The Boston-based Gillette Company reportedly spent over a million dollars having free samples of their razors placed in each of the welcome bags handed out to attendees of the Democratic National Convention in Boston. Only one problem... they were immediately confiscated by security as the attendees tried to enter the convention area. Doh!
My sweetie and I moved a step closer to that big event this weekend. I asked for and received approval from her Dad to pop the question. Looking for rings now, so it's just a matter of time!
For the ten people who haven't seen this yet, here's Bush and Kerry singing about why they will be elected. It's absolutely hilarious...
Former Clinton administration National Security Advisor Samuel "Sandy" Berger was witnessed stuffing classified national security documents in his socks and pants, then illegally removing them from the National Archives. Some of the missing papers were later found in Berger's home by FBI agents executing a search warrant. Other papers apparently were destroyed.
Berger has called it an "honest mistake". Sure... we all accidentally shove classified papers into our clothing on a daily basis. Could'a happened to any of us!
Democratic apologists have come forward to defend Berger, claiming the investigation is timed to detract from the 9/11 report (which really didn't criticize President Bush) or the Democratic convention. The mainstream media has made tremednous attempts to avoid the story entirely. Fortunately, the US Justice Department isn't letting it go. Neither are Republican members of Congress.
Said Sen. Saxby Chambliss, (R-Georgia): “I deal with classified documents every single day. We know better, and Sandy Berger knew better... And for gosh sakes, Sen. Kerry knows better than to utilize those documents in any way. And we think it needs to be called into question as to whether or not they have.”
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), called Berger's actions on Tuesday a "third-rate burglary" and a "gravely, gravely serious" threat to national security.
House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) said he is "profoundly troubled" by the allegations. "What could those documents have said that drove Mr. Berger to remove them without authorization from a secure reading room for classified documents? What information could be so embarrassing that a man with decades of experience in handling classified documents would risk being caught pilfering our nation's most sensitive secrets?
"Did these documents detail simple negligence or did they contain something more sinister? Was this a bungled attempt to rewrite history and keep critical information from the 9-11 Commission and potentially put their report under a cloud?
"Mr. Berger has a lot of explaining to do. He was given access to these documents to assist the 9-11 Commission, not hide information from them. The American people and the 9-11 families don't want cover-ups when it comes to the War on Terror. They want the truth. And so does the U.S. House of Representatives."
Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) questioned Berger's motivation for the thefts, "What in heaven's name was he thinking? What is so important that he would risk both his reputation and prosecution to remove these documents? What's there to hide? There is no one with his experience who can claim that these are the actions of an absent-minded employee. Sandy Berger knows better."
Shortly after the news broke about Berger's taking of classified documents, the John Kerry campaign removed the candidate's anti-terrorism plans from the campaign web site, fueling speculation that some of the classified material was either a part of those plans, or had profoundly influenced them.
It's encouraging to hear that members of Congress are asking questions, and that the Justice Department isn't walking away from the issue. The media might not want to cover the story, but as long as people in power pursue it, the media can't make it go away. Fortunately, we have Fox News, Joe Scarborough at MSNBC, Limbaugh, Hannity, Boortz, NewsMax, WorldNetDaily and the Wall Street Journal to keep issues like tis at the forefront.
We now have a date for Dad's next (and hopefully last) surgery. He will be going to Emory again for surgery on August 6th, two weeks from today. If all goes well, he will be cancer-free. Following a couple of months recovery, he can resume his normal life!
This time it was at the Aladdin Casino in Las Vegas, and the idiot entertainer who got political was Linda Ronstadt. You've probably already heard about it. During her performance she dedicated a song to Michael Moore, calling him a "patriot". The audience seemed to disapprove, and chaos ensued. She was escorted from the stage straight to her bus, and told not to return to the Aladdin.
Aladdin president Bill Timmins put it this way, "It was a very ugly scene... [Ronstadt] spoiled a wonderful evening for our guests and we had to do something about it... We live in a city where people come from all over the world to be entertained. We hired Ms. Ronstadt as an entertainer, not as a political activist. Whether you are politically on the left or on the right is not the point. She went up in front of the stage and just let it out. This was not the correct forum for that."
Interestingly enough, Ms. Ronstadt seems something of a hypocrite. In this interview with the Sand Diego Union-Tribune, she speaks about her audience's political views, "It's a real conflict for me when I go to a concert and find out somebody in the audience is a Republican or fundamental Christian. It can cloud my enjoyment. I'd rather not know."
Well, Linda, so would we. That's the reason most people wish you celebs would just shut up and sing.
Also during the interview, she offered up this nugget of wisdom about the good ol' USA: "I saw a movie recently about a camel and these people in Mongolia, and I relate to them better than people here in this country. It looks like (Germany's) Weimar Republic to me here."
So the US reminds Ms. Ronstadt of the Weimar Republic...
If I remember my early 20th century history, the Weimar Republic was an attempt at a democratic government, with a bicameral legislature and voting rights for all. It was assaulted by the ultra-liberal left (Communists and their ilk) and the ultra-nationalistic Nazis, who finally destroyed it.
I have to assume Ms. Ronstadt is comparing the current situation in the US with that of Germany, approximatley 1930. If so, logic dictates that she must be comparing the conservative Right in this country to that time period's Nazis.
The Communists then, like so much of the Left today, were ultra-liberal. The Weimar Republic itself was based on equality and fairness, so if she's alluding to that, she's saying that she disapproves of equality and fairness. Hence, she must be inferring that today's government leaders are like the Nazis of the 1930s.
Sorry Linda, but I haven't seen any concentration camps, gas chambers or incinerators for political dissidents. The only propoganda I see spewing forth in this country comes from Michael Moore, MoveOn.org, the Democratic Party, etc. The only restraints I've seen on free speech, expression or press have come from the liberal Left. The only source I see for the dumbing-down, apologizing, individuality-eliminating crap in this country is the Left.
(stepping down from my soapbox now...)
Here's a blog I highly recommend, especially for those conservatives among you from the Atlanta area. He calls himself Blind Pig, and his weblog is called Outside The Perimeter. Check it out...
It was too easy to predict this, and it's unfair to call attention to it, but I've gotta say... I told you so.
I said last week that we'd hear all sorts of absurd comments about the firing of Whoopi Goldberg. Let's see what people are saying...
Michael Paul Williams of the Richmond Times-Dispatch writes: "People who exercise their First Amendment right and criticize the Bush administration are liable to be called a traitor or a terrorist. The new political correctness calls for you to support the president - or else."
Sorry, Mr. Williams, this had nothing to do with President Bush. This had to do with tens of thousands of SlimFast customers who were offended and disgusted by the spokesperson hired by the company. The only sensible thing the company could do was let her go. It's about business, not politics, you idiot.
Diversity promoter Asa Khalif said, "I smell racism from beginning to end... SlimFast must realize that black women have every right to voice their views."
And, Mr. Khalif, SlimFast has every right to choose who they do and don't want representing their company. Apparently, they don't want a spokesperson who might alienate half their customer base.
On the other hand, the New York Daily News editorial page seems to have a clear idea of what's going on: "Whoopi Goldberg has every right to her embarrassingly witless political observations... And SlimFast has every right to dump a shill who's maybe not good for business... Goldberg is no victim. Just somebody who got rude and was asked to leave the table."
And one of my favorite comments comes from Paul Mulshine of the Newark, New Jersey Star-Ledger: "If this is now a country where diet- product companies are no longer enlisting artists and writers to pitch their products, then it is a better country than it was seven days ago. Perhaps we are making progress toward the day when no American who wishes to be taken seriously will ever be seen pitching a product."
Well, the makers of Slim-Fast have fired Whoopi Goldberg as their spokesperson, in response to her lewd and vulgar diatribe about President Bush. Now it's time for Ms. Goldberg and her liberal Hollywood cohorts to blame those evil Republicans for suppressing her right to free speech.
"See, if you speak out against this President, they'll come after you," she'll say.
"What happened to the First amendment? Freedom of speech?" some other knothead will ask.
"It's just like the Dixie Chicks, only worse because Whoopi is African-American," some civil rights leader will claim.
Mark my words, we will read or hear comments like this before the weekend is over. The sad part is so many Americans will agree. It seems like most people believe the First Amendment guarantees the freedom from consequences when someone speaks their mind. Just what does our Constitution say about free speech? Hmmm? Have you ever actually read the Constitution or the Bill Of Rights? Let's take a look at the First Amendment...
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
We as Americans have every right to express our feelings and opinions. No one can take that away. Ms. Goldberg has the God-given right to call President Bush anything and everything she wants. She can refer to him in any offensive or derogatory manner she'd like. Even the crude comments she made at the fundraiser in New York City are protected.
Here's the part that steams the libs' collective clams...
The rest of us have the right to call her an out-of-touch, Hollywood elitist, left-wing wacko.
The rest of us have the right to call her remarks offensive, insulting and ignorant.
And (here's the really good part) each of us has the right to send a letter to Slim-Fast saying we will not purchase their products so long as Ms. Goldberg continues to be their spokesperson.
Apparently enough people got pissed off and sent those letters, because Slim-Fast has dismissed her. Smart business move. Why would you risk alienating as much as half of your marketbase? You'd be foolish to do such a thing. Once her comments became public, the company really had no other option. They're not in the business of electing Presidents; they exist to make shakes and snack bars and, in turn, make a profit for their stockholders.
This is so reminiscent of the Dixie Chicks debacle from last year. Weenies on the lib left believe they have the right to speak their slanted little minds, but no one (and I mean NO ONE) has the right to say anything critical about their remarks. This is how the left operates, folks.
A Pot With A View
A public toilet surrounded entirely with one-way glass. Would you have the courage to use it? Those crazy Swiss!
Don't Smoke In A Porta-Potty
Flame + methane gas = BOOM! No serious injuries in West Virginia explosion.
Eight Legged Freaks
Our servicemen in Iraq have to watch out for the local indigenous spiders. These things are nasty!
The Forbidden Library
A very good resource on book-banning and censorship. Includes book lists, news,quotes, etc.
How Far Will A Nickel Get You? How About Jail!
A Washington State woman was overpaid unemployment compensation six years ago. The amount overpaid - five cents. The Washington Department of Employment Security demanded repayment of the debt, or a Superior Court summons would be issued. Gotta love bureaucracy.
Stupid Stick-up Artist
A bank robber in Rutherford, N.J., ordered the teller to call for a cab to take him to his getaway car, police said.
Baseball junkie that I am, I planted myself on the couch last night for the All-Star Game. Everything was great up until the National Anthem, sung by Fantasia Barrino from "American Idol". How in the heck did this girl win the American Idol contest? Her performance had to be one of the worst renditions of The Star-Spangled Banner I've ever heard. Ever.
If you missed it, and want to hear this disaster for yourself, click here, then scroll down and look for Fantasia under "More Headlines From Tuesday.".
Apparently I'm not the only one who thought it sucked. Here are some comments from around the Web...
"...she stunk. I mean she was horrible."
"She should have at least learned the words."
"...the National Anthem by Fantasia was horrible."
"...tonight's All-Star Game started with this piece of CRAP"
"Good grief, SSB may be hard to sing but its lyrics aren't THAT complicated, and if you're going to sing them on a nationally-televised stage, you'd better learn them."
"...screeched, screamed and sounded like an alley cat"
I could go on and on, but you get the picture...
An 18-year-old student at Princeton Senior High School in Princeton, West Virginia has been fighting to protect the rights of students to express their political views on school grounds. Bryan Henderson has faced brutal opposition from some faculty and students, but has held his ground. He's got the Constitution and US Supreme Court on his side, but the liberal faculty members, parents and students want to shut him up.
Check out his story, and see how the left wants to take free speech and expression out of public (government) schools. Bryan, keep fighting the good fight.
Thanks to the DrudgeReport for pointing out Kerry's "hands-on" style...
I spoke highly yesterday about Mozilla, the web browser I've just started using. I have quickly discovered one problem I'm trying to find a solution to. This blog doesn't display properly with Mozilla. The menu on the right side of the page doesn't display properly. It appears at the bottom of the page, below the last entry. It is the only problem I've found so far, so I still feel comfortable recommeding it.
Here's a great spoof trailer for Spider-Man 2, done using Lego blocks and stop-motion video. This is fantastic... Spider-Man 2: The Peril of Doc Ock (Lego Version)
The transfer of control in Iraq last week ushered in a new era in Middle East politics. Now there's a representative government, offering freedom and liberty, in the heart of the Arab world.
Most of the Middle East is governed by oppressive Muslim regimes. These regimes, along with most of the Muslim world, are at war with Western civilization. There sole ambition is to see the entire world under Muslim control. Don't believe me? Let's take a look, courtesy of professor, columnist and author Walter Williams.
"At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, several athletes were massacred. In 1979, the U.S. embassy in Tehran was taken over and 52 hostages held for more than a year. In 1983, U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut were blown up, killing 241 U.S. soldiers. In 1988, Pan Am flight 103 was bombed, killing 270 people. In 1993, there was the first bombing of the World Trade Center, and in 2001, it was reduced to rubble, killing more than 3,000 Americans. In 1998, U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed, resulting in more than 200 dead and 4,000 injured. Who are the people responsible for these and other wanton murders of innocents, including the recent barbaric beheading of two innocent men? They were all Muslims."
Tokin' On The Train
If you're going to carry 17 pounds of cocaine on Amtrak, it might be a good idea to not smoke marijuana on the train.
At Least He's Honest
When asked why he robbed and beat an 81-year-old man, an English crook replied, "Because I'm a bastard."
W Ketchup
Because sometimes you just don't want Heinz.
Those Crazy Canuks
A blind University of New Brunswick student is kicked out because his guide dog only understands French.
Better Wind From Down Under
The Australian Braodcasting Company has a website which includes a feature in which children are encouraged to take part in a "Great Fart Survey", a "Great Baked Beans Fart Experiment", to submit poetry about bodily functions, and to teach kids how to break wind more effectively.
Will A Grinch Tag Be Far Behind?
A campaign is underway in Massacusetts to bring the Cat In The Hat to the state's license plates.
Aside from my Dad's surgery, there's another reason I haven't been able to post much recently. The Windows ME operating system on my computer finally cracked. It's the first system failure I've ever experienced. With all the problems I experienced with ME, I decided to install Windows XP. What an experience!
The installation took two hours Tuesday night, most of which I was downstairs watching TV. I have to admit I like XP so far. The two biggest problems I've encountered... First, I was forced to uninstall and reinstall my Norton Antivirus, Firewall and System Works programs. No biggie, just time consuming. Second (and bigger), Outlook Express no longer works. I get an error when I try to open it. I've reloaded, uninstalled, reloaded, edited the registry, worked on tips from the web... nada. But, it's okay. I solved that problem, along with the security issued involved with Outlook Express and Internet Explorer by switching to Mozilla.
The look is almost identical to IE, functions flawlessly so far and seems more intuitive. Also, the Windows XP version (don't know about Mac OS X) includes an e-mail program that I like as well as Outlook Express.
It's just been a couple of days, but I recommed you check it out. Even if you haven't had any big problems with IE.
Dad went home today, only five days after his first surgery! He still has one more surgery, probably in a month or so. So far, everything's gone exactly as it should.
The surgery was Friday evening, and went according to plan. His doctor said he was the perfect patient. Recovery has gone well, and hopefully he'll be going home tomorrow. In a month or so they will go back in and remove the portions of his liver that have been affected, and hopefully that will be the end of this.
Thanks again for all the cals, e-mails, well-wishes and prayers. You all are great!
