No SDI can never work nor spin off anything useful

Times of India

Short range rockets or artillery shells are hard to hit and shoot down. They are not up in the air long enough to be tracked, targeted and for a missile to intercept them.

What about a laser?

Well the US and Israel are developing just such a laser and it has been successful in tests.

Gee, if the US had not spent a lot of money on basic SDI research from the 1980s onward, this technology would not be available today. And while the Katyusha rockets may not be as devastating as an ICBM, the bad guys are much more likely to fire them then an ICBM.

Is the Catholic Church US Leadership going to stand up for its views?

WCBS Newsradio 880

New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey will not be allowed to take communion so says the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden, Rev. Joseph Galante on Thursday.

The Church has often seemed to be not willing to enforce Church discipline on people who claim to be Catholic and yet flout Church doctrine. Now while some will scream "separation of Church and State", this is not that issue. The Church is a non public organization and no one is required to belong to the Catholic Church (or any religious institution for that matter) in order to run for office. I'm glad to see the Church say in effect, these are our beliefs and if you do not accept them, DON'T COUNT YOURSELF CATHOLIC.

John Kerry, you have been married and divorced, ok the Church annulled your first wedding, meaning it must never had been consummated (tell that to your daughters from the first marriage) and you support abortion. Why do you consider yourself Catholic? Be honest and say you are not one for you surely are not following the tenants of the Catholic Church. If enough others think you are correct you can form a new Church that meets to your convictions and then you won't have to take grief from those who call you a hypocrite.

Rene Gonzalez finds out actions can have consequences

Rene Gonzalez wrote in the U Mass school paper his thoughts on Pat Tillman's military service and the price he paid.

Now that many people (including the paper that published his column and the president of U Mass) have condemned his actions, he is sorry. Not for his views but for being insensitive in his wording of his views.

Another non apology. See the new story and the comments from readers at Lucianne.com

"Sorry, Mr. President, I had an earlier engagement."

Uhhhhh. . .hello?

DRUDGE rakes some more mud, but still it raises the question, dude you have an audience with the President of the United States that you've been clamoring for for MONTHS and you couldn't arrange your schedule?

Childish.

The Kase Against Kerry

Based on Kerry's Vietnam record, John takes a shot at the guy (emphasis mine):

So, where am I going with this? John Kerry volunteered to lead sailors in combat. And for whatever reason - when he had a chance to leave combat early, he took it. Not because of disabling wounds. Not because of a death in the family that made him head of household. Not because of orders from higher. No, he apparently was either tired of combat, a rich boy dilettante who had other interests he wished to pursue and this was boring, or because his collection of Purple Hearts was starting to make him contemplate his mortality. Or whatever reason he wishes to advance any given segment of air time.

In other words, does John think that Kerry's commitment to follow through and to duty is lacking?

A Voice from the Ivory Tower

According to ESPN, University of Massachusetts graduate student Rene Gonzalez has spoken with honeyed lips that gushes forth little morsels of wisdom in a column entitled, "Pat Tillman is not a hero: he got what was coming to him".

Gonzalez writes that Tillman was a "Rambo" who probably acted out of "nationalist patriotic fantasies." In his own neighborhood in Puerto Rico, according to Gonzalez, Tillman would not have been considered a hero, but a "pendejo," or idiot.

...

"You know he was a real Rambo, who wanted to be in the 'real' thick of things," Gonzalez writes in his column, which is posted on the collegiate paper's Web site. "I could tell he was that type of macho guy, from his scowling, beefy face on the CNN pictures."

...

"It wasn't like he was defending the East coast from an invasion of a foreign power. THAT would have been heroic and laudable," Gonzalez writes. "What he did was make himself useful to a foreign invading army, and he paid for it. It's hard to say I have any sympathy for his death because I don't feel like his 'service' was necessary. He wasn't defending me, nor was he defending the Afghani people. He was acting out his macho, patriotic crap and I guess someone with a bigger gun did him in."

So, Pat Tillman looks like 'that type of macho guy'; therefore he is. I suppose, Mr. Gonzalez that I can, by the same license, stereotype you for the way that you look as well? (that is, if I could even get to the Daily Collegian to see your picture)

Driving back from lunch, a radio sports show I was listening to featured a Navy Chief who, although disagreed with Mr. Gonzalez, noted that it is people like himself and Pat Tillman who make it possible for Mr. Gonzalez to make his odious statements. Pat Tillman and the armed forces that he represents defends the very throne in the ivory tower that Mr. Gonzalez speaks down to us from.

Ironic.

Mr. Gonzalez, I would wish that America had more Pat Tillmans amongst its citizens: People who know what they believe in. People who understand duty. People who act, not sit and criticize. And yes, by the same measure I shall too be judged--no excuses from me--I also sit condemned knowing that I have done little to earn freedom.

(I cite the ESPN article because the Daily Collegian, oddly enough, is down after being hammered with traffic.)

Foxhole Conversion

God moves during the Iraqi War.

"... I baptized Jeff Guthrie, a new creation, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. As the waters of baptism poured over his head and onto the marble floors of the palace, the symbolism wasn’t lost on anyone... A place that had been known for the presence of darkness and treachery had become a place of the presence of God—a table in the presence."

Random Musings on Freedom

Reading about a German policeman being suspended and possibly prosecuted for making a Nazi salute and greeting to a fellow officer, I can't help but marvel at the statement:

Inciting racial hatred, displaying Nazi emblems like the swastika and performing the Hitler salute are crimes punishable by imprisonment in Germany.

In America, such actions are not crimes, but "self-expression". n this case, the Germans are practicing censorship in the name of society's good. I've noted over the years that European countries tend to have limitations on speech and self-expression that the ACLU should have fits over.

Soemtimes I wonder if, perhaps, we value each part of our body so much that we don't cutting out the tumors that might ultimately bring great disease to the whole. That is, are we bringing trouble upon ourselves by allowing odious speech to be expressed and, thence, multiplied? A difficult question to ask AND answer, to be sure, because the standard we use to determine acceptable and unacceptable is a difficult line to draw that varies for each individual who cares to render it. The safest path has been to err on the side of permissiveness, but is it the best path?

It is a standard that is defined by popularity, much like the American Idol. In the marketplace of ideas, viewpoints will only survive as long as they have popularity.

Which then touches on the nature of defining morality. Essentially, society's morality is relative. Morality as expressed through law is defined by representational government; therefore, morality is relative to the morality of that majority that makes up the law. I disagree that morality is relative, for truth and morality are absolutes.

An ancient passage records a society that "did what was good in their own eyes" and that society was ajudged to be in the wrong.

In practical terms, society operates in relative terms. As much as I yearn for an absolute standard, it is not a standard that the majority will accept. Thus, it is unenforceable. Where is the hope, then? Hope is found in change, but change cannot be forced upon this people, so the practical result must be that change must come a step at a time--the inner transformation of each part of the majority.

Its too late for us to join this time . . . . . . .

At Spirit of America, they have been holding a competition on which blog or alliance of blogs could raise the most amount of money for the work going on in Iraq. So far there are three alliances which have raised from $6,000 to $16,000 for the cause. What's the reward for raising the most? Well bragging rights and the other blogs talking about this one.

It would have been interesting to see if we could have put an alliance together, not necessarily with other political blogs, but rather with all the personal blogs and use that network. Well if they do this again, I may suggest it to management, of course you can drop the boss a note or leave a comment as well.

The blog competition ends as 12:01 am PDST on Thursday (9 1/2 hours from now). Check it out and check out Spirit of America.

The Village Voice has started the call, where will it end??

(Hat tip OpinionJournal.com)

James Ridgeway at The Village Voice has called for the Democratic Party to dump Kerry and replace him with ANYBODY else. It seems the Democrats are starting to realize Kerry's foot in mouth disease will make his winning in November difficult. Ridgeway is calling for either an open convention or drafting Edwards. Ridgeway's candidate appears to be Dean. Of course if Republicans could choose the Democratic nominee, they'd choose Dean as well if Teddy Kennedy wasn't available.

Will Kerry still be the Democratic nominee a month from now? If the WSJ had called for Kerry to step down I'd say no, but with the Village Voice saying it, maybe.

This should be a Darwin Award for sure

This story could be a hoax, but it is just too ironic to pass up.

Some bone heads in Gaza decide to rob someone. But instead of picking on a defenseless old man or woman, they decide to rob a suicide bomber and demand his bomb. The bomber decides he isn't going to let the thieves take his bombs so he detonates them, killing himself and the two robbers. The only thing I'm not sure of is who should get the Darwin Award. The robbers for trying to rob a suicide bomber or the bomber who decided his bomb was worth more then his life.

Golden Hair

Dude, Drudge is muckraking some more: Wish I could afford $1000 haircuts. . .Must be all that ketchup money. I have to settle for Fantasitic Sam's right now. . .or if I'm feeling like splurging, Supercuts.

Arizona Cardinals Football

In Pat Tillman's own words:

I was dumbfounded by everything that was going on. In times like this you stop and think how good we have it. I have always had a great deal of feeling for the flag but you don't realize how great of a life we have over here. In times like this, you think about how good we have it and what kind of a system we live under, what freedoms we are allowed. That wasn't built over night. The flag is a symbol of all that. A lot of my family has gone and fought in wars and I haven't really done a damn thing as far as laying myself on the line like that so I have a great respect for those that have and what the flag stands for.

I am thankful to all of the other men and women in armed forces that share those beliefs and who keep us a little safer.

Furry Feline Finds Friends in Francisco

Cat, missing seven years, turns up on the left coast. See Missing Florida Cat Found in California.

Sgt Hook: Taps

The Sarge was at Pat Tillman's KIA ceremony in Afghanistan. Read it.

Sgt Tillman is a hero not because he walked away from the Cardinals, but because of where he walked to. He like all the rest of the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coastguardsmen volunteered to put himself between the bad guys and our way of life and fight for its preservation.

Quote of the Day II

Taken from a comments page on the death of Pat Tillman, Ranger. Says "Gooch from Scottsdale" (emphasis mine):

"A true American hero has fallen. I appreciate the desire to hear from SportsNation regarding Tillman, but I cannot abide with calling his death 'tragic.'

I am deeply saddened by his death and our collective loss, but to call his death tragic, I believe, does a grave injustice to the essence of the man and that for which he stands. Tillman did not join the Army to become a hero. He didn't join to gain notoriety or fame. And though volunteering for military duty may have satisfied his inner desire to combat greater, more threatening enemies than those found on a football field, his act can only be viewed as completely selfless. Indeed, it epitomized the heart of brotherly sacrifice. He turned down greater fame and fortune for a chance to serve God and country. In so doing, he was killed. Many in our day of material pursuit and self-aggrandizement might view this trade-off as tragic. To them I say shame be on you. Do not defame this man or his family with such pettiness. Honor him in his death as he honored all of us by giving up his life. "

Help Me, Or I'll Start a Nuclear War

Let's see. . .North Korea thinks that we're close to a nuclear war, but now want help? For it's part, the US is stated to be willing to help.

Even more amazing is that the state run news agency suppresses the information from their own citizens.

Will this story ever appear in the NY Times or any US paper for that matter?

Times of London, has a story about a Marine patrol in Fallujah. Its a story filled with danger and adventure but because the Marines did well, and the bad guys lost, it seems to be not news worthy in the US. Or maybe the US reporters are too fearful to get near Fallujah to talk to the Marines on the ground there.

This is a very good article to read.

Update on Spirit of America

Last week I pointed to an article at OpinionJournal.com about a non profit which secures items here for the Marines to deliver in Iraq and help with the re-building of the country.

The primary project last week was to get 7 television stations back on the air (owned and operated by Iraqis where the US Military would have to buy advertising time just like Coca Cola) and they needed to raise US$100,000.00 for the equipment.

Well in today's column, bottom of the page (sorry, don't know how to link to go to that part automatically) there is an update. In a week, they raised $880,321.00 (yes that is correct, almost 9 times the amount needed). Donations ranged from $50,000 to $3.50.

spiritofamerica.net is the website for the org.

I also like what Jim Hake (founder) will do with the extra money. Not keep it in the US, but channel all of it to the projects in Iraq. Visit the web site for updates on the projects, funds raised and for accounting on how the money was used.

Supreme Sacrifice

You got it all, money, looks, fame. Why would you want to trade it in for slogging though the mountains waiting for a sniper's bullet or a land mine? Because serving your country is a high calling, not just a vocation. Much like Ms. Norley sees serving in the Army as serving others.

Pat Tillman, former NFL linebacker, was killed in action serving you and me.

(cap tip to Cpt Patti for the Ms. Norley link)

Quote of the Day

Some evidence that things are getting better in some places, Winds of Change.net notes:

"Libyan leader Muammar Qadaffi is seeking drastic legal reforms to his nation's totalitarian police state, including an end to his revolutionary court system as well as arrests without warrants. At this rate, one half expects him toss a shilling to a boy in the street and tell him to buy the biggest goose in all of Tripoli ... "

Indeed.

"I drove the SUV before I didn't drive the SUV."

"Kerry Says His 'Family' Owns SUV, Not He"
Flip. FLOP. Apparently Kerry really is a politician.

Blogs for Bush

At the risk of alienating some the other Carpetbloggers, there's a new link to Blogs for Bush in recognition of my candidate of choice.

To paraphrase a former chief executive: It's about terrorism, stupid.

It only took two years

From JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer

""WASHINGTON - On Sept. 11, 2001, the fourth hijacked plane crashed into a Pennsylvania field, the quick action of passengers possibly saving the U.S. Capitol from becoming a fireball. Now, two-and-a-half years later, Congress is readying its response. ""

If the Senate is wiped out by an attack, the State Governors can appoint people to replace them until the next election (so if the Senate was wiped out in 9/11, the appointed Senators would have had to run for re-election in November 2002).

If the House is wiped out by an attack, there is currently no mechanism to replace house members before the next scheduled election. House members cannot be appointed. At best special elections may be held. To change that, we would need to change our constitution. Some want to allow for appointments while others want to mandate elections must take place with in 45 days of the attack, the logistics of this are mind boggling. In 45 days people have to file their paper work and the States must hold a State wide election? When California held its recall election, many State workers said it would be very difficult. And that was with more time (they could see the recall gathering steam) then in the aftermath of a terrorist attacks. I don't know the correct answer but it is something we as a nation should look at.

Dude. . .

Druge gets down on Michael Moore.

Holy War

The opinion of a radical Muslim British citizen:

"But it was the events of 11 September that crystallised Sayful's worldview. 'When I watched those planes go into the Twin Towers, I felt elated,' he says. 'That magnificent action split the world into two camps: you were either with Islam and al Qaeda, or with the enemy. I decided to quit my job and commit myself full-time to al-Muhajiroun.' Now he does not consider himself British. 'I am a Muslim living in Britain, and I give my allegiance only to Allah.'

According to Sayful, the aim of al-Muhajiroun ("the immigrants") is nothing less than Khilafah - "the worldwide domination of Islam". The way to achieve this, he says, is by Jihad, led by Bin Laden. "I support him 100 per cent."

He ends the article:

"I want to warn that the police raids - if repeated - could create a bad situation.

"Islam is not like Christianity, where they turn the other cheek. If they raid our homes, it could lead to the covenant of security being broken.

"Islam allows us to retaliate. That would include" - he tugs his "Jihad" coat tight against the night air - "by violent means."

(cap tip to Andrew Sullivan)

It's Just Mulch

This is way beyond comprehension, a senator's wife stands accused of assaulting another patron at a garden center:

Sources told News4 that Mrs. Baucus was upset because another customer was getting help with mulch ahead of her.

Sources told News4's Pat Collins that Mrs. Baucus dropped a bag of mulch under the woman's car, then struck the woman in the body and face a number of times.

Is life so unfair that you have to duke it out down at the local OSH?

Religion as Baseball

It's baseball season and one of the other "owners" in one of my (four) fantasy leagues sent me this:

Calvinists believe the game is fixed.
Lutherans believe they can t win, but trust the Scorekeeper.
Quakers won t swing.
Unitarians can catch anything.
Amish walk a lot.
Pagans sacrifice.
Jehovah s Witnesses are thrown out often.
Tele-evangelists get caught stealing.
Episcopalians pass the plate.
Evangelicals make effective pitches.
Fundamentalists balk.
Mormons are in left field.
Dunkers are down by three.
Adventists have a seventh-inning stretch.
Atheists refuse to have an Umpire.
Baptists want to play hardball.
Premillenialists expect the game to be called soon on account of darkness.
The Pope claims never to have committed an error.

How the dangerous becomes the mundane

P. Mitchell Prothero at UPI has a "humorous" column about life in Baghdad and how people adjust to living in a dangerous place. Its worth reading as it helps to keep things in perspective.

"I believe it is peace for our time...

...Go home and get a nice quiet sleep." -- Nevill Chamberlain

Check out Allah's photoshop job, which gave me a chuckle; then a chill.

Lest somebody misconstrue, the Spanish troops and police forces on the job in Iraq and worldwide are to be commended for what they have endured and sacrificed for the sake of the Iraqi people and for the cause of safeing the world from Islamic terrorism.

The chill comes from my wondering what Zapatero has accomplished with the pullout other than popularity at the polls. Short term gains for a Spanish political party in exchange for long term losses for the rest of us?

It is not so much the actual intent of the Spanish government to pull their troops (as is their right) out at this moment in time, rather it is the impression that such a withdrawal gives those who think (however wrongly) they have influenced the Spanish political process. Mark my words, we haven't seen the last of this sort of work by terrorists.

November looms.

al-Sadr Not an Obstacle

Tim over at CPT Patti excerpts a good analysis on al-Sadr and his impacts on Iraqi democracy. Read.

Falluja Fallout

The Instapundit has it all:

VIETNAM? IT'S NOT EVEN MOGADISHU.

...

[emailer Rand Simberg writes,] Fallujah isn't Tet, and it's not Mogadishu either. It does appear that the next attempt at dressing it up in old clothes (though not so old this time) will be to resurrect the myth of the Jenin "massacre," and to try to make it appear of similar kind.

But the key quote is Glenn's summary, "the real problem is political, not military".

One CPTs View

Over at CPT Patti, Tim runs down a briefing given to families whose soldiers have had their tours recently extended in Iraq, including his. From the briefing:

If you see it in the popular media there is a 90% chance that it is wrong or incomplete on some important detail. Why? The media doesn't "get it"...meaning they don't understand military operations, terrorism, the vagueries of birthing democracy. The media isn't embedded with the soldiers seeing from the inside...the top notch reporters, as a rule, have been pulled out of the area, leaving us with young, hungry guys who want to make a name for themselves....and how do you do that? Well, it isn't by reporting happy stories, apparently...nor buy covering the big stories that aren't "convenient" to cover. He said "I've been studying military history for 30 years...and the recent battle of Kut, which no one reported, is the most significant military reversal in the shortest time I've ever heard of. You'll be impressed when somebody finally writes the story.

...

The uprising last week was "relatively minor". And if you've seen reports that al Sadr is offering to negotiate, well, there "ain't gonna be any negotiations".

CPT Patti Fisks Rooney

Check it out:

It appears you underestimate the American Soldier, Mr. Rooney. It appears you assign to them the status of victim where they do not consider themselves such.

You impugn ribbons and medals, when you miss the point that those are testaments of a job well done, one to be proud of. You call them tricks, Mr. Rooney. And in so doing you insult every Soldier who strives every day to do his job and to do it well...a slap in the face for achieving excellence. Medals are symbols of accomplishment Mr. Rooney. A sign to the Soldier and the world that says "Look...I strive to do the right and best thing, because they are the right and best thing...not because I seek wealth." In the America I live in Mr. Rooney, that's a pretty admirable thing.

What can you, I, we do to help Iraq

I'm not a soldier. I'm now too old to enlist as a private and I don't have the specialty skills that the military would be interested in to allow me to enlist, like being a doctor, lawyer or religious leader.

So what can I do to help the troops in Iraq? Well there are a number of reconstruction projects going on, but trying to get funding through the government procurement system is . . . . . . well lets just call it slow.

Jim Hake wanted to help and so is doing so. He is collecting money to buy items for schools, TV stations, toys, etc. and has arranged with the Marines to fly the stuff to Iraq where the Marines will see the items are used properly.

His organization, Spirit of America, works with the Marines and once a project is identified, he raises the funds, buys the equipment (all items are civilian and are locally available), ships it to Camp Pendleton and turns it over to the Marines.

His latest project is to raise $100,000 to purchase equipment so seven TV stations can be brought back on line in Iraq where Iraqis will own and run them. The only requirement is no anti-coalition propaganda and allow the Marines to BUY airtime for their own announcements.

Check out the article at OpinionJournal.com and consider donating part of your tax refunds towards a worthy cause. From the Spirit of America Web site, donations are TAX DEDUCTABLE so by giving part of your tax refund, you will lesson your taxes for 2004.

Tax Day

I normally don't link to NRO because its not a news site but rather a commentary site.

However, given that this is tax day and a lot of people are scrambling to get their returns done or filing an extension (DON'T go near a post office today if you can help it), I will make an exception to the norm.

Chris Edwards talks about how to make the tax code more equitable and easier to handle. Basically it comes down to instituting a Value Added Tax (VAT) at the federal level in exchange for simple flat tax with low rates.

Personally I would rather replace the income tax with a VAT because if we keep both, it won't be long until we have high income taxes and high VAT. In the UK, VAT is currently 17% plus income taxes which are much higher then the US.

Keeping things simple will reduce the cost of compliance, reduce cheating and make it easier to catch cheaters and reduce the cost of collecting the tax.

Of course the reason the tax code is so complicated and will remain so is because politicians like to give special breaks to their friends and there by making more exceptions to the rules.

Something doesn't seem to compute

The Associated Press has the following story:

"ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. - A patrolman from Wisconsin left his opponents in a cloud of powdered sugar dust by downing 9 1/2 doughnuts in three minutes to win a doughnut-eating contest for police officers in suburban Chicago."

So a group held a doughnut eating contest for police officers to raise money. What is the big deal?

Well, the winner ate 9 1/2 doughnuts in 3 minutes, that seems SLOW or rather a low quantity to win.

Ok, maybe I've watched too many movies or something but it seems like contestants would be able to eat more food or at least be able to eat 10 doughnuts in less then 3 minutes.

Anyway, in a day with more depressing stories, here is a fun one to read.

Divide and Conquer

Classic strategy. So far, the Brits and Germans are "scoffing":

In London, a British opposition spokesman said the purported truce offered was a sign that the Al Qaeda (search) network is rattled.

"It is obviously an attempt by Al Qaeda or the associates of Al Qaeda, to try and drive a wedge between the coalition," said Michael Ancram, foreign affairs spokesman for the opposition Conservative Party.

...

Officials from the German government said they will not negotiate with "criminals" like bin Laden, Reuters reported.

How can you trust murderers?

Like Star Trek, an alternative universe

The media and certain members of the 9-11 Commission seem to think Bush had enough information, time, place and type of attack to prevent the 9-11 attacks.

Hind sight is always better then fore sight (I would have purchased Dell stock in 1995 and sold in March 2001).

The information Bush had was that the terrorists were planning to attack the US (this had been a standard press release from them for years), would use attempt to high-jack a US airliner to secure the release of those who were convicted in the 1993 WTC bombing. There was also some indication the terrorist would use the local US network for logistic and other support and that a government building in New York City would be targeted with explosives.

Well, the WTC was owned by a government entity, but I don't think most people would have thought of it as a government building.

A jumbo jet with lots of jet fuel can be called an explosive, but again, I don't think that is how most people think of the airlines (and the airlines definitely DON'T want you to think of them that way).

No use was made by the 9-11 terrorists of US based cells at all.

Before 9-11, airline high-jackings were used to secure the release of people in exchange for the hostages, not to turn the airplane into a guided missile.

But what if Bush had connected all the dots and on September 10 started to detain the Saudi citizens for their crime and bombed Afghanistan and invaded Iraq. Well, three writers have written on what our alternative history would have been. The simple matter is the US was not on a war footing before 9-11 and the things that have been done since then were not possible before events happened that showed they were necessary.
Version 1
Version 2
Version 3

The next round of lawsuit's

The article is in the WSJ and you have to be a subscriber to see the article, but it is interesting.

Ever wonder why so many people go to Starbucks and the like when they can just as easily make their own coffee in the morning? Starbucks says their coffee taste better and that is the reason. Maybe. The other can be the caffeine content of the drink.

A medium cup of coffee at Starbucks has 233 mg of caffeine. The same amount from 7-11 only has 141 mgs. The coffee shops use more coffee grounds to make each pot (two tablespoons per 6 cups verses one tabs for 7-11 and the instructions on store bought coffee) which leads to a richer taste and more caffeine.

While at the moment caffeine is looked upon as a mild stimulant and is legal, how long before someone sues and eventually wins because they claim the sellers of coffee knew they were selling an additive drug and didn't warn people of the harmful effects of caffeine. If you have ever had bad caffeine withdrawals, you know it can be unpleasant.

So enjoy your coffee while you can, soon it will be make illegal because of the danger of caffeine.

Quick Take

From FoxNews, Janet Reno and John Ashcroft Did Not Discuss Al Qaeda:

Reno said that after Ashcroft replaced her when President Bush took office in 2001, she sent him memos saying the government needs to 'connect the dots' in regards to terrorism and to deal with it. But she said she doesn't recall talking to Ashcroft specifically about Al Qaeda or Usama bin Laden.

In other words, Reno said, "There's a problem, we don't know what it is, but you gotta figure it out." What gets me is that the other online services (CNN, ABC, MSNBC) don't even mention this at all.

Site of the Moment

And I mean moment. Check out the Human Clock.

The Peace of Good Friday

I am sometimes dismayed (ironically) that there is so much grief on Good Friday. Attending Good Friday services feels like a few funerals I have been too. I suppose that is what Good Friday has become in some places.

But the downcast faces and the grim countenances in the pews belie the triumph that Good Friday marks.

Or, rather, begins to mark. If the crucifixion of Jesus were merely the ending then I would understand the tone. The reality is that this holy day does not end on Saturday, but continues to Sunday to culminate in the celebration of the Resurrection.

Good Friday is the beginning of the testament that ends on Easter. This testament is the combined testament of God's justice, power and hope. God's sense of justice is satisfied with the only possible sacrifice. God's power is demonstrated in the raising of the dead. God gives us hope that eternal death will not overcome us.

In the Carpetblog, we tend to note the bad things in this world—mostly about events that point to the lack of peace in the world around us. But each of us who contribute to the Carpetblog knows that it is only God who brings true peace. Jesus did not come to bring physical peace to the world—at least not until eternity comes—but to bring spiritual peace to the people.

May Easter give to you this peace in these troubled times.

What is Good Friday?

What was good about this day?
On this day 1977 years ago (given Jesus was born around 6 BC), an innocent man was killed. As the governor said, Jesus did not do anything to deserve death.

What was good about this day?
The Jewish leadership, out of jealously and fear condemn one of their own to death without justification. They also show they are willing to collaborate with the Romans and submit to them willingly.

The Roman leadership was shown to not be a model of justice and truth but of opportunism and expediency.

Those who claim to be Christian and used the events of this day as justification to harm or kill Jewish people show themselves to be wicked and foolish and a bane to followers of Christ.

What was good about this day?
A man who was blameless was condemned to die an agonizing death. A man who spent 3 years teaching the Word of God to His followers, only to see them desert him at this time, might ask, "was my teaching in vain"?

What was good about this day?
What was good was that this good Man, this Jesus, was willing to go through the day and did not say "no thanks". Because without this day, which is a day of mourning, the miracle of Sunday would not have been possible. If one does not die, one can not be raised from the dead.

What was and is good about this day?
Jesus the Christ was willing to pay any price to ransom his people from the yoke of slavery and offer salvation to all who ask. On this day He paid the price. And because He paid it, we can be saved and that is why this day is GOOD.

Smash Smashes Left

Citizen Smash and an interpid band of bloggers
get it on with a radical left "protest" next to the 32nd Street Naval Station in San Diego. Read the blow by blow! Also if you are willing to wade thorugh the ad hominium posturing in the comments section there is some worthwhile reading.

Going to the source

Associated Press

The media is going to have trouble with the Military again.

Instead of relying on the media to tell the entire story of what is happening in Iraq, the military will form its own news service and provide information to the papers and to the internet.

Its another way the media will not be able to control the story or slant it to their own viewpoint. Its a lot easier to confront a paper or TV pundit who says the work in Iraq is going well or bad when the military is showing the opposite.

Fueling the inferno

Debra J. Saunders at the San Francisco Chronicle has a very good article with the above title.

The bad guys attack Spain, the voters decide to change from a government that is helping to rebuild Iraq (getting to the root cause of terrorism per the Left, ending poverty etc.) to one that will pull out of Iraq now. The bad guys now say Spain has to also pull out of Afghanistan or Spain will be turned into an inferno.

When the Spanish police close in on the gang that set of the train bombs, the kill themselves instead of being captured so they can't reveal what other attacks are planned (they found another bomb on a high speed train last weekend).

The world has to re-learn the lessons we should have remembered from the 1930s. APPEASEMENT DOES NOT WORK. If it did, the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia would have prevented World War 2.

California Supreme Court (CSC) does something right

From the Associated Press

The CSC strengthened the States fetus protection law. It ruled 6 to 1 that if a person kills a woman and didn't know she was pregnant, it will count as a double murder. The case was a result of a man who was convicted of murdering a women and her unborn child. He claimed he couldn't be held responsible for killing the fetus because he did not know and had no way of telling she was pregnant. The court ruled that fact didn't matter. Because of his actions the fetus died and so the man is guilty of killing both.

Something else I wouldn't mind getting

Well, it was only a matter of time. Instead of spending any energy swimming while scuba diving, now there is a portable submersible that one could ride while diving. While there have been scooters divers have used for a long time, they generally look like a short torpedo that pulls the diver along.

Here the diver sits on a seat, almost like a jet ski type, but it goes underwater.

While this would be a lot of fun, the two problems I would see in using this are:
1. While riding this type of scooter, it would be hard to get close to a reef or fish
2. It would be easy to get carried away and thus change depth too rapidly, dropping down 10 to 20 feet quickly is not a problem, going back up could be.

Still this could be a lot of fun, and only US$13k.

"Dance My Puppet , Dance"

It doesn't matter what the actual reasons were for the current government in Spain winning power. What really matters are the terrorist perceptions of why they did. And it appears that the terrorists think THEY shifted power in Spain, based on the murder of 191. It's murderous extortion, and it doesn't bother them. FoxNews cites a letter they recently wrote:

"If these demands are not met, we will declare war on you and ... convert your country into an inferno and your blood will flow like rivers," the letter said.

The group said it had showed its force with the "blessed attacks of March 11" and the planting of a bomb along the high-speed railway line linking Madrid and the Seville last week, which did not explode.

Dodger Blues

Stupid Dodgers. Now they have a malcontent to deal with. The Dodgers have taken the troubled outfielder, Milton Bradley, off of the Indians' hands for a promising minor leaguer. Here's a gem:

Last year, [Bradly] had run-ins with Los Angeles catcher Paul Lo Duca and Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi. Bradley also threw his helmet and bat in the direction of plate umpire Bruce Froemming.
Bradley had baseball cards of Lo Duca and Giambi above his locker this spring.

Um, HELLO? Paul Lo Duca is behind the plate for the Dodgers right now, or did somebody forget about that? I can't be the only one who sees the warning lights flashing right now, can I? So much for team chemistry. So far new management is not impressing me.

CPT Patti

Tim over at Cpt Patti recounts for us the thoughts of a formal intel officer on the multilation of the four American contractors day before last. Check out the article, it's worth reading. Key graf of Tim's friend:

I do not believe this was a random attack by disorganized Iraqis. This is called information warfare.

Do the Iraqis have a few copies of Black Hawk Down floating around somewhere?

The Humanity of the Far Left

Reflected by a lefty blogger. Allah is all over it like a wet blanket. Compare this statement:

"Those who participated in the butchery must be punished. The mob may oppose the Coalition occupation. They may support the insurgents. They may count the death of soldiers as victories. But there is no understanding the brutish slaughter of four unarmed men who were working to rebuild their country. It was a senseless crime of great barbarity."

With this one:

"There are real repercussions to Bush’s folly. . . . I feel nothing over the death of merceneries [sic]. They aren’t in Iraq because of orders, or because they are there trying to help the people make Iraq a better place. They are there to wage war for profit. Screw them."

Which one belongs to the Daily Kos? (tick tick tick tick) Times up. Yep, the second one. Who owns the first? The Arab News. What is more telling is that Herr Kos has also taken down his original post. Allah and lgf (and I presume the rest of the neocon blog community) are sticking to this guy like flies.

Update: Armed Liberal over at Winds of Change has a take on Kos' blog entry deletion and explanation of that deletion. Liberal also notes that Kos is mainstream: "he was involved in the Dean and Clark campaigns, and is building a political consultancy that works on national Democratic campaigns".

The Crux of the Election

Concerning the recent "flap" over Rice's pre-9/11 speach, Andrew Sullivan sums up my exact thoughts in words that I could never write:

The undelivered Condi Rice speech, leaked to the Washington Post, reaffirms what we already knew. The Bush administration - like the administration before it - did not adequately understand or guard against, let alone deal with, the threat of Islamist terrorism. Why is this such a scandal? The failure before 9/11 was a failure of intelligence but more deeply a failure to comprehend the full measure of the evil we face. Democracies tend to do that. It's hard enough to grapple with the idea that we could soon be facing a nuclear, chemical or biological catastrophe in the next few months or years now, let alone before the 9/11 massacre. What matters is what we're doing in the present, what our strategy is, how best to defeat the enemy. I don't get the political controversy, I really don't (although I appreciate the need to get to the bottom of what failed). Who believed the Bush administration was fully on the case in its first eight months? Of course they weren't. The fundamental issue in this election is: which candidate would best protect us in the future? Fighting partisan wars over the past is at best a distraction, at worst a dangerous one.

The Dems are out fishing. But if they think they're going to hook just one, it's going to be Clinton who gets pulled up along with Bush. I wonder what the implications would be for a Hillary run.