List of Words To Be Banished

Here is the annual list of irritatingly annoying words that should be banished from the English language. "Cool" and "awesome" should make the all-time list.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Here is a New Year's Prayer:

"May you get a clean bill of health from your dentist, your cardiologist, your gastro-entomologist, your urologist, your proctologist, your podiatrist, your psychiatrist, your plumber and the I.R.S. May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your abs and your stocks not fall; and may your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count and your mortgage interest not rise. May New Year's Eve find you seated around the table, together with your beloved family and cherished friends. May you find the food better, the environment quieter, the cost much cheaper, and the pleasure much more fulfilling than anything else you might ordinarily do that night. May what you see in the mirror delight you, and what others see in you delight them. May someone love you enough to forgive your faults, be blind to your blemishes, and tell the world about your virtues. May the telemarketers wait to make their sales calls until you finish dinner, may the commercials on TV not be louder than the program you have been watching, and may your check book and your budget balance - and include generous amounts for charity. May you remember to say "I love you" at least once a day to your spouse, your child, your parent, your siblings; but not to your secretary, your nurse, your masseuse, your hairdresser or your tennis instructor. And may we live in a world at peace and with the awareness of God's love in every sunset, every flower's unfolding petals, every baby's smile, every lover's kiss, and every wonderful, astonishing, miraculous beat of our heart."

Best Quote of the Day

The son of assassinated Benazir Bhutto says, "Democracy is the best revenge".

Haveil Havalim #147 is Up!

Haveil Havalim #147 is up at the always-reliable Soccer Dad. Once again, there's a great deal of excellent reading here.

"Mental Whiplash"

Great satire from The People's Cube: "Iowa Man Sues Clintons For Mental Whiplash."

A Winning Smile

This is proof that people today are willing to lie, cheat, and steal to get what they want.

Mail Call

This is a list of the commemorative postage stamps coming out in 2008. I can't wait to get the Bette Davis stamp.

Funny Turns Serious

Little Green Footballs links to this great piece by Scott Ott, who is known for his satire at Scrappleface. But the assassination of Benazir Bhutto calls for great seriousness, and he has eloquently met that challenge.

A Politically Correct Year

This is yet another article about political correctness, this time from the UK. Among many ludicrous examples is this one:

"For decades, children have enjoyed singing about the little donkey which is said to have carried the pregnant Mary to Bethlehem. But one group of young singers was ordered to change the traditional lyrics of the Christmas song - because they were said to be 'too religious'.Instead of 'Little donkey, carry Mary safely on her way', the youngsters were told to sing 'carry Lucy' for fear of offending non-Christians."

Lucy???

Tragedy in Pakistan

Michelle Malkin says: ""They tried and failed when she returned to Pakistan in October. They tried and failed with a baby suicide bomber. Yesterday, they stopped a 15-year-old with a bomb packed full of nails trying to kill her. Today, they succeeded. Dammit, dammit, dammit." And Mark Steyn writes in
NRO's The Corner: "Benazir Bhutto's return to Pakistan had a mad recklessness about it which give today's events a horrible inevitability. As I always say when I'm asked about her, she was my next-door neighbor for a while - which affects a kind of intimacy, though in fact I knew her only for sidewalk pleasantries. She was beautiful and charming and sophisticated and smart and modern, and everything we in the west would like a Muslim leader to be - though in practice, as Pakistan's Prime Minister, she was just another grubby wardheeler from one of the world's most corrupt political classes"

Our Presidential Candidates

Read this amusing article, "A curmudgeon's look at the presidential candidates".

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Here's an article about my favorite Christmas movie, "A Christmas Story" , which is shown for 24 straight hours each year on TBS. The whole thing is terrific, but I do love the leg lamp, and the Chinese restaurant scene at the end!

Haveil Havalim #146 is Up!

If you can't make it to a Chinese restaurant tonight or tomorrow, at least you have some wonderful reading to pass the time when you visit founder Soccer Dad's Haveil Havalim #146!

O. Henry

Read the wonderful O.Henry short story, "The Gift of the Magi".

Islamofascism in the News

If you like Mark Steyn like I do, you should go to this link at American Thinker. It seems he is under fire in Canada because he writes the truth about Muslim extremism. The Free Mark Steyn website gives you all the details and tells how you can support him. In other news, Little Green Footballs reported yesterday that "Yesterday Belgian authorities arrested 14 Muslim men in a prison breakout plot for an Al Qaeda terrorist; tonight they’re all free to go." Oh well!

Vanessa Redgrave Alert

Smooth Stone discusses the latest Vanessa Redgrave outrage:

"Have any of you seen the film, Atonement? I wanted to see it, along with some other films, over Christmas vacation. But, now I refuse to. I refuse to give one dime to anything that has Vanessa Redgrave associated with it. Why? Two suspected al-Qa'eda operatives released from Guantanamo Bay have walked free from court although they are still wanted in Spain on terrorism-related offences. One of the men, who is accused of distributing extremist propaganda produced by Osama bin Laden, had half of his £50,000 bail surety met by the actress Vanessa Redgrave, the terrorist sympathizer".

Charlierblog3

I just came across this entertaining blog called Charlierblog3, in which "a public librarian in Virginia posts things he thinks are cool, neat, spiffy, funny and odd." There's a lot to read here, and a lot of things to e-mail your friends.

Poster Problem

Neal Boortz linked to this ridiculous story: "The Motion Picture Association of America rejected a poster for a documentary on terrorism, showing soldiers walking away with a hooded detainee. They are afraid that the children will see it." Oh, please!

Good Reading

Soccer Dad is not only juggling interesting Carnivals, he also has the latest Watcher's Council nominations. Read and enjoy!

Great Achievements by Israelis

Smooth Stone reports that "A groundbreaking discovery in the field of artificial intelligence, conducted by two Tel Aviv University academics, and Israeli research into treating Parkinson's disease, have been selected as among the past year's greatest advancements in science by the leading journal, Scientific American."

Sing a Song of Christmas

The Anchoress features this clever and entertaining a capella version of "The Night Before Christmas".

6th Annual Right Wing News Conservative Blog Awards

From Right Wing News comes their list of the Conservative Blog Award winners.

Sick of Politics?

Gossip columnist Liz Smith says: "Sick of politics with 11 months to go? Thanks to Roy Marcus of the America Silk Mills for reminding us of this: 'Nearly half a century ago, as 1960 got going, John F. Kennedy didn't even announce until December 1959.'"

The Warm & Fuzzy Side of Hillary Clinton

Well, THIS should be a flop: "Hillary Clinton seeks to warm up her image". How do you "warm up" Lady Macbeth?

Blogging Tips

From Instapundit comes this link to an interesting article, "Top 10 Tips for New Bloggers From Original Blogger Jorn Barger". #1 is the main reason I started this blog, along with the need to vent occasionally.

Haveil Havalim #145 is Up!

Congratulations to Soccer Dad on the third anniversary edition of his series Haveil Havalim! What a wonderful idea this was, and what terrific reading it has provided over the years.

Losing Our Identity

From Lucianne.com, this story from the UK Telegraph:

"Britain is losing its identity because of over-zealous political correctness and a failure to deal with immigration, the Chief Rabbi has warned.Sir Jonathan Sacks said that the drive for a multi­cultural society had left Britain increasingly intolerant and that too many people were embarrassed about their history. "

Just change the word "Britain" to "America", and the same could be said about our own situation.

Support Israel

Here's some encouraging news we probably won't see trumpeted on the Big 3 networks:

"(IsraelNN.com) Americans’ support for Israel in the conflict with the Arabs of Judea, Samaria and Gaza remains extremely high, with 62 percent of Americans considering themselves supporters of Israel and only 9 percent as 'supporters of the Palestinians.' These are some of the findings of a new bipartisan poll commissioned by The Israel Project (TIP)."

Support Our Troops

Here are ways you can support the troops this Christmas season.

Another Menorah

Speaking of menorahs, look at the one that Meryl Yourish found!

Chanukah With Charles & Camilla

The website Israellycool has this great photo of Prince Charles and his wife Camilla lighting a menorah. He looks slightly dopey, as usual, but it's the thought that counts!

"Offended Muslim Syndrome"

The amusing website The People's Cube discusses a new disorder: Offended Muslim Syndrome!

"Symptoms of Offended Muslim Syndrome (OMS): Irritability, agitation, anxiety at the sight of women who are not fully covered; Prolonged rage or unexplained killing sprees; Significant changes in immigration patterns; Brooding about the past glory of the Caliphate; Decreased effectiveness and minimal work productivity; Difficulty in understanding new information without a trial lawyer; Feelings of despair or hopelessness about the existence of Israel; Recurring thoughts of death to the infidels."

Baseball Bums

Here's the list of the players named in the Mitchell Report. Some of the names don't surprise me, but seeing Roger Clemens' name was a shock. Incredibly, Senator Mitchell "doesn't want to impose discipline" on these cheaters, which makes this whole scandal worse. And Bud Selig is so wishy-washy, it makes you miss Bart Giamatti even more. Good thing my disillusionment with baseball was already complete years ago, after the strikes and the continued whinings for larger, more obscene salaries; otherwise, I'd be even more nauseous over this latest chapter in the destruction of what used to be a glorious game.

"The Jewish Americans"

Doesn't this sound like a good read? It is the companion volume for a PBS series that will be shown on TV in January. "The Jewish Americans, Three Centuries of Jewish Voices in America, Written by Beth Wenger. What was it like for the first Jews to arrive in the New World? How did a Bavarian immigrant’s crockery business expand into one of the nation’s top department stores? How did Yiddish theater and humor influence Hollywood and mainstream entertainment? How has Israel affected American Jewish identity? This magnificently illustrated book, companion to the major PBS television documentary produced by David Grubin, tells the history of Jews in America in a captivating and accessible collection of first-person accounts, interviews, distinguished scholarly writings, and profiles of prominent Jews as well as ordinary Jewish immigrants."

Meltdown Moron

What kind of a mind thinks up a story like this? More amazing is that Fox's John Gibson doesn't think this liar should be prosecuted at all! "A pregnant Toledo attorney who was the focus of national headlines after she disappeared last week has recanted her story that she was kidnapped at gunpoint near her office and later released near Atlanta." The excuse given for this hoax? She "had a meltdown". Well, she should first have a meltdown -- in jail!

Tom Lehrer

Visit Yourish.com for a video version of Tom Lehrer's "Hanukah in Santa Monica". And if you like that, you'll also enjoy this animated version of Lehrer's "The Elements". Learning the periodic table was never so much fun. (If the link doesn't work, go to http://www.privatehand.com/flash/elements.html)

Nix on St. Nick

Cindy Adams discusses Santa's troubles with political correctness:

"For openers, he's lost a few elves. Previously he had a non-union shop. Santa's helpers just signed on with a handshake. Came the Patriot Act and such paperwork - mother's maiden name, birth date, Social Security number, picture ID, name of your nearest munchkin. Resisting this invasion of privacy, some old-timers grumbled 'Kiss my mistletoe' and headed home to Elfville. Also there's the Equal Opportunity folk. Accusing St. Nick of chauvinism. I mean, I've always liked the old geezer - although, personally, I think Nicky could use a little makeover - but the truth is his workshop is male-dominated. When's the last time you heard of any elfette? Elfess? Elfix?"

Haveil Havalim #144 is Up!

Haveil Havalim #144, the "too many latkes edition", is up at Jack's Shack.

"The Lyrical Terrorist"

I just heard this story of "the lyrical terrorist" on Fox News.

"During her trial, Ms. Malik insisted that she was not a terrorist and that she called herself the “lyrical terrorist” to impress men. 'It was only because it was a cool name, it doesn’t mean I am a terrorist,' she said dismissing the poems as 'meaningless.' Prosecution accused her of being 'deeply involved with terrorist-related groups' and the court was told that she wrote poems with grisly and provocative titles like 'How to behead.' The court heard that she had written on the back of a till receipt that 'desire within me increases everyday to go for martyrdom.'

Yes, that's "cool", alright.

Hanukah in Iraq

Atlas Shrugs has this nice story about how our Jewish troops are celebrating Hanukah in Iraq.

Lest We Forget

Today is the 66th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Got a Million?

My pal Diane told me about this. I've heard of nerve, but this takes the cake: "...we came across a personal ad from an Upper West Side family in search of a 'philanthropic, wealthy person who would not miss a million bucks' to give them said million dollars to buy a place." I hope this turns out to be only a hoax -- but I bet some fools will actually donate money to these nervy beggars!

Movie Madness

First a quiz show about Hitler, now this. Betsy's Page reports on Oliver Stone's next project: a documentary about Iranian President Ahmadinejad!

Sorry, Santa!

This whole politically correct to-do over the phrase "ho ho ho" was preposterous enough -- but now they are actually FIRING Santas who dare to exclaim the "offensive" words! How is this allowed to happen, and how many more people will become victims of this insane PC, created by a minority of lunatics? Neal Boortz reports:

"A few weeks ago I told you about Santas in Australia who are being forced to say 'ha ha ha' instead of 'ho ho ho' because it is offensive to women. Well John Oakes is 70 years old. He has been a Santa for 10 years. On Monday he was fired for saying 'ho ho ho' and singing Jingle Bells. He worked at Cairns department store in Northern Australia. He was asked to speak to the manager at the end of his shift where he was told that his services will no longer be required because he said 'ho ho ho' and 'that's not appropriate.' Sigh."

We ought to have a "ho-ho-ho -in" to show our solidarity with Santa and our contempt for the political correctness that is destroying everything.

Name That Dictator!

Rubicon3 reports some vile but unsurprising news: "A Palestinian Authority radio contest featured a laudatory biography of Adolf Hitler replete with his military victories, heroism and no mention of the Holocaust....The Voice of Palestine contest offered a prize of 600 shekels to the person who guessed Hitler's name."

*Sigh*

Can't people just let us enjoy the holidays without making an issue out of everything?

"Environmentalists in Israel are encouraging Jews to light fewer candles during Hanukkah … to help the environment. The Green Hanukkah campaign says that every candle that burns completely produces 15 grams of carbon dioxide. The campaign estimates that one million Israeli households light candles for eight days, and it would do significant damage to the atmosphere. United Torah Judaism MK Avraham Ravitz says that environmentalists are 'crazy people' who are playing with the minds of innocent Jews. Instead, Ravitz thinks that the environmentalists should encourage people 'to light one less cigarette instead.'"

You Can't 'Mecca' This Stuff Up

Don't you love the senseless, moronic, pandering political correctness that continues to plague our society?

"The job of the nurse used to one of caring for the sick and needy. But not - it would seem - in today's politically-correct Britain. Now, nurses are being encouraged to spend valuable time turning around the beds of Muslim patients up to five times a day - so they can face Mecca....We have a huge Muslim population in Dewsbury and if we are having to turn dozens of beds to face Mecca five times a day, plus provide running water before and after prayers, it is bound to impact on the essential medical service we are supposed to be providing.'"

Unbelievable! I wouldn't want to be a patient in that hospital, would you?

Ted Kennedy's Memoirs

Look at these funny Photoshopped covers for Ted Kennedy's memoirs!

Happy Hanukah!

Here's a list of reasons that Hanukah is better than Christmas. One reason not on the list is that we don't participate in frenzied shopping stampedes. I always have to explain that no, Hanukah is NOT like Christmas, and that it's NOT all about expensive gift-giving. They can't seem to grasp the concept.

Haveil Havalim #143 is Up!

The wait is over! Haveil Havalim #143 is now up in its entirety at Soccer Dad.

The Few. The Proud. The Marines.

I was just forwarded this beautiful tribute to the Marines from 2003 and think it's worthy of being passed on. If our media weren't so anti-military, it would be nice to see this printed on the front page of every newspaper: "This is a poem being sent from a Marine to his Dad. For those who take the time to read it, you'll see a letter from him to his Dad at the bottom. It makes you truly thankful for not only the Marines, but ALL of our troops."

As Columbo Would Say...

Just two more things.. Smooth Stone has revamped his site into a great-looking new webpage, so take a look. Also, Soccer Dad has more carnivals to juggle, so stop by.

"The Shunning of Israel"

Nothing ever changes. Phyllis Chesler in Israel Insider discusses the despicable but not surprising shunning of Israel, at Annapolis :

"At the recent Annapolis meeting, behind closed doors, up close and personal, the assembled Arab foreign ministers refused to shake hands with Tzipi Livni, Israel's Foreign Minister. She asked her Arab counterparts, especially her Saudi counterpart, why they did not want to shake hands with her. 'I am not plague-ridden' Livni said. According to the Dutch minister, all the Arab ministers backed away from her as if 'she were Dracula's sister'. (These details are contained in both the Washington Post and Guysen International News)..... In addition, the United States, Israel's strongest ally, apparently just circulated the Annapolis resolution to members of the UN Security Council -- but without first showing anything to Israel's Ambassador, Dan Gillerman who was, at the time, busy celebrating the General Assembly's November 29th, 1947 resolution that created a Jewish state. What a difference sixty years can make! (These details in The New York Sun). Livni and Gillerman have just both been publicly shunned. Israeli diplomats will have to grow bionic skins in order not to suffer the effects of such interpersonally cruel behavior. But look: Israelis have been kidnapped, blown up and wounded for life by Islamist terrorists. It can always be worse but the two kinds of assaults are intimately connected. The fact that the world allows the state sponsors of terrorism to isolate and shame Israeli diplomats also allows and even encourages terrorist fanatics to continue their murderous rampage. One breeds the other; this is the cycle of violence."

Hillary Hostage

My first thought on hearing this story was that it was a publicity stunt to raise her poll ratings! If she gets elected, we will ALL be held hostage.

Teddy Bear Terrorism

I hope the English are outraged over this obscenity. I would hate to think that politically correct kowtowing to Muslims would even preclude their doing whatever it takes to rescue the teacher Gillian Gibbons in Sudan.

Ted Kennedy's Memoirs

This is the funniest, most scathing article about Ted Kennedy you will see in a while. Among other things, "The very least Ted Kennedy can do is dedicate his autobiography to Mary Jo Kopechne. So the senior senator is getting an $8 million advance for his memoirs - who says crime doesn’t pay? And how about that quote his new publisher included in the press release, with Ted mentioning his lifelong 'front row seat at many key events.' Which raises the question, if Ted was in the front seat, who was in the back? Sorry, I can’t help myself. But even if you couldn’t read a Chappaquiddick reference into almost anything he says (water boarding, anybody?), the fact is Teddy has indeed had a 'front row seat' for most of his life."

Remember the Golden Age of Television?

Well, this isn't it! Here is another example of the flourishing of lowlifish TV reality shows: "When is enough enough? Apparently never. Here’s the latest brilliant brainstorm from VH1 – 'Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew,' due Jan. 10. Brigitte Nielsen, Chyna, Daniel Baldwin, Jeff Conaway, Jessica Sierra, Jaimee Foxworth, Seth “Shifty” Binzer, Mary Carey and Ricco Rodriguez – and sorry, but I think the word “celebrity” is being abused in some of these cases – will detox and rehab at 'a center in the Los Angeles area' described as 'no-frills.' Except for all those TV cameras celebs crave like another drug."

Sellout in Annapolis

Little Green Footballs comments on the statement from Annapolis:

"Here’s the Israeli-Palestinian statement read at the Annapolis 'peace in our time' conference, a gauzy, insubstantial promise to reach an 'agreement' by the end of 2008 by setting up a whole lot of bureaucratic negotiating committees and overseers. Concluding with the road map that refused to die. Yes, four years later we’re unfolding the very same mildewed road map that Palestinians have never honored for one single day, after 'agreeing' to it.

Also see the always to-the-point Atlas Shrugs for more reaction, at http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/

A "Charmin" Life

Columnist Lenore Skenazy has a wonderful article about the death of Mr. Whipple and the nostalgia for a simpler time.

Annapolis Protest

Visit Atlas Shrugs for some commentary and photos of the Annapolis protest at the Israeli consulate in New York.

Record-Breaking Israeli Flag

Here is an Israeli record-breaker: "The record for the world's largest flag now belongs to an Israeli banner produced by a Filipino evangelical Christian."

Poster Contest

Look at the terrific and clever Democratic party poster contest over at Michelle Malkin!

Haveil Havalim #142 is Up!

Visit Soccer Dad and read Haveil Havalim #142. There's a great compilation of interesting reading there, including many links on the Annapolis "peace" conference.

Phone Calls Against Appeasement

Solomonia has some good suggestions as to how we can register our demand for a united Israel. Pick up a phone and call now: "Here is an interesting site: Keep Jerusalem United. On November 26th, world leaders will congregate in Annapolis to once again seek concessions from Israel and declare that Jerusalem should be divided, with part becoming the capital of a new, Hamas-controlled Palestinian terror-state. Israel should not be pressured by the United States, least of all while facing terrorism, rocket attacks, and hate, and while its kidnapped soldiers remain hostages... If you go to the site, there is a simple system there to automatically (and at no cost) connect you to The White House, Sallai Meridor at the Embassy of Israel and Condoleeza Rice's office and there is a sample message you should leave for them as the Annapolis Conference draws near. Using that link will actually track people coming from this site, which is cool (I guess). Hopefully a few of you folks will use it."

Bad News From Down Under

Our staunch ally John Howard has been defeated as Australia's Prime Minister.

How British Women Treat Their Wounded Soldiers

This is absolutely disgraceful. It's a relief to see that the Admiral is not mincing words or making excuses for these vile, despicable creatures: "Injured soldiers who lost their limbs fighting for their country have been driven from a swimming pool training session by jeering members of the public. The men, injured during tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, were taking part in a rehabilitation session at a leisure centre, when two women demanded they be removed from the pool. They claimed that the soldiers 'hadn't paid' and might scare the children. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation. Adml Lord Boyce, a former head of the Armed Forces, said last night the women should be 'named and shamed'. 'These people are beneath contempt and everything should be done to get their names and publish them in the press,' he said. 'It is contemptible that people who have given up their limbs for their country should be so abused when they are trying to get fit again.'"

A Righteous Gentile

Smooth Stone has the story of a Righteous Gentile: "The Rev. Adrian Van Kaam, a Catholic priest whose understanding of the dynamics of spirituality was formed as he smuggled food to Jews in hiding during the Nazi occupation of Holland, died Saturday at the nursing home of the Little Sisters of the Poor, North Side."

The Plague of Neville Chamberlainitis

There's a lot of good writing on the web about the betrayal of Israel at Annapolis, and about the terrorist conference in Iran. Wait till you've had your Thanksgiving dinner before you read any of this, because otherwise you'll definitely lose your appetite. Read about "Munich Rising" here. Rubicon3 has the latest from Debbie Schlussel, while Atlas Shrugs wonders, "Could it be any worse than Bush/Condi's summit of surrender and abandonment of the Jewish people? Iran is going to host a terrorism summit, at the same time as the Annapolis peace summit."

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Modern Day Freak Show

I can only hope that this is some sort of spoof. Look at the photo that accompanies this letter to the editor. "Modified community" is the politically correct way of saying "absolute freaks who pierce, tattoo, and fork every part of their bodies and are clueless as to why people stare".

"Modified community needs civil rights protections. Because of my body modifications, including tattoos and piercings, I consider myself to be a member of the modified community. Due to my modifications, I not only have to deal with the daily routine of turned up noses and annoying questions from those without any body modifications, but I have to fight even harder to get a job than someone without any visible modifications."

"Talking Turkey"

This is a fun article about how the Thanksgiving turkey got its Hebrew name!

Carnival-Juggling

Go visit Soccer Dad to see what he is busy juggling.

Oh, Shut Up!

This is hilarious: "MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Many Spaniards were so amused when their king told Venezuela's president to 'shut up' they want to hear the words every time their phone rings. The king's outburst 'Por que no te callas?' or 'Why don't you shut up?' has become a hit. About half a million people have downloaded a mobile phone ringtone featuring the phrase.." The King is also a hit on YouTube, according to this article. Still, cell phones and their ringtones can be incredibly annoying, so I wonder when people will start telling these ringtone-users themselves to shut up!

Why Work?

It used to be considered shameful not to work, especially if you were a man and the head of your household. Now, it seems that NOT working has become socially acceptable, and the capacity for shamelessness is even greater. I thought the entitlement mentality in this country was bad, but apparently, it's even worse in England, according to this article, which should enrage all hardworking taxpayers: "Almost two thousand people who are too fat to work have been paid a total of £4.4 million in benefit, it emerged last night. Other payments went to fifty sufferers of acne and ten incapacitated by leprosy."

Thanksgiving Waiver

Every year I greatly enjoy seeing this clever Thanksgiving Guest Liability and Indemnification Agreement.

The Tawana Brawley Farce

This is all we need. They want to reopen the Tawana Brawley "case", which was nothing but a lie. There are only 2 reasons for the family to reopen this hoax: they want money, or they want publicity. Let's hope they get neither, and that this story fades back into the obscurity it so deserves.

"Give Thanks For America"

Mark Steyn suggests that the world should give thanks for America. Of course, this will never happen, and the media doesn't like to report anything that doesn't criticize this country. But one of the many reasons the world should be grateful is this: " ... on this Thanksgiving the rest of the world ought to give thanks to American national sovereignty, too. When something terrible and destructive happens – a tsunami hits Indonesia, an earthquake devastates Pakistan – the United States can project itself anywhere on the planet within hours and start saving lives, setting up hospitals and restoring the water supply." When do you ever see anyone else rushing to our aid?

Haveil Havalim #141 is Up!

The Save Israel Edition of Haveil Havalim #141 is up at Yid With Lid.

Enough With the Christmas Music Already!

For me, this really is "the most annoying time of the year". MUST we endure continual Christmas music every minute of each day until December 25?!

Historic Photos

If you're a Lincoln buff or just love history, visit Betsy's Page to see some wonderful photographs.

Good Reading

Soccer Dad is juggling carnivals, always the source for good reading. Also, check out these Watcher's Council links. They're watching so we don't have to.

Just When You Thought You'd Heard it All...

PLEASE tell me that this complete lunacy is a bad joke:

"SYDNEY (AFP) - Santas in Australia's largest city have been told not to use Father Christmas's traditional "ho ho ho" greeting because it may be offensive to women, it was reported Thursday. Sydney's Santa Clauses have instead been instructed to say "ha ha ha" instead, the Daily Telegraph reported.One disgruntled Santa told the newspaper a recruitment firm warned him not to use "ho ho ho" because it could frighten children and was too close to "ho", a US slang term for prostitute."

To which lengths will the politically correct morons go to ruin every facet of life? And why don't the majority of people ever fight back?

Words of Wisdom from Iraq

Here is the truth as spoken by an Iraqi citizen:

"Frankly, I don't understand why so many mock us for wanting a future for Iraq. Is your hatred for George Bush so great that you prefer to see millions of civilians suffer just to prove him wrong? It really comes down to this: you are determined to see Iraq become a permanent hellhole because you hate Bush. And we are determined to see Iraq become a success, because we want to live"

A Rainy Night in Georgia

Georgians are praying for rain to end their terrible drought, and of course the atheists are up in arms. How does this possibly hurt anyone? And why must a minority always put a damper (no pun intended) on everything?

Horse Sense!

What a relief to find a positive story for a change!

"FREDONIA, Kan. — When rancher Bill Inman decided to show there's more to America than what's seen on the nightly news, he hopped on his horse Blackie and started riding. And riding, and riding. Weary of the daily drumbeat over war, crime, poverty and assorted social ills, he and his wife are burning through their life savings to tell the stories of hardworking, honest everyday people in rural America. Inman soaks it all in atop Blackie, a 16-year thoroughbred-quarter horse mix who's averaging 20-25 miles a day along backroads from Oregon to North Carolina."

Revolting Comparison

Neal Boortz reports, "The head of the Muslim Council of Britain warns that the UK must be careful how it handles terrorism and Islamic culture if it wants to avoid recreating a society similar to Nazi Germany. Yeah ... we want to blow you up, and if you try to keep us from killing you then you're just like the Nazis." The entire outrageous story is here.

VETERANS DAY 2007

In this excellent editorial, Jonathan David Perez says something we hear too rarely these days: "I support troops all the way": "I support the military. No matter what branch, our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line for all Americans -- even those who may not appreciate their sacrifice. I love my freedom, and the men and women who fight for it are my heroes."

Haveil Havalim #140 is Up!

Haveil Havalim #140 is up at Life in Israel. And when you're done reading those wonderful posts, don't forget to visit Soccer Dad, the creator of Haveil Havalim.

Kristallnach

Yid With Lid discusses the anniversary of Kristallnach:

"Kristallnach: 69 Years Ago and Nothing Has Changed. Throughout the world we remember Kristallnach, the night the Nazis began the Holocaust in earnest. Its amazing how little has changed in almost seven decades. Arab countries fill their children's textbooks with anti Jewish Hatred. Islamic Clerics call for the death of Jews. In Germany Anti-Semitism is making a comeback. And much of the world believes that Much of the word has found a more polite way to be anti-semitic. They don't hate Jews just the Zionists. They use the same anti-Jewish stereotypes against the "Zionists" that the Nazis used.This year the Libel about Jews controlling US Foreign Policy was spread by ex-Jew Bob Novak, ex-President Jimmy Carter, ex-Professor Norman Finkelstein, a Jew who helped the Nazis George Soros, Professors John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt and Congressman Moran. In Britain British Jews Forced into 'Hiding', In the US 1 out of 7 Hate Jews, Even in NY: Anti-Jewish Hate Crimes Spike in NY City. Hatred came from religious groups such as Society of St. Pius X The Anti-Semitic Hate Group That Pressured Pope for Old Mass , Polish Media Magnate Father" Rydzyk, Louis Farrakhan Bishop Tutu and Al Sharpton. Perhaps the worst of the recent hatred came from our own. Self-hating Jews who encouraged others to join them in their hatred. People and groups like Muzzelwatch, The NY Times, Haaretz, Jeff Halper, Ken Roth, George Soros and Norman Finkelstein. Sadly it seems that in the almost seventy years since the night of broken glass, nothing has changed and very little has been learned."

"Take Time to Salute"

This editorial reminds us that Veterans Day is more than just another day off. It's something we should do without having to be told.

"On Sunday, Veterans Day, take time to salute....To mark it appropriately, when you see someone you know is a veteran on the street, in a shopping mall, take the time to say 'Thank you' and, if you're so inclined, a salute would be welcome. You'll be showing your appreciation not only to them, but to the thousands who went before them and who now sleep in graves at home and in foreign lands, many under a long line of markers testifying to their sacrifice for freedom."

"If...You Must" - 11/8/07 edition

If you're forgetful like I am, you must read Soccer Dad's "If...You Must" anyway!

Still More Rockets on Sderot

Rubicon3 has it absolutely right:

"The Same News Every Day. I see reports of Palestinian rocket fire from Gaza into Israel on a daily basis. It is rarely, if ever, reported in the US media"

Of course not, because Israelis are the victims here. If Israelis were attacking Palestinians, you'd see plenty of media coverage here.

Yiddish

This is wonderful poem about the Yiddish language, by Linda Reck, a retired teacher from the Bronx. And this one really brought back memories!

Dumb Democrat Quote of the Day

The Democrats hate to admit when there's positive news. So they look for novel excuses to explain any good news. But what David Obey said takes the cake: "Congressman David Obey (D-WI) has a novel explanation for the large drop in casualties in Iraq. He believes that the terrorists and sectarian thugs are running out of people to kill: 'There are fewer targets of opportunity,' Obey said in a speech to the National Press Club."

Amusing Headline of the Day

Africa gets it: "Rwanda: Spare Us the Traumatic Experience of Paris Hilton"

The Political Incorrectness of Christmas

(Or should I say "____________mas"?) Well, it's time once again for anti-Christmas political correctness! The year wouldn't be complete without stories like this:

"A special task force in a Colorado city has recommended banning red and green lights at the Christmas holiday because they fall among the items that are too religious for the city to sponsor."

Would someone please explain to me how the colors red and green are "too religious"?

House of Cads

Is the House crazy? Don't they have anything better to do? This has to be a case of Cheney Derangement Syndrome: "Cheney Impeachment Resolution Sent to House Committee"

The Heeb 100

Metafilter links to Heeb Magazine's Heeb 100. "They’re young, smart and innovative... and oh yeah, they also happen to be Jewish."

It's Santa's Fault!

I just saw this topic discussed on Neil Cavuto's show on Fox: does Santa need to slim down to set a good example for kids? Oh, spare me. Santa has always been chubby, as in "Twas The Night Before Christmas" ("He had a broad face and a little round belly, that shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.") -- but on the other hand, children HAVEN'T always been obese, and parents haven't always avoided responsibility! It's so easy to blame everyone else -- but isn't this a bit ridiculous?

Art Online

This is a nice story today: "A 16 billion pixel image version of Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper painting has been produced and posted on the internet. This will give art lovers a detailed view of the work dating back to the 15th Century. You can visit 16 billion pixel image version at www.haltadefinizione.com"

The Flag-Folding Story, continued

I was thinking about that flag-folding controversy again today. How is it that just one petty individual's complaints can bring the Veterans Administration to its knees? Why didn't they just ignore him? Instead of banning the whole ceremony, let those offended parties opt out of it, rather than ruining tradition for the majority of Americans. It's a moving ceremony we've all seen during the funerals of Presidents, for example. From what I heard, this lone whiner was offended by these particular words: "The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." What is so politically incorrect about that?

Haveil Havalim #139 is Up!

It's time for Haveil Havalim #139,hosted by A Mother In Israel.

Good Economy = Bad News

Rubicon3 mentions the optimistic Larry Kudlow, who says: "Message to all you worrywarts out there: The U.S. economy remains strong. There is no recession ahead. Goldilocks rules." I had read another Kudlow piece the other day, appropriately titled "If Things are So Bad, Why Are They So Good?" He said, " I wish somebody would give this economy—the greatest-story-never-told—just a little credit. The fact is that stock prices are hovering near record highs, inflation is coming down, growth is going up, and jobs are going up." But it seems the mainstream media isn't interested in reporting the good news -- and enjoys reporting the bad.

Our Friends the Iranians

Read Bill Levinson's comments on the news that "Senator Barack Obama said he would 'engage in aggressive personal diplomacy' with Iran if elected president, and would offer economic inducements and a possible promise not to seek 'regime change' if Iran stopped meddling in Iraq and cooperated on terrorism and nuclear issues."

Politically Correct Aliens

I agree with what Neal Boortz has to say about political correctness and illegal aliens: "I’m so sick to death of the politically correct 'undocumented worker' or 'undocumented immigrant' crap. They crossed the border illegally, they remain here illegally, they work here illegally, and we pay them off with this 'undocumented' nonsense. They’re ILLEGALS. Call them what they are! Calling an illegal alien an 'undocumented worker' is like calling your neighborhood heroin dealer an 'unlicensed pharmacist.'"

Outrage on Campus

Here's proof of the vile hypocrisy on campus. It's not okay to have Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week, but this IS okay? "A University of Oregon 'peace group' called the Pacifica Forum is planning to remember the Nazi atrocity of Kristallnacht this year with two days of speeches and conferences led by a neo-Nazi Holocaust denier. Yes, really."

A is for Asinine

This is yet another reason I am thankful to have been born in the 50's and to have attended school for the purpose of being educated academically: "Yoga classes are now a requirement for Needham high school seniors. To further ease the supposed burden on overworked students, Richards has 'asked teachers to schedule homework-free weekends and holidays.'"

Happy Halloween, Boys and Ghouls!

Flag Frenzy

Why must everything that's decent and honorable in this country be criticized or destroyed? Who does this tradition possibly hurt?

Oldies and Goodies

When you see how lazy kids are today, then you read an article like this about 80+ year old newspaper carriers, you know they don't make 'em like that any more!

Heartwarming News

Crossing the Rubicon3 has a wonderful story you certainly won't hear about on the network news: "Iraqi Army officers in Besmaya raised a thousand dollars in donations for fire victims in San Diego, California, and the only place that seems to have reported the story is the military blog OPFOR"

Good Question!

Mitch Albom asks: "When did adults start dressing for Halloween?" I am turned off by this, too. It used to be a treat for kids. Now, I turn off the light and stop handing out candy when I start seeing more adults and sullen teens than children.

Department of Homeland Insecurity

This is sure chummy: "Gov. Eliot Spitzer said Sunday that his new plan to make it easier for illegal immigrants to get driver's licenses while creating one of the most secure licenses in the nation is the result of conversations with an old friend, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. Spitzer said he has known Chertoff for more than 10 years, going back to Spitzer's life as a prosecutor and before, when Chertoff's wife went to Harvard Law School with Spitzer."

No Such Thing as a Free Lunch

Boy, do I ever agree with the sentiment in this article about entitlements, especially this:

"The fact is, there are many things in this world which would be good for us, but we accept that we cannot afford them, and move on with our lives. For instance, it would have been good for me to be able to attend an Ivy League college, but my family couldn’t pay the bill. It would be good for me (and my circulation) if I could afford to fly first-class, but I can’t, so I ride in economy and stand up every half hour or so to stretch my legs. It would be good for me to eat steak every night (all right, maybe not good for me, but very tasty), yet I eat ramen about three nights a week and steak maybe once a month because it suits my budget better. I even think it would be good for me to be riding in a 2008 BMW instead of a 1996 Saturn, but my checkbook says otherwise. This used to be called living within one’s means. Today, it is called being a chump. I don’t care what they call it. The fact of the matter is there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch. All of that 'free' health care is costing somebody plenty. If you want that somebody to be you, then call your senators and congressman and tell them to vote for national health insurance and send the bill to your house. But opt me out. I can’t afford it."

And it's not only health care, it's everything.

Haveil Havalim #138 is Up!

Dependable Soccer Dad is hosting Haveil Havalim #138, where you'll find many interesting blog posts related to Judaism and Israel.

Are YOU Aware?

Here's some information on Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week. Incorrect University has some great links. FrontPage Magazine reports on the disgusting reception given David Horowitz at Emory U. If you haven't already been aware of Islamo-Fascism, this description of its apologists, appeasers, and antisemites will make you aware:

"As soon as Horowitz was introduced, protesters began their efforts with loud boos and chants of 'Heil Hitler.' Despite the people who stood with their backs to Horowitz and the shouting of obscenities and other remarks from audience members, Horowitz attempted to deliver his speech that covered academic freedom and radical Islam. Considering the actions of the audience and the problem of universities only giving students half the story, Horowitz asked the audience, 'How can you learn if you can’t see the arguments?' This event was a perfect example of the left’s intolerance to other points of view."

Funny how it's still okay for Muslims on campus to preach hatred against Jews and call for the destruction of Israel; but not okay for anyone to point out the evils of Islamo-Fascism. Then they whine about "Islamophobia". Well, maybe if they hadn't attacked the USS Cole, the Khobar Towers, the World Trade Center in 1993, the African Embassy, the World Trade Towers & Pentagon in 2001...need I go on?

"Viva Californians!"

Lemon Lime Moon celebrates the basic decency of Californians as the fires rage: "Californians are showing what Americans are made of... stern tough stuff...when disaster strikes. (New Orleans was an aberration) Over 500,000 people are evacuated in California, peacefully and without trouble or rancor. No violence, no looting, just cooperation and calm. There is so much help from average citizens with food and supplies for those evacuated that it is being turned away and some going to waste from overabundance!...All of this wonderful news about the true spirit of America and Californians is not making the headlines. It isn't juicy enough for the evil media."

Jews in the Military

Jews in Green links to this interesting article about Jews in the military. It's another reason to feel proud.

Scapegoats

Smooth Stone gives us this column by the terrific Victor Davis Hanson, titled "Looking for scapegoat, world again turns to Jews". Nothing ever changes, does it?

Good Links from Soccer Dad

Soccer Dad is juggling carnivals with his usual great success. And here are the latest Watchers Council nominations, from Watcher of Weasels.

It's Bush's Fault!

I heard about this on the radio last night and thought it was a pretty low blow, even for the Democrats:

"Well, you knew this just had to happen. Fires are devastating California from North of Los Angeles down to San Diego. Hundreds of thousands of people have had to flee their homes. Disaster is an understatement. So along comes MoveOn Moonbat Senator Barbara Boxer to announce who is to blame. And who would that be? Why none other than George Bush. It would seem that President Bush has taken the time off from killing children and becoming amused as our servicemen are killed in Iraq to plot these fire strategies for California. And just how is this all Bush's fault? Why, he sent all of those California National Guardsmen to Iraq .... For his amusement, of course."

(Actually, they have an arson suspect under investigation right now.)

Red Cross Needs Your Help

To donate money to the victims of the devastating California wildfires visit the Red Cross by phone: 1-800-435-7669; or at www.redcross.org

More Celebrity Antisemitism

My, isn't this amusing. Apologizing after the fact just doesn't help.

October 23, 2007 -- HALLE Berry was apologizing last night after she'd made an apparent anti-Semitic joke while taping "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" Friday afternoon. The Oscar-winning star, on the show to promote her movie "Things We Lost in the Fire," was showing Leno and his audience images of herself on her computer using the Mac program Photo Booth, which distorts images like a carnival fun-house mirror. According to one audience member, "She introduced the first photo by saying, 'Here's where I look like my Jewish cousin!' - it was a picture of her with a huge, distorted nose. No one laughed, and Jay nervously said, 'I'm glad you said that and not me.' When the show aired, they cut out her 'Jewish' comment and added a laugh track to the bit."

Republican Debate

National Review summarizes last night's Republican debate. "Everybody Was Good; Fred, Rudy, and Huck Were Best". And everyone is talking about McCain's clever line: "McCain won the debate with a single line. Talking about the fact he wasn't able to attend the Woodstock rock festival back in 1969, McCain said: 'I was tied up at the time.' Wow. A subtle reference to his time as a POW in the 'Hanoi Hilton' that the crowd slowly but surely caught on to and eventually rewarded McCain with an extended standing ovation."

Jewish Conservatism

Richard Baehr explains why he is a Jewish conservative. Among other reasons: "It seems obvious to me that the Jewish future is in Israel, and the protection of Israel has to be a primary concern of American Jews. I am a conservative at this moment, because I sense greater understanding of Israel's peril among conservative Jews than among liberal Jews, who sometimes seem embarrassed by Israel, and think it is Israel that has been the principal obstacle to achieving peace with the Palestinians and it neighbors."

Haveil Havalim #137 is Up!

Look at all the work that went into Haveil Havalim #137, over at Esser Agaroth.

"Just Say Nu"

Here's a fun article on making Yiddish part of your daily life. I already use it daily, and my gentile co-workers always ask me what certain words mean. The other day one told me that couldn't remember the word for 'busybody' or 'gossip', so I referred to a certain talkative co-worker as a 'yenta', and then she immediately understood!

I'm Positive

The media would rather not report positive news, so as Rich Tucker puts it, there's been a depressing lack of bad news.

A Real Shot in the Arm

This is unbelievable. Drug addicts might get their own "safe injection rooms" in San Francisco (where else?!), but meanwhile, people with diseases can't get the painkillers they desperately need. Will alcoholics demand their own "safe drinking rooms", and will pedaphiles ask for their own "safe pornography rooms" next?

Fat Chance

This is yet another example of the lack of any individual responsibility, and the constant excuse-making for every behavior:

"Obesity epidemic in Britain blamed on society: According to a new report by a government think-tank in Britain the current obesity epidemic is the result of modern life and individuals cannot be blamed for being obese due to overeating and lack of exercise."

How long will it be before obese people are considered "disabled" and collect disability payments?

Deborah Kerr

I just heard that the great actress Deborah Kerr has died. She herself said, in reference to "An Affair to Remember", "I think I understand what women see in the movie. There is a sweetness that is appealing and far removed from today's crudities. It makes them realize that the world has lost something delightful." That statement could describe so many of the movies from the past, especially as compared to "today's crudities."

Middle School Birth Control

This is just unbelievable. Our society continues to go crazy:

"In the end, it wasn't even close. The Portland School Committee voted 7 to 2 last night to allow the health center at the King Middle School in Portland, Maine, to offer birth control prescriptions to its students, who range in age from 10 to 15. Dr. Pat Patterson, the medical director of School-Based Health Services in Portland said she was 'thrilled' with the vote. 'The past few days have been very distressing and very difficult for the school. People have been really charged up against us. But I'm happy with the vote.'"

What on earth is there to be "thrilled" about?

"Just Call It Halloween"

Here is a good response to the insidious political correctness that seems to be getting worse: "A County Council member -- outraged that some schools have ditched the name of the traditional holiday in favor of 'Orange and Black Day' or fall festival -- submitted a resolution calling for a uniform celebration of Halloween in county public schools. 'I just think this political correctness thing has gone too far,' said council member C. Edward Middlebrooks (R-Severna Park). 'We have some schools calling it 'Harvest Day.' What are we even harvesting these days? Let's call it what it is, and let the kids be kids.'"

More Hilarycare

Here's Hilary Clinton's latest proposal. She's certainly pandering to every group, isn't she? When will the Republicans stop attacking one another and start going after HER instead?
(Cartoon by Ramirez)

Games for the Brain

I rarely play games online, but this is a good memory game, from the website Games for the Brain.

Good Reading

Soccer Dad is carnival-juggling again.

The War Against The Jews

Israpundit links to this enlightening video presentation from the Terrorism Awareness Project called Jimmy Carter's War Against the Jews. Of course, it's not only Jimmy Carter -- there is no shortage of influential Anti-Semites who feel the same way he does! It's a must-see video. Unfortunately, the Anti-Semites won't be watching.

"A Dispiriting GOP Field"

Rich Lowry has a very good analysis of the Republican Presidential candidates, and it's just the way I feel: "Is this it? That’s the question that hangs over the Republican presidential field, and the answer is, 'Yes, this is it — no shining conservative on a white horse, no new Ronald Reagan, is arriving to re-make this race.'"

Haveil Havalim #136 is Up!

Haveil Havalim #136 is up over at Soccer Dad, who is the founder of this great Jewish and Israel-themed blog carnival. In case you don't remember how HH began, please check out Soccer Dad's Haveil Havalim #1 from December 19, 2004.

New York, New York!

Here's a great tribute, thanks to Atlas Shrugs, who comments, "Before New York was attacked and the Empire State went Hamas green."

Advice for the GOP

Israpundit's Ted Belman has advice for the Republicans. I agree they have to find their spine and do SOMETHING before it's too late. "To my mind if the GOP would adopt a politically incorrect posture and campaign on ending the Islamic threat not only to our lives but to our culture, it would be a winning ticket."

More Ugliness at Columbia

Opinion Journal's Best of the Web Today reports on recent disgraceful incidents at Columbia University involving a swastika and a noose, and the marked difference in the responses to them.

Driving Me Crazy

Am I the only one who doesn't find this sort of story particularly amusing? It seems to be an epidemic lately, and I think the parents should be charged in every case: "OMRO, Wis. -- A 3-year-old Wisconsin boy is stuck at home without keys to his battery-powered Mustang GT after taking a joy ride along a busy stretch of highway in Omro Sunday morning."

Reading, Writing, 'Rithmetic & Rifles

Here we go once again. Yet another teen thug was planning a school massacre. Unbelievably, one of the weapons in his arsenal was an assault rifle purchased for him by his own "mother"! More excuses and explanations are being offered, including this one by the Montgomery County, PA District Attorney: "I do not think an attack was imminent and I am not certain that an attack was going to occur at all," Castor said. "It could have simply been big talking by a kid who thought that he was bullied previously and he was going to exact his revenge." Right.

"Socialist Stupidity" Card

Image from Nealz Nuze

Dan Brainless

I heard about this on the radio last night. Dan Bartlett is a moron; does anyone besides him actually think this way about Huckabee? And are people really that stupid that they allow a candidate's NAME to influence their vote? "...Mike Huckabee has many things going for him. He has experience as a former governor (a position that has put 4 of the last 5 presidents into office), is from the South (one of only two regions that has produced successful Presidential candidates since 1964), and arguably has the most experience of any Republican running for President. However, according to former White House Counselor Dan Bartlett, the candidate has a terrible last name. Bartlett argued that the name Huckabee sounds too much like 'Hick.'"

Mallomars!

It's the season for Mallomars, and here's a great old article about "Mallomar memories".

Double Standard Democrats

Newsbusters, a terrific website whose mission is "exposing and combating liberal media bias", points out another Dem double standard I noticed right away. If you believe the mainstream media, Republicans are always wrong about everything, but Democrats are always right.

"Liberals: "Bush 9/11 Ads Stink, But Hillary's Are 'Excellent Strategy'. Remember the media having fits over a Bush for President ad using images of 9/11 in 2004? Now Hillary is exploiting her own heroic breathing-apparatus tale from the 9/11 site in a commercial, and the media aren’t so outraged. But at least Matt Lauer brought it up on Monday morning's Today when Arianna Huffington started lecturing Rudy Giuliani for tragedy exploitation. Laura Ingraham was quick to poke Arianna for a double standard: HUFFINGTON: I think he should stop running just on 9/11. You know this kind of running theme, especially when you have firefighters and you have rescue workers and their families challenging his leadership after 9/11."

Good Question

Meryl Yourish asks, "Can we stop pretending that denying Israel the right to nationhood is anti-Semitic now, or do we still have to pretend that people who want an end to the Jewish State aren’t anti-Semites?"

Yet Another Reason Not to Vote for Hilary Clinton

I thought this had to be a joke, but it isn't. The Republicans should make hay out of this: "Sandy Berger, who stole highly classified terrorism documents from the National Archives, destroyed them and lied to investigators, is now an adviser to presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton."

Death Obsession

Mark Steyn amusingly demolishes cable news channels' favorite conspiracy theory: that Princess Diana was murdered because her boyfriend was a Muslim. When you have nothing better to report, and you want high ratings, this story always seems to do the trick.

Haveil Havalim #135 is Up!

HH, hooray! Get ready for lots of good reading, because Haveil Havalim #135 is up at Soccer Dad!

"Prank" of the Day

Here is the "prank" of the month, so far. Isn't this amusing? Today, everything is explained away, forgiven, excused, so I am eager to hear how this plays out.

The three Loyola University students arrested this week in connection with the attempted robberies of several people near the university apparently were not after money but were engaged in some type of misguided hoax, according to police reports detailing the incidents. In each of the incidents, the students -- two freshmen and a junior -- allegedly flashed fake handguns at their victims and demanded money. But when it came time for a wallet or purse to be handed over, court records state that the students passed on the opportunity, saying, "We are just playing." Then the trio drove away, laughing, records say.

Marion Jones

What a disappointment to hear Marion Jones confess to using steroids. It's so disillusioning, especially when you are old enough to remember a time when athletes actually competed and won on the strength of their own natural ability.

"It was never easy keeping up with the Joneses and today the reason became clear. In one of the most seismic confessionals of a sport long tainted by liars and cheats, Marion Jones admitted she had taken steroids before her five-medal haul at the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000. She faces up to six months in jail."

Our Friends in Iran

More hatred from Iran. But it's more important for our Senators to condemn Rush Limbaugh. Little Green Footballs writes, "I'm sure glad that Islam is a Religion of Peace, hijacked by a few extremists who misunderstand everything about it. Otherwise there might have been millions of people in the streets of Iran, shouting 'Death to America!' In the capital Teheran, hundreds of thousands of people poured into the streets as they chanted 'Death to America' and 'Death to Israel.' Some protesters also burned American and Israeli flags."

Selective Outrage and Democrat Hypocrisy

Here's a great column about the Democrats' selective outrage over support for our troops. They really should be ashamed.

Carnival - Juggling Time!

Soccer Dad is juggling carnivals again!

"The Incurable Disease"

This is another excellent column by Jackie Mason and Raoul Felder, and in it they ask the same question I always do: "Isn't it amazing that after committing so many acts of violence all over the world, not only are the Muslims not suffering for it, but actually the reverse has happened? They are the ones being treasured, respected, and venerated while every one is bowing to them in cowardly fear of the next possible attack. The Jews merely have to exist in order to generate ant-Semitism. Anti-Semites hated the Jews when they had nothing, and now they hate the Jews because of the claim that they have everything. No matter what the reason and even if it can't be called a reason, it becomes reason enough to hate a Jew."

Taxpayer Apathy

Where's the taxpayer outrage over stories like this?

"LA County has released figures which outline the actual cost of illegal immigrants. Remember that these figures are just for Los Angeles County and they are just for one month. In the month of July, illegal immigrants and their families collected over $35 million in welfare and food stamps. $20 million in welfare and $15 million in food stamps. The estimated annual cost of illegal immigrants in LA County -- $440 million."

I resent supporting LEGAL citizens, so I certainly wouldn't want to foot the bill for illegals as well!

Good News is No News

Instapundit reports some good news, via Investor's Business Daily, that the media would rather not discuss.

'Bad Manners' & The Iranian Nazi

Excuse me, but I really don't understand Americans who think like this woman in a letter to USA Today:

"Apology for 'bad manners' - Alexandra Bonifield - Dallas - I have to give President Ahmadinejad a hand. In response to the rude behavior by Columbia University President Lee Bollinger, Iran's leader held his ground. I don't understand many of Ahmadinejad's espoused beliefs, but I don't condone blatant bad manners from a university president who had invited him to speak. Imagine President Bush being invited to speak before a crowd at a major Iranian university. How would Americans feel if he was then taunted by his host? I would not have blamed Ahmadinejad if he had quietly risen from his seat and left Columbia. He had every right to do so. If I had to choose between dining with Ahmadinejad or Bush, I'd select the former. The conversation would be fascinating, illuminating. My apologies to Ahmadinejad for Bollinger's bad manners. We have few real leaders here to set good examples."

Terror Torpor

Here is another example of dangerous political correctness. Better to hide identifying features from the public than to risk offending the terrorists. "A suspect in the Islamic terror plot to attack the Frankfurt airport is reported to be on the loose in the UK. The Brits aren’t releasing any pictures of the suspect, of course; that might lead to Islamophobia."

"Pandering Politics at its Worst".

My pal Diane just told me about Hillary and her "baby bonds". Captain's Quarters has more, via Free Republic:

"Hillary Clinton decided to create another entitlement program for her cradle-to-grave nanny state vision. In her address to the Congressional Black Caucus, Hillary said she'd like to spend $20 billion each year on checks to newborn infants. 'I like the idea of giving every baby born in America a $5,000 account that will grow over time, so that when that young person turns 18 if they have finished high school they will be able to access it to go to college or maybe they will be able to make that downpayment on their first home,' she said. Where does Hillary plan to get that money? It's easy to talk about writing checks, but the federal budget already runs in the red, especially on entitlements. If we talk about spending even more money that we don't have, why stop at $5,000? John McCain wondered aloud in his blogger conference call whether $100,000 wouldn't sound more compassionate, as long as we didn't talk about how we plan to pay for the program. This represents pandering politics at its worst. Want to get votes for an election? Promise to buy people off with free money! It takes the worst instincts of Norman Hsu to suggest yet another entitlement Ponzi scheme to get elected to office. The company Hillary keeps has started to rub off on her."

Will her $5,000 per baby include babies born to illegal aliens? THAT alone should inspire a new flood of immigrants if she is elected. Why should we hard-working citizens continually be taxed to death to support everyone else? And what exactly are parents responsible for these days, anyway? They seem to do less and less while expecting others to do more and more.

Crazy for Hillary

According to the New York Post, George McGovern will endorse Hillary Clinton. The thought of another Clinton presidency
gets more nauseating by the day.

How They Stand

Rubicon3 mentioned this helpful chart showing where the Presidential candidates stand on the important issues.

You Say Bagel, I Say Bagels

A blog with the wonderful name of The Jew & The Carrot links to this amusing Jewish Daily Forward article on language.

Up In Smoke

Read about the Canadian solution to Muslim depression, at Nealz Nuze. I thought this was a bad joke at first, but it's yet another example of politically correct kowtowing.

Celebrity "Experts"

Greg Crosby has a terrific column about the annoying propensity of today's celebrities to give their opinions on politics: "I don't know if Red Skelton was a Democrat or a Republican. I don't know how Desi Arnaz voted in presidential elections. I haven't a clue how Nat King Cole felt about the Korean War. And I'm glad. It's a funny thing, but somehow Sammy Davis Jr., Lucille Ball, Bing Crosby, Jack Benny, Perry Como, George Burns, Doris Day, Steve and Edie and all of the other great entertainers who made frequent appearances on television years ago, did so without feeling a need to spew out their personal politics to millions of viewers. Boy, how things have changed!"

Too Little, Too Late

Via Nealz Nuze, here's news that Congress denounced Ahmadinejad yesterday. But I would much rather have had President Bush denounce him in his speech at the U.N. The impact of that public rebuke would have distracted somewhat from the nauseating and overwhelming free publicity that "Adolf Jr." (as Sean Hannity called him) has been receiving since last week.

Sickening Speeches

I am very upset that President Bush squandered a perfect opportunity to lambaste the Iranian Nazi at the United Nations today. He spoke about Burma the way he should have spoken about Iran. What a waste. Meanwhile, Ted Belman at Israpundit sums up Ahmedinejad's U.N. speech:

"Ahmedinejad gave a very good speech. He was long on platitudes and short on truth or facts. The West was blamed for everything, Iran or Islam for nothing. He provided great fodder to the left in the world and I am sure they will be strengthened by his words. He pitted the unaligned and underdeveloped world against the imperialist world and gave notice that the the time of domination is over. I am sure that he provided the English translation which kept referring to God rather than Allah implying that we pray to the same God. Not so. Allah is not God. Neither is Ahmedinejad. At least at Columbia he got what for. Columbia as an issues pales in comparison to the power of his speech. "