ABC News: AP: Most Iraq Suicide Bombs by Foreigners:

BAGHDAD, Iraq Jun 30, 2005 -- The vast majority of suicide attackers in Iraq are thought to be foreigners mostly Saudis and other Gulf Arabs and the trend has become more pronounced this year with North Africans also streaming in to carry out deadly missions, U.S. and Iraqi officials say.

Surprise surprise...

It cannot be legitimately called an insurgency then, can it? Nope nope! No, it is actually a foreign invasion by saboteurs from Iraq's neighbors, primarily Syria, but also Iran. An invasion that we are training Iraqi's to deal with, and which we are helping them deal with.

And it is imperative that we remain until the job is done, lest the costs and sacrifices we have made so far have been in vain. The Iraqi people deserve that much from us at least.

Authorities have found little evidence that Iraqis have been behind the near-daily stream of suicide attacks over the past six months, U.S. and Iraqi intelligence officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the subject's sensitivity.

There have been a few exceptions.

On election day Jan. 30, a mentally handicapped Iraqi boy, wearing a suicide vest, attacked a polling station.

And where are the leftists denouncing this excoriable exploitation of the vulnerable in Iraq? They're busy berating the pro-war crowd for not "sending their own children" into battle. (Just a reminder: they're adults, and they volunteer for military service...)

Another one for the blogroll...just because. ;)
Downtown Chick Chat

via Ith

Don't "Son" Me - End this silly talk about sacrificing children. By Christopher Hitchens
But when it comes to the confrontation in Iraq, the whole notion of grown-ups volunteering is dismissed or lampooned. Instead, it's people's children getting "sent." Recall Michael Moore asking congressmen whether they would "send" one of their offspring, as if they had the power to do so, or the right?
...
Nobody has to join the armed forces, and those who do are old enough to vote, get married, and do almost everything legal except buy themselves a drink. Why infantilize young people who are entitled to every presumption of adulthood?

dead mousie to LMA

More from Goldstein:
One of the silliest arguments confronting pro-war supporters is the infantile "chickenhawk" accusation frequently floated by those swimming in the shallow end of the anti-war pool--the idea being, in theory, that if you aren't a member of the military, you aren't entitled to express a public opinion on the Iraqi war. Of course, in practice, non-military personnel such as those who are quick to use the chickenhawk argument are themselves permitted to express an opinion on the war--provided it's the correct opinion, namely, that the war is illegal and immoral, and that Bush and his cronies are evil lying scum. But then, consistency is not the strong suit of these folks--nor is logic...

UPDATE: More here.

UPDATE 2: Still more here (funny!)

No, but they're fun, especially when they hit a dead-ringer!

Si... Silicon You scored 42 Mass, 31 Electronegativity, 25 Metal, and 0 Radioactivity! Interesting. Take a bunch of really common person-elements and throw them together to get something truely exceptional... that's you. You are probably someone that gave up on trying to understand society at large a long time ago. You don't fear it, but you don't try to be one with it either. You are more or less unperturbed by things... if a problem comes up you might deal with it, or you might avoid it... whatever. You don't take kindly to people pushing you around, and you don't really push anyone else around. You're probably the only one that can tame oxygen simply because you don't understand it's raging neediness, but that doesn't mean that you'll really enjoy having a tame oxygen hanging around all that much either. You can probably get along with people like yourself really well, but you aren't your own soulmate... if only they could make entire colonies of people like you you'd be stoked. Just like you don't understand society, society doesn't understand you... and yes that is my excuse for not knowing how to describe you better.

Link: The Which Chemical Element Am I Test written by effataigus on Ok Cupid

A proud example of what one finds on the "progressive" side of the blogosphere...

Stop the neocon death machine

dead mousie and LOL to SondraK

WorldNetDaily: Supreme Court justice faces boot from home?
Developer wants 'Lost Liberty Hotel' built upon property of David Souter

Wrote (developer) Clements: "Although this property is owned by an individual, David H. Souter, a recent Supreme Court decision, Kelo v. City of New London, clears the way for this land to be taken by the government of Weare through eminent domain and given to my LLC for the purposes of building a hotel. The justification for such an eminent domain action is that our hotel will better serve the public interest as it will bring in economic development and higher tax revenue to Weare."

Ha!

Ha ha!

Hoo hoo haa ha ha!

Thank you Mr. Clements! Git 'im!

dead mousie to Dadcat.

Ace of Spades HQ
"I'm quite serious about this. Conservatives don't usually want to discuss politics with those who disagree, because, well, it's disagreeable and there's little point.

But dang-- when a liberal finds out you're not a liberal... most really, really want to talk their way through this massive problem in the relationship.

Even if you barely know the person.

It's a political movement made up entirely of Overweening Jewish Grandmothers, always nagging, always kvetching, always offering advice you're just never gonna take, and then always wondering why 'Mr. Big-Shot' has no time to call back anymore."

Go read the rest. Very funny!

The Supreme Court has been nothing if not exasperating in its rulings lately. And no matter what side you're on, today's rulings leave something to be desired.

VOA News - Supreme Court Issues Split Ruling on Displays of Ten Commandments, File Trading Networks

On the one hand, the SC upheld the right to display the ten commandments when it is more a part of a historical tribute to the nation's legal and religious history than an "endorsement of religion". In all honesty, the ACLU's barking up this tree is reminiscent of the right's pursuit of a flag burning amendment. It's just not worth the hot air expended, and no real harm is done in either case.

On the other hand, the SC reversed a lower court ruling that had said that file sharing networks were not liable for copyright violations. So RIAA is crowing and the climate of innovation that led us to downloadable music purchasing, I-pods, etc. just took a severe blow.

I said over a year ago that I would not buy any more music until I could buy the songs I wanted for a reasonable fee, and use them in whatever device or form I wanted. That has largely come to pass in a very short period of time. But now some of the pressure is off the RIAA to accept new innovation, and they will want to go back to business as usual.

Which will not be to the benefit of consumers, you can be assured.

My weblog is two years old today. And yes I'm still on Blogspot. It's not the POS it once was, and it's still free. So what else do I really need?

My first post was about the Aspen Fire on Mount Lemmon, shortly after the blaze raged through Summerhaven:
Desert Cat's Musings

FOXNews.com

With barely a word about it, workers at the Justice Department Friday removed the blue drapes that have famously covered two scantily clad statues for the past 3 1/2 years.

The drapes, installed in 2002 at a cost of $8,000, allowed then-Attorney General John Ashcroft to speak in the Great Hall without fear of a breast showing up behind him in television or newspaper pictures.

Hnar!

Still, it's an interesting quiz to see the percentages other than the top one. I suppose this quiz should be taken before the one I posted below.

You scored as Christianity. Your views are most similar to those of Christianity. Do more research on Christianity and possibly consider being baptized and accepting Jesus, if you aren't already Christian. Christianity is the second of the Abrahamic faiths; it follows Judaism and is followed by Islam. It differs in its belief of Jesus, as not a prophet nor historical figure, but as God in human form. The Holy Trinity is the concept that God takes three forms: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Ghost (sometimes called Holy Spirit). Jesus taught the idea of instead of seeking revenge, one should love his or her neighbors and enemies. Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross to save humankind and forgive people's sins. Christianity 79% Paganism 54% Buddhism 46% Judaism 42% Hinduism 29% agnosticism 29% Satanism 29% Islam 25% atheism 8% Which religion is the right one for you? (new version) created with QuizFarm.com

USNews.com:

"Who's funding the insurgents in Iraq? The list of suspects is long: ex-Baathists, foreign jihadists, and angry Sunnis, to name a few. Now add to that roster hard-core Euroleftists.

Turns out that far-left groups in western Europe are carrying on a campaign dubbed Ten Euros for the Resistance, offering aid and comfort to the car bombers, kidnappers, and snipers trying to destabilize the fledgling Iraq government. In the words of one Italian website, Iraq Libero (Free Iraq), the funds are meant for those fighting the occupanti imperialisti. The groups are an odd collection, made up largely of Marxists and Maoists, sprinkled with an array of Arab emigres and aging, old-school fascists, according to Lorenzo Vidino, an analyst on European terrorism based at The Investigative Project in Washington, D.C. 'It's the old anticapitalist, anti-U.S., anti-Israel crowd,' says Vidino, who has been to their gatherings, where he saw activists from Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Italy. 'The glue that binds them together is anti-Americanism.' The groups are working on an October conference to further support 'the Iraqi Resistance.' A key goal is to expand backing for the insurgents from the fringe left to the broader antiwar and antiglobalization movements."

As if we needed any more reason to continue our work in Iraq, (besides establishing the basis of a free and democratic Middle East)?

In addition to kicking the ass of the insurgents in Iraq, it's time to go after these communist and fascist groups as terror sponsors, by freezing bank accounts, seizing assets, etc.

As Jeff Goldberg notes, "In the US, we find these folks at rallies sponsered by International ANSWER."

Ann Coulter has it right: "Treason!"

dead mousie to Jeff G.

Discovery Channel--Chickadees Sing Complex Warnings


U.S. researchers have discovered one of the most sophisticated signaling systems among animals for warning of danger -- alarm calls that can describe the kind of predator and even its size.

The researchers worked with chickadees living under semi-natural conditions in large, outdoor aviaries with 13 species of live, perched raptors and two species of live mammalian predators: a domestic cat and a ferret, which resembles a weasel, which preys on small birds.

When flying raptors such as hawks, owls and falcons are around, the birds emit a soft, high-pitched "seet" call. But when they see a stationary or perched predator, they voice a loud, wide spectrum "chick-a-dee" alarm call that is composed of several types of syllables.

"Whereas the 'seet' alarm call functions to warn of flying predators, the 'chick-a-dee' mobbing alarm call recruits other chickadees, and often many other species that harass, or mob, a perched predator," Templeton wrote.

Spectrographic analyses of the recorded alarm signal showed that the acoustic features of the calls varied with the size of the predator.

Whoda thunk?

"Hey Tsk! Lard-ass is coming out to refill the bird feeder! And this time she left Fuzzy-slinky-danger in the house. Let's go!"

Click the link at the top for the rest, and for a link to different chickadee calls.

Again for future perusal, but you may not want to wait, as there is some truly disconnected writing on this blog:
However Coyly

For further perusal:
The Hairy Libertarian: The Gadsden flag...

I just received this e-mail from the IT Analyst at my workplace, who got it from his weekly XP Newsletter. Anyone want to take a shot at debunking or confirming this?

If this is true, and it is being used by DHS or other law enforcement, it represents an incredibly serious violation of the 4th Amendment and privacy rights.

Are Key Loggers Being Built into New Laptops?

Several Web sites and blogs have recently discussed a mysterious heatshrink-wrapped device that people are finding inside their new notebook computers from Dell, HP and Gateway. Some have claimed that these appear to be hardware key loggers - devices that capture and save everything you type into your computer using the keyboard. We haven't run across anything like this in our (Sony and Toshiba) notebook computers.

The pictures of the mystery device shown at http://c0x2.de/lol/lol.html do indeed look like the internal key logger photo shown on the Anti-Spy Shot Web site at http://www.anti-keylogger.com/keylogging_hardware.html, but the letter purporting to be from the Department of Homeland Security doesn't exactly ring true. And normally, you have to remove a hardware key logger in order to retrieve the data it's recorded, so DHS would have to actually seize your computer for it to be any good to them. So we don't buy the idea that this is some government conspiracy, and neither does Snopes.

If key loggers are being built into new computers (and that's a big "if"), it's more likely the device is intended to function like the "black boxes" in cars, perhaps to be used to collect information for troubleshooting if the computer is returned to the vendor for repairs. So far, we've heard of no responses from the hardware vendors about this. If you've recently purchased a new portable computer from a major vendor, you might want to open up the case and see what's in there, just for curiosity's sake.

Via SondraK comes this weblog that I *need* to mark for further perusal. You might want to as well:
The Unbearable Bobness of Being

The Naming Of Cats - A poem by T.S. Eliot - American Poems

The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey--
All of them sensible everyday names.

There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter--
But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular,
A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?

Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum-
Names that never belong to more than one cat.
But above and beyond there's still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover--
But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.

When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.

T.S. Eliot

Today is the summer solstice, and this year it nearly coincides with a full moon. How perfect!

Time to join with the joyous chorus of Nature, celebrating the beauty of the Father of Lights, the One from whom all things proceed, and to whom all creatures raise their voice in song.

Tonight the moon hangs low, so low we can nearly touch her face, and hear her voice singing soft and low of the abundance and great goodness, and the flow of life, and mystery. And the redeemed take the song one note higher, carrying the praise of creation to the Father to be a sweet offering of incense before the throne. By the blood of the One who gave His life, the bond is restored, and through the instrument of redeemed mankind, fellowship with creation is renewed and the circle is completed.

"Praise God from Whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below,
Praise Him above ye heavenly host!
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!"

And more:

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Refrain
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Refrain

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Refrain

Oh yes!

Pretty good quiz, though some of the questions obviously lead in a particular direction.

Oh, and yes. It got me right, for the most part:

You scored as Charismatic/Pentecostal. You are a charismatic or pentecostal believer. You believe in the primacy of spiritual gifts and the importance of renewal of the body of Christ. You are likely to be suspicious of or even hostile to older non-charismatic churches and revival is high on your list of priorities. You are a firm believer that God's Spirit is as active today as in biblical times and you are likely to devote less time to academic study of the Bible and theology. Charismatic/Pentecostal 71% Reformed Evangelical 68% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 64% Fundamentalist 57% Neo orthodox 57% Classical Liberal 50% Emergent/Postmodern 50% Roman Catholic 46% Modern Liberal 32% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

The Therapist gives his unique spin on this "story":
Jackson Fans To Author "No Child's Behind Left" Act

"No Child's Behind Left".
Right...

Don't get it yet?

*sigh*

I'm not a father (except to my cats), but I took a day off from projects around the house and went up Mount Lemmon with Daisycat and Doozey (new old camper). MY father will be treated at a restaurant tomorrow (less crowds yaknow.)

This was the first serious test of how well Doozey is able to handle mountain driving, and I can say that she passed the test quite well. There was one glitch where she died going up a very steep hill somewhere around 9000 feet. I suspect vapor lock or some other cause of fuel starvation. My solution will be to get an electric fuel pump installed at the tank. And after topping off the brake fluid reservoir, she handled the downhill part just fine as well. Doozey has a classic A series 318 engine and glass-pack mufflers, so she was popping and brapping all the way down the hill. Actually it was a kind of cool sound. I haven't heard cars do that since I was growing up. But then Doozey was around back then too.

We're gearing up to take an extended weekend trip up into the mountains next month around our birthdays. So this was a trial run.

Some hiking, some shopping, and lunch at the Mount Lemmon Cafe, made for a satisfying day. The Living Rainbow Gift Shop has now reopened, so I had to get something for Doozey. I bought a string of tiny silver bells that tinkle as the camper moves. Daisycat also got a string of beads and bells that include some "fire beads", which are beads that the Deb, the owner, salvaged out of the ashes of her former shop.

If I could--meaning if I didn't need to work down in Tucson for a living--I would move to Summerhaven in a heartbeat. At least for the summer months. The thought of being able to step outside for a morning walk somewhere through the forests and meadows up there, is a compelling one. There is a lot of...hrm-him boora hoom up there (which would be entish for something I can't describe well in english--if I could actually speak entish. Of course it would also be several paragraphs long if it was actually entish. Not meaning to get off on a tangent here, but the same thing is down here in certain places of the desert as well, except that it is quite different in spirit. Ok, meaning to go off on a tangent now, here is an awful translation of just a snippet: Roots go deep, branches reach high, to the sun. The sun! Liquid gold refreshment that flows, that soothes, that strengthens to grow to rise in song, together with all, to sing the song of creation. We rise in song to the One...(!!!)...who is life. Roots go deep, branches reach high. HOOM! ahh.) ok, don't be surprised to see that part deleted on the next edit...let me try again more succinctly: There are currents of life that flow through that mountain that I would find very refreshing to be able to partake of on a daily basis.

Commenter Phinn at Protein Wisdom has an incisive answer to a question posed by Jeff G: Another brave "thought experiment"

Asking questions never hurt anyone, sure.

Unless, of course, the "question" is really just propaganda thinly diguised to resemble the outward form of a question.

The whole idea of a "question" to be, you know, obtain a substantive reply.

But, if this is the new standard for what qualifies as a "question," it could lead to some interesting lines of "inquiry," such as:

Is Hillary Clinton, in fact, the agent of Mephistopheles on earth, and if so, what is her larger demonic purpose?

Heh! Indeed.

No really! Daisycat has a way of asking these kinds of "questions" too (and it drives me crazy). But far less is at stake in our marital squabbles than there is from the kind of sedition that Senator Durbin appears to be engaging in.

Update: Commenter Alex has more that is good (from the same thread):

What the conspiracy theorists and the moral equivalency brigade describe as "bravery" is not bravery at all; on the contrary, it's the height of passive-aggressive chickenshit behavior.

By hiding behind the pretense of "I'm only asking questions; what's the matter with asking difficult questions?", they attempt to have their cake and eat it too, i.e., to abdicate responsibility for the outrageous bullshit they spew, by (a) pretending that they didn't really say what they so cleverly insinuated, and (b) the classic passive-aggressive move of placing the blame on the listener for getting angry, rather than on the speaker for saying something so outrageously stupid, insulting, and irresponsible.

"B-but I didn't accuse Bush of having the Twin Towers blown up; I just asked why it's so terrible, why it isn't allowed, for us to consider the possibility that he might have!"

"Why are you getting angry at me? I was only joking when I said your ass was fat. Jeez, can't anybody take a joke anymore?"

I am OUT OF IT! I just noticed today that Anna has been back at blogging for the last two months. Well...

Why didn't anyone tell me (whine!).

Bush: "If leaders of the other party have innovative ideas, let's hear them. But if they have no ideas or policies except obstruction, they should step aside and let others lead,"

More at DRUDGE REPORT

Howard Dean as chairman of the DNC has become quite a polarizing figure. But in a gesture designed to bring together the warring factions of the Democrat Party, Dean plans to bring back an old favorite activity of the left with his own special flair.

As we know, there's nothing quite so wonderful as sitting around holding hands and singing songs of unity and purpose. Howard Dean will lead the singing:

Kum Bah Yeargh, my lord,
Kum Bah Yea-a-argh!
Ah uwohhu Lo-oaargh,
Kum Bah Yea-a-rggghhh...pah!

And that's not all! Who can forget this old favorite?

If I had a hammer,
I'd hammer in the morning
I'd hammer in the evening
All over this land

I'd hammer in Michigan!
And Iowa!
And New Hampshire! And Delaware! And Pennsylvania! And Florida and hammer
and hammer and hammer hammer HAMMERHAMMERHAMMERHAMMER
YEA-A-ARGHHH!!!
*thud*

...oops. Back to our regularly schedule programming, right after this:

Are you suffering from the heartbreak of Psoriasis?

No? Neither am I. (What's with that anyway?) Me, I've got a big wide happy ear-to-ear Levitra smi-i-ile! O-Yeah!

This program broctu-yu by Shirley, Gudnis and Merci, Private Detectives -- "We follow you all the days of your life!"

...choking, thrashing, spasming, gasping for breath!

Og is the undisputed master of crapblogging:
Neanderpundit
The fart has a clear, oboe like quality to it's tone, and it draws out loud and long, like a note carried on a musical instruement for the length of a large man's lung capacity. It's powerful too; I can feel it flutter the back of my Khakis. It finally wavers off near the end, and just as it does, (which must easily have been ten seconds) I hear (at WAIST level)...(more)

You have to read the rest!

Is it possible to be mildly shocked while at the same time amused? As one of the commenters to the post linked below said, this is one of the more savage pieces of satire I've seen in a while.

Beautiful Atrocities: RECIPES FROM THE ELDERS OF ZION COOKBOOK:
SABBATH BREAD WITH ARAB INFANT PLASMA

Whew! The audacity is breathtaking.

If Lebanon is any indication of how it happens, revolution may be imminent in Iran.

Why?

PROTEST BABES!:
"Hundreds of women staged an unauthorized demonstration in Tehran today, protesting sex discrimination under Iran's Islamic leadership just days before the June 17 presidential elections.

The protest was the first public display of dissent by women since the 1979 revolution, when the new regime enforced obligatory veiling.

"We are women, we are the children of this land, but we have no rights," they chanted. More than 250 marched outside Tehran University, and about 200 others demonstrated two blocks away after hundreds of riot police swarmed in and barred them from joining the main protest."

Click the link above for the rest of the story, AND photos.

More HERE from Ace.

Verdict to be read at 4:30 PM EDT. Update to follow.
FOXNews.com - Foxlife - Verdict Reached in Jacko Case

UPDATE: Not guilty on all counts.

So Jacko the Wacko walks. Hnh. It's not what I expected, because so much about Michael Jackson is just...creepy. But then I wasn't sitting on the jury.

Marked for future reference, and reading of parts I through VI.
Blogger News Network

Ever notice when you're put on the spot to come up with something worth reading, it becomes extraordinarily difficult to put a single word on paper? Yes, I know. Very familiar phenomenon to writers. Here I am under no pressure. I write what I want, when I want. But I have Attila's soapbox this week, and can't find a dang thing to put up over there this morning!

...this week at Little Miss Attila's place.

Be sure to go read over there as well!

Acidman finally figured out what his problem is--he's full of shit.

No, really! Go read: Gut Rumbles: a cure

A Letter to My Friend Who Supports the Drug War--James Muhm

This is worth a read if you are looking for a well-organized argument against the drug war.

dead mousie to Peter Guither

As I expected, Pete Guither is on top of the efforts to push for passage of an amendment that would prevent the federal government from interfering with medical marijuana patients in states where medical marijuana has been legalized.

Please click over to his site and sign some of the online petition letters if you support this effort.

Drug WarRant: "Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment coming to the floor on Tuesday!

The latest news is that the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment is likely to actually hit the House this coming Tuesday (this is an amendment that prevents the federal government from spending money to interfere with medical marijuana patients who are following state law in those states that have medical marijuana laws).

This is great, because it takes advantage of all the recent press and reaction to the Supreme Court decision.

It also means that we must act now!

* DRCNet instant letter to Congress
* Drug Policy Alliance instant letter to Congress
* Marijuana Policy Project instant letter to Congress
* NORML instant letter to Congress

The links above are the bare minimum. If you really care, call your Congressional office on Monday morning and tell them to support the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment when it comes to the floor.

Get all your friends to act, too. All of them. Seriously...

Are you afraid to tell them you support medical marijuana? Are you afraid to tell them that you believe it's wrong for federal law enforcement agents to harrass sick people who are following their doctor's advice and state law? Are you afraid to say that tax money would be better spent going after terrorists than breaking open the heads of cancer patients in wheelchairs?

If you were disappointed with the Supreme Court decision, then you must act."

So says Cat too. Go! Do!

Bill Press lets loose his fury:
WorldNetDaily: Supreme Court sends federal agents to prey on sick

dead mousie to Dadcat

HOG ON ICE: New Notebook Arrives: "My new notebook arrived today. I was looking at the FedEx tracking page, and I refreshed it, and it said 'Delivered.' I walked outside and caught the FedEx driver walking back to the truck. What a world we live in. I found out about something that happened ten feet away, by connecting to a computer system which is probably thousands of miles from here."

Indeed.

Your IQ Is 125

Your Logical Intelligence is Exceptional Your Verbal Intelligence is Genius Your Mathematical Intelligence is Genius Your General Knowledge is Above Average

It's actually higher than that, but then, this IS a "quick and dirty" quiz.

What Is Your Animal Personality?
brought to you by Quizilla

Or should I say I got it right when I chose my moniker?

It's a sad, disgusting day in America.

USATODAY.com - Court's ruling on marijuana reeks of 'reefer madness'
Diane Monson has suffered for years from degenerative spine disease and painful muscle spasms. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court told Monson that she can be prosecuted for trying to relieve her own pain.

Three years ago, federal agents barged into her house, seized and destroyed the six marijuana plants Monson was growing at her doctor's suggestion. Monson, an accountant who lives in Oroville, Calif., had been getting relief from the active ingredient in marijuana that no ordinary drug had been able to provide.

It was all legal under the laws of California, one of 10 states that since 1996 have authorized patients to grow or obtain marijuana for medical needs with a doctor's recommendation. But the high court ruled that Congress' blanket ban on marijuana trumps the states' compassionate desire to create a limited exception for medicinal reasons.

Monson and Angel Raich are the latest collateral damage in Washington's indiscriminate war on drugs. Raich, an Oakland mother of two, is subject to severe, debilitating pain from an inoperable brain tumor and more than a dozen other ailments. Her desperate measures, seeking relief in using marijuana grown for her at no cost by her two caregivers, caused her to join Monson's court case three years ago -- and now could make her also liable to federal prosecution.

The Court's 6-3 decision was a stretched interpretation of the clause in the Constitution that gives Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce.

Under Monday's ruling, growing marijuana at home for medicinal purposes, with no money changing hands, is somehow now a form of interstate commerce. It makes you wonder what the majority was smoking. As Justice Clarence Thomas said in his dissenting opinion, 'If Congress can regulate this ... under the commerce clause, then it can regulate virtually anything.'

That warning ought to be a rallying cry for conservative members of Congress elected under the banner of small government and respect for states rights. Justice John Paul Stevens, writing for the court's majority, told Monson, Raich and anyone in a similar fix that their recourse is to get Congress to change the 1970 federal law that bans possession or distribution of marijuana.

Given the 'reefer madness' in Washington that has led to an overemphasis on marijuana prosecutions in the war on drugs, the prospects for early congressional action seem remote. In the meantime, surely federal prosecutors and drug-control agents have better things to do than to swoop down on critically ill people who are abiding by state law and haul them off to court."

So I quoted the whole thing (sorry). This editorial well sums up my feelings on the issue though. It is quite encouraging to see that one of the dissenters was Justice Clarence Thomas. There is still a shred of sense on this issue amongst the true conservative thinkers. Yes, this ruling goes well beyond the issue at hand. As if it wasn't possible now, this ruling brings absolutely anything and everything within the power of the Federal government.

So really, what is left of the Constitution these days?

I just ended a 14 hour day on my roof, recoating and installing a fabric reinforcing mat. After dark I had my floodlights on, and about 9:30 or so the police helicopter cruised lazily by.

I imagined what they were thinking: "Now there's a hard-working, dedicated guy."

Then I reconsidered--probably more like: "There's a nutcase goober who doesn't know when to say 'Quitting time!'"

But I finished the job.

Tomorrow (Friday) is the last day to provide comments to the FEC in regards to their rulemaking affecting bloggers.

There are many in the elite circles that would love to use "Campaign Finance Reform" laws to shut down the free exchange of political discussion, ideas and commentary in the blogosphere. This is not a partisan issue. This is an issue that pits the voice of the people against the ruling elites. Left, right, libertarian--this could profoundly affect us all.

The Online Coalition, together with Redstate.org have put together a detailed comment on the proposed rule changes, and are asking both bloggers and readers of blogs to either forward their own comments to the FEC or to joint with the coalition and add your signature to the comments they have formulated.

Essentially what we are asking the FEC to do is to extend the "media exemption rule" to weblogs, and to extend the protections afforded to volunteers to include individuals and groups of individuals working together online.

If you write about political issues, or if you enjoy reading political commentary online, and want to be able to continue to go to the blogosphere for unfiltered news and commentary, we need your help. Please go to this site, review the comments, and add your name to the list: Our Comments to the FEC.

Today would be the day to do it.

Thank you.

There are many kinds of cholla (Opuntia spp.) that thrive in this desert. The blossoms of the "jumping cholla" range from pale pink through russet, orange, and yellow.

But this particular blossom is on a cholla growing in my front yard. I grew it from a tiny slip after I saw it's clone parent blooming one spring in the desert--a sensual explosion of rich claret wine.

There is no rose more lovely to me, especially considering the extreme conditions it thrives in.


Meanwhile in my water garden, my Blue Lily of the Nile (Nymphaea caerulea) has begun to bloom again.

FEC May Set Rules On Blogs:
May 31, 2005, 20:16

WASHINGTON, May 31 (UPI) -- The Federal Election Commission is considering new rules establishing television-like regulations for paid political messages on the Internet.

The FEC, the government's watchdog on election law, has drafted rules that would demand the purchasers of political advertisements on Web sites be displayed, the Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday.

The proposals also would have bloggers disclose whether they receive funds from a campaign committee or candidate, the newspaper said. The rules, as written, would not apply to people operating sites that don't accept funding from political action committees or parties.

The FEC has set a deadline of Friday for public comment on the proposals and will have a public hearing June 28-29. A final version of the proposal is expected before the end of the year, the Tribune said.

Copyright 2005 by BrocktonMass.com.

It is looking slightly less sinister than it once did, if the above is the whole truth. If a candidate, party or PAC is paying a blogger for ad space, it makes sense to treat that the same as other advertising.

But we'll see where this goes in regards to the opinion writing of bloggers who are not receiving campaign funds. Anything less than a full press exemption for bloggers editorializing will be unacceptable. Even nakedly partisan news rags that run their operation primarily to promulgate their point of view are treated as the sacred media. Bloggers deserve no less.


dead mousie to Dadcat