Surfing the Tube So You Dont Have To.

You Mean Like Democrats?

Who will save the French.

From:
Daniel Pipes' Weblog
The 751 No-Go Zones of France
November 14, 2006
They go by the euphemistic term Zones Urbaines Sensibles, or Sensitive Urban Zones, with the even more antiseptic acronym ZUS, and there are 751 of them as of last count. They are convienently listed on one long webpage, complete with street demarcations and map delineations.
What are they? Those places in France that the French state does not control. They range from two zones in the medieval town of Carcassone to twelve in the heavily Muslim town of Marseilles, with hardly a town in France lacking in its ZUS. The ZUS came into existence in late 1996 and according to a 2004 estimate, nearly 5 million people live in them.
Comment: A more precise name for these zones would be Dar al-Islam, the place where Muslims rule. (November 14, 2006)

From the Loon Files.

PETA attacks Anchorage Church for Living Nativity Scene. End up with foot in mouth because of head in ass.

Just In Time for Christmas,

For the girl on your shopping list there is this interesting Dora the Exporer Aquapet.
Beyond the pale.

The Flying Imams.

The Flying Imams. Washington Times.

More than evening prayers raised the suspisions of passengers and crew. Captains Quarters

The Flying Immans Agenda. Dean Barnett

Strange Cloud

While sitting in the Vegas Airport a couple weeks ago, enduring a 6 hour flight delay, we noticed this tornado shaped cloud, literally spiraling up out of the cloud cover over Nevada. A phenomena that I don't believe I have ever witnessed before. I can only guess that it is due to atmospheric lifting forces over the mountains. Or testing over Area 51.

To the Diggers.

It is easy to forget that we are not alone in our current battle and that other countries, our allies, have also sent their sons and daughters into harms way. Those citizens are having the same debates and divisions that we are having. On several sites I have seen the following video which is a very nice song supporting the "Diggers" from Australia and and in each case they use the opportunity to make a disparaging comparison to the Dixie Chicks. The Dixie Chicks have every right to express their opinion but they also have the responsibility to remember the first rule of public discourse. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE! Failing that, they loose the right to complain that their audience has abandoned them. Enjoy the video.

A WKRP Turkey Day Laugh.

Thanks to Hugh Hewitt for reminding us of this Thanksgiving Day laugh.

Thanksgiving

In the middle of the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln, prompted by a series of editorials written by Sarah Josepha Hale, proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day, to be celebrated on the final Thursday in November 1863:

"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth."
Proclamation of President Abraham Lincoln, 3 October 1863.

Since 1863, Thanksgiving has been observed annually in the United States.

Thanksgiving: <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Cite&page=Thanksgiving&id=89452125>.

Tribute to the Troops.

When I was discharged from the Army in the 1970's we were in the midst of the malaise that had enveloped not only the military in the aftermath of Vietnam but the whole country as a result of Nixon, inflation, Carter, the Iranian hostage crisis, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. I would have said at the time that this once great nation and the people that fought two world wars for the sake of democracy and all that we stand for were no longer up to the task.
Then I look at the men and women that in the last five years have willingly fought and died so valiantly for those same principles and you can not help but be proud of them and the county that has produced them.
When my son returned home from a year of duty in Afghanistan I was thankful that he returned safely but at the same time proud of him and his dedication to a cause that most people can not understand. And like 75% of those that have served, he has re-enlisted. We owe them our thanks, support, praise, and admiration.

Take a few minutes to check out this tribute video. Who is this American Warrior.

In a similar vein I am also amazed at some of the touching and unselfish acts of kindness that some of these returning troops have encountered.

Baltimore:
By the afternoon, one plane to Denver had been delayed several hours. United personnel kept asking for volunteers to give up their seats and take another flight. They weren't getting many takers. Finally, a United spokeswoman got on the PA and said this, "Folks. As you can see, there are a lot of soldiers in the waiting area. They only have 14 days of leave and we're trying to get them where they need to go without spending any more time in an airport then they have to. We sold them all tickets, knowing we would oversell the flight. If we can, we want to get them all on this flight. We want all the soldiers to know that we respect what you're doing, we are here for you and we love you."
At that, the entire terminal of cranky, tired, travel-weary people, a cross-section of America, broke into sustained and heartfelt applause. The soldiers looked surprised and very modest. Most of them just looked at their boots. Many of us were wiping away tears.
And, yes, people lined up to take the later flight and all the soldiers went to Denver on that flight.

Minneapolis:
"Just as I was began to tell the ticket agent that we were trying to get these soldiers on an earlier flight, the gentleman interrupted and asked, 'First class?' I said no, they're flying coach. He replied, 'I will pay to fly them first class!'"
Out of the four soldiers, the generous gentleman paid for three to fly home (to North Dakota and South Dakota) first class. He would have paid for all four, but the fourth soldier was connecting to an Airlink flight and first class was not available.

Dallas: Gifts To Soldiers Reap Many Returns

Las Vegas: Read the whole thing. This young man exemplifies the caliber of the military personnel we have today. The part that I thought was also amazing, "After the long flight from Germany, one Green Beret awoke after the plane landed and found a note on his chest from a civilian seatmate. "The drinks are on me," it said. It contained $500.

If anyone comes across any similar examples I would like to post them. S

The Amazing Jonathan

We went to see Larry the Cable Guy a few weeks ago at the Cedar River Arena and were somewhat disapointed. Perhaps seeing him on cable so often made his show a little stale. Plus the Arena had the seats packed in so tight we were like a giant can of pink salmon. The bright spot of the evening was we discovered that the Chop House has great calimari.
Last week we went to The Amazing Jonathan show at the Sahara in Las Vegas and laughed our butts off. Great show. Check it out.

Threat Level: Elevated

Ya think?

DETROIT - A man was arrested at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after officials say they found him carrying more than $78,000 in cash and a laptop computer containing information about nuclear materials and cyanide. Story Here

Cool Art.

Italian artist Guido Daniele uses hands as his canvas for a series of lifelike animal images.

See them here

Election Postmortom

I have been playing catch up since our return from Sin City so although it is late I would like to share some closing thoughts on last week’s elections.
1. In the Iowa governors race Chet Culver was swept into office on the crest of the perfect storm that lifted the dems to victory. It remains to be seen if he is as I said not quite ready for prime time and if he can find a way to pay for his "Plan".
2. As I was scrolling through the touch screen at the local precinct it was troubling to see how many legislators ran unopposed. I know that Wally Horn has been in office for over 30 years and may be unbeatable but surely someone could make him work for his job.
3. Richard Nixon in a speech after his election in 1968 said his victory was the result of the Silent Majority. The Silent Majority are ones who the media now lump into the independent category but are actually those that generally support conservative positions and are concerned about the social ramifications of the Progressives. Just as they helped Nixon in 68 and Bush in 04 their discontent with the handling of so many common sense issues also turned the tide for the dems this year. I know I had a hard time checking the straight ticket square this time but with what we face today my conscience would rather hang with the loosers.
4. Like Nixon in 68 who claimed he had a plan to get us out of Vietnam, or Roosevelt that claimed he had a plan for the Depression, the democrats claimed to have a plan for Iraq. Empty claims got them all elected but it will take more than raising the minimum wage and another Hillary health care scare to get them re-elected in 2008. Lets hope that they understand that this is not the 60's and Iraq is not Vietman.

Texas' Virtual Border Patrol

The State of Texas needs your help. They have started a web site where you, the concerned American patriot can spend hours patrolling the border without leaving the comfort of home. Their motto "Securing the border for the people of Texas.
This Texas Virtual Neighborhood Watch has posted cameras at various locations across the Tex Mex frontier so that you can report suspicious activity to the proper authorities. For Example:

Drug exchanges are known to take place in this public parking lot. Cars that are parked for prolonged periods should be reported.

Over on Camera 6: This site focuses on private property along the border. Any vehicle or human movement in this remote area should be reported.

The view from Camera 1: This camera overlooks a high traffic area where illegal immigrants are known to cross into Texas. Groups of individuals moving at night beside the road should be reported.

My guess is, that if you turned camera one around you would see this.


This is not a virtual fence, this is virtual idiocy and should be reported. Way to go Texas!

Site here.

Thx Steven

Happy Birthday!

Bless her evil little heart. My dear wife, in a plot seemingly known by everyone but myself, whisked me away on a three night Las Vegas weekend to celebrate one of those milestone events in a persons life. "You only turn 50 once" she said as we hit the ATM for another fistfull of dollars to donate to Sin City's booming economy.

What a weekend it was. We arrived late Thursday and spent the first evening checking out the hotel and casino at the MGM Grand. Up bright and early Friday, we spent the day walking Las Vegas Blvd and the major Casinos along the way. We walked till our feet could stand it no more. A late night trip to the "Amazing Jonathon Show" at the Sahara topped off a great day.

Saturday morning we rented a convertable (OK it was a PT Cruiser and not the Vette that I had hoped for) and headed out to the Hoover Dam and later Cruised the Vegas Strip with the top down. Remember, You only turn 50 once.
That night it was hanging out on the strip, a little gambling, a lot of beer and to top it off the wife got half of the people in the Harrahs Casino to sing me Happy Birthday. You have to love a place that hands out free beer and they dont care if you take it with you out on the street.

Sunday, a malfunction at the airline delayed our arrival home till the wee hours of the morning and we were greeted by a front yard filled with giant "50" signs, while the house was adorned in black balloons and crepe paper courtesy of my mother and aunts.

The water show at Belagio was awsome. The MGM was awsome. The whole trip was awsome. The decorations on the house were awsome. Most importantly, my wife is AWSOME!

Too bad you only turn 50 once.

The Kos Part 2.

Another look into the mind of the man that declares that he runs the number one democratic activist web site on the internet.


Thanks once again to the Iowahawk.
Salmon Kos Part 1.