In a few short hours, it will be 1:23.45 on 6.7.08. I know it’s not as momentous as that time on 6.7.89 was, but just the same, Happy 12345678 to any geeks who think about stuff like that!
Archive for June, 2008
D-Day
Jun 5th, 08
/ 0 Comments
In case you’re not a regular reader here and have chanced on the site and perhaps not been proud of this country in your lifetime until recently, we’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you’ve not heard or read about the invasion of Normandy, France, during World War II on June 6, 1944. Here’s a good, brief read on the event. (link) If you’re not too busy trying to “remake” the nation that led this invasion, there are some good books on it as well. I like Stephen Ambrose’s book on it.
This blogger did not have time to commemorate Memorial Day online. Don’t believe for a second that I didn’t say a prayer of thanks for every trooper who ever gave it all for my family to live in freedom. I just didn’t have the chance to blog it.
I pray every day for those who have fought, are fighting, and will fight to preserve our nation’s freedoms. I don’t think I have to have a special blog-post for that.
Anyway, for those who are historically retarded (and believe that history starts now), D-Day is one of the events that have helped toward perfecting a nation to the point that even historically and/or economically retarded people can get a shot at the Presidency!
John McCain’s Smile
Jun 5th, 08
/ 0 Comments
A lot of us on the libertarianish-right have some hard feelings toward Senator John McCain on some issues. I consider him boneheaded (*less-so than any opposing Democrat) on a number of issues. But these are fighting words (link). Absolutely despicable.
Say what you want about the guy, but can we agree on one thing? That making fun of a man’s teeth who had them broken out by his communist captors while Barack Obama’s father had already abandoned his progeny and was studying communism at Harvard and li’l Barack was playing in a sandbox is out-of-line?
Of course, Senator Obama’s campaign will not go out of their way to condemn his prominent supporters’ tasteless attacks on his competitor like McCain would (to his detriment). He could at least say “that’s not the Markos Zunitsabedwettingdickheadwhatever I know”. Hey Markos, what made Obama’s ears that way? Perhaps it’s from what he had to do to get ahead?
But here’s the weird thing: while conceptually I want to fight bare knuckles on such issues, McCain’s making it hard to fight for him. He’s trying to be Bob Dole. Classiness is nice but some of us wanna see blood. But every time we turn around he’s giving us a bloody nose, rather than the opposition.
The Mark Levin Show
Jun 4th, 08
/ 0 Comments
In the last six to nine months, I’ve worked late on many occasions and found myself listening to the Mark Levin radio show (link) on XM Radio. He’s on from 6pm to 8pm, and a lot of times I found myself listening on my way home from work.
It’s funny because I didn’t really understand who Mark Levin is until I listened, but he’s probably the closest radio show host to my politics. The guy is really brilliant. I always get annoyed by people saying that talk radio listeners are zombies, hand-fed by Rush or others- not so. I just happen to agree. It’s not like it’s a tuning fork that you tune to and adjust, it’s more like checking your compass against another one.
Anyway, I’m adding the Mark Levin show website to my links.
We’ll Consider This a Good Sign!
Jun 3rd, 08
/ 0 Comments
When the Iraqis start itching for us to move out, that’s a move in the right direction! (link)
The Iraqi government Tuesday said it had a “different vision” from the US over the deployment of American troops in the country beyond 2008 and vowed not to compromise national sovereignty.
Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the cabinet discussed the proposed Status of Forces Agreement which is scheduled to be concluded by next month and agreed that Iraq’s national interests must be protected.“A joint vision on this issue is yet to be achieved between the two sides, and … the Iraqi side has a different vision, and it will not undercut or be negligent towards Iraqis’ rights and sovereignty,” Dabbagh said.
Retired Lt. General Russel Honore Speaks on Preparedness
Jun 2nd, 08
/ 0 Comments
Reading this brought a tear to my eye and the voice of Kate Smith singing “God Bless America” to my ears (link):
(CNN) — The recent series of disasters in the United States and around the world have resulted in the forced evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people from their homes and have again demonstrated with startling clarity that we are living in a new normal.
In this new normal, international interdependencies and instantaneous communications combine to constantly remind us of disaster and terrorism, and disasters that once were considered exceptional now occur more frequently. The recent earthquakes in China and the Myanmar cyclone are but two reminders of such disasters.
The reminders are beamed into our homes and workplaces as if to demonstrate that tragedy that can result if we fail to prepare. What people once viewed as the exception they now see on a routine basis, yet we still don’t take the steps to be prepared for this new normal.
We have to be better prepared, and the first steps start at home and at work.
In today’s densely populated and technologically dependent communities, disasters have a far greater impact than ever before. It’s time for America to wake up to this reality.
In a world where natural and man-made disasters can and will happen with little or no warning, we need to be prepared. We face a host of potential disasters: from earthquakes, hurricanes and pandemics to industrial accidents, electrical blackouts, terrorism and the effects of possible attacks with weapons of mass destruction. Our task as Americans is to be ready.
At home, events after 9/11, Katrina, wildfires in California and Florida, numerous destructive tornadoes and other storms, and the threat of earthquakes accentuate the need to create a culture of preparedness in America.
A preparedness that is ingrained and intertwined in every part of our daily life, but is mostly common sense, is based in the American spirit. While it is the duty of local, state and federal governments to prepare for and respond to disaster, true preparedness begins in our homes and our neighborhoods.
To create this culture of preparedness, we need to focus “left of the disaster,” which means we focus on preparations and responses before the disaster. How, or if, each of us survives a disaster is directly related to where we were before it hit.
To create this culture of preparedness, we must change the way that academia, private industry, community groups and individual households think about preparedness in their daily lives. Disaster readiness is the responsibility of every part of our society and every individual.
In our free-market society, the private sector has far more response capability than our government. Governments need to work with private industries and make them part of the plan so we can quickly tap into all of our nation’s best resources when we need them most.
Sir, while you’re out there speaking, maybe you’d consider the call to service that running for the office of Commander-in-Chief from the new ”common sense” party. Read the rest.. (link)
As he mentions weather radios, I’m thinking I might like this one (link).
Lord Stanleyevich’s Cup
Jun 2nd, 08
/ 0 Comments
It’s interesting to note this from the news on the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs… (link)
The Penguins will need all their stars to play up to their potential to have any shot at coming back
Especially, Evgeni Malkin.
He has been held scoreless by Detroit after he had 19 points in 14 playoff games and 106 points in the regular season, trailing only Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin.
From Malkin’s bio on Wikipedia (link):
Before the start of the 2006-07 season, it appeared Malkin would remain in Russia another season after signing a one-year contract with Metallurg, but after some legal maneuvering, Malkin relieved himself of his Russian obligations and signed an entry-level contract with the Penguins.
Does anyone know how to say “someday, and that day may never come, I will ask a favor of you” in Russian? (link)
Maybe Arlen Specter can hold hearings… yawn. Go Pens!