluster out of the sails of those to whom acts of cowardice are standard operating procedure.

There are many others, Kim Du Toit, Eric at Eric's Grumbles Before The Grave, and KisP keeper of the flame, SondraK makes note of it as well. There are more, many more. I think this has hit a nerve. And today, Chris provides commentary on the whole situation. What is really behind his stance, and to my mind, why it should be important to every freedom loving American out there. Check it out.

This is a Test. It is only a Test

Thanks to Billy Budd at American Dinosaur, my curiosity got the better of me. By following the link at his site (which links to the very same place mine does) I went and took part in "Science in progress" ™ . Click on the button above, and you can also be a part of same.

LA LAW

Mike, over at The CIA, posts that Micheal Jackson was acquitted on all counts against him. I personally think there is a good chance he may very well be twisted enough to have assaulted kids....(though I think he honestly wouldn't feel that way...like I said he's twisted). But the real bottom line here, isn't his being guilty...or innocent. Rather, what is up with the District Attorney's office, and (possibly) various law enforcement training, for the city (and county?) of LA, in how evidence is handled, collected, and in how a case is brought to trial.

In one way or another, they have, in two major cases, dropped the ball twice. First, there was the OJ trial (Yes, I think he was guilty, or at the very least knows who did it.) where due to ineptness on both the DA's office, and various members of the LAPD, he was able to walk. Second, the Jackson case. Did the "State" ever really have (all) the evidence needed to properly present this case and expect to win? Or was it (as has been suggested) a thinly discussed vendetta by the DA because he was not able to successfully prosecute the first case which settled out of court.

If I was a professional crook, with a personality (read charisma), I would want to be tried in LA, cause the DA's office appears not to be to handle the pressure of either a strong personality and or a well constructed defense.

And for those who would hold out the chestnut...that race is what set them free...what about Robert Blake? Yes, the case was a bit different in that he was *at the scene of the crime". But, in the end it could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt he committed the crime, or acted as the agent in contracting two former stuntmen to do it in his stead.

No eyewitnesses, blood or DNA evidence linked Blake to the crime. The murder weapon, found in a trash bin, could not be traced to Blake, and witnesses said the minuscule amounts of gunshot residue found on Blake’s hands could have come from a different gun he said he carried for protection.

MSNBC

I think the Robert Blake case was a bit different (though there are similar threads here...). The big thing is, once again the "State", at the end of the day, could not:

!. Match up Blake's gun with the bullet(s) that killed her. There was no DNA evidence to tie it to him as well.

2. Prove Blake tried to place a contract out on his wife.

End result, Blake is a free man. Still poor prior planning by the State was a factor. And being blindsided by their own witnesses, doesn't help either.

A final thought to ponder:

If the rule of law is appearing to unravel in Lotus land....how long before anarchy reigns in the LA basin?

Natalee Holloway RIP

At this hour, ABC News is reporting one of the three suspects last taken into custody has admitted to authorities, she was murdered.

ORANJESTAD, Aruba (AP) - One of three young men who took an Alabama high school student to the beach during her class trip to Aruba confessed he killed her, police say.

Deputy Police Commissioner Gerold Dompig told The Associated Press that the man was leading police late Friday to the scene of the crime.

Riverdog and I (among others), had been speculating in may have been far more likely she was kidnapped. This is not (or was not) all that far fetched, as that sort of thing is not unknown in the Caribbean and Central/South American countries.

Sadly, this now appears to be a moot point. What a sad end to such a promising young lady and the bright future she had planned. Rest In Peace Natalee and may time ease the pain of her parents, family, and friends.

UPDATE
There appears to be some major disagreement coming out of Aruba. While Fox is continuing to report Natalee has been killed. And her parents have either been escorted to the site, she was alleged to have been placed, or they are heading there at this hour. AP (and ABC news) is reporting Aruban officials are NOT agreeing in confirming she is dead, or that her remains have been found. There is even disagreement as to whether or not a confession has been obtained from one of three suspects. We shall see.

Eagle And The Serpents

Wow, talk about serendipity....what better way to start off a new blog year than with a new bit of verse from Russ. Today he takes aim, with pin point precision, on a favorite whipping boy of everyone, (and rightly so!!) the Main Stream Media.

So, go below the fold and check it out!!

Bill Whittle's Mightly Sword Defines Sanctuary

Bill's mighty sword, is a combination of his cyber quill, a clarity of thought, and the God given talent of being able to transfer this wisdom to his electronic parchment. If you are in need of substance, to shore up your soul due to the constant onslaught of progressive, statist, "we know what's best for you" thoughtspeak. Run, do not walk to here.

If you count yourself among the fellow travelers of the left and all they hold dear, but feel an unaccounted for emptiness where your soul should be, and want to begin your adventure toward the light of sanity and reason, go here. Drink deep from his well. Bill Whittle provides the very title of his essay, with every brush of his pen, and we are all the richer for it.