Putting It Back Into Context!

YIKES! Is this picture getting any clearer?

Laskar Jihad

Hat tip to Free Cyprus for this video:



From WikiPedia on Laskar Jihad, emphasis mine:

Laskar Jihad, or Holy War Warriors, was formed in 2000 in Ambon, Moluccan Islands, Indonesia, by Jafar Umar Thalib, who studied in Pakistan and fought with the mujahidin in Afghanistan in the late 1980s. Jafar admits to having met Osama bin Laden there but dismisses him saying the al Qaeda chief "knew nothing about true religion". Jafar claims to have rejected al Qaeda funding in 2001.
Between May 2000 to December 2001 an estimated 10,000 people were killed and hundreds of thousands had to flee their towns as Laskar Jihad burnt indigenous Melanesian Churches and communities in Ambon and other Moluccas islands as well as Christian communities in Sulawesi. A video of the group being welcome to Ambon by Indonesian authorities was later joined by allegations of murdered, torture, forced conversion to Islam, and forced circumcision. During 2001 and 2002 Laskar Jihad began to expand its activities sending militants to the provinces of Aceh and Papua, at opposite ends of the country. Although the group after the Bali bombing in October 2002 announced it was disbanding, during 2003 it requested the Indonesian government provide office space in Papua. In May 2003 reports smuggled out of Papua claimed fire and machete had been used to destroy ten townships, their food gardens and live stock sending the surviving women and children into jungle hiding from Indonesian forces. Video footage of an alleged Laskar Jihad training camp was broadcast in May 2005, and during June 2006 witness statements were gathered concerning three jihad training camps with 2500 troops allegedly training with TNI assistance near the PNG border.
Jafar, when asked (by Jessica Stern, in her book "Terrorism in the Name of God")whether he promotes Wahhabism in Indonesia responded: "No, not exactly. Sheik Muhammad ibn-Abdul Wahhab emphasizes some hadith that are weak....Ahle Sunnah-the Islamic teachings that we embrace-are more reliable, more fundamental. We are not taking Wahhab's point of view; we identify ourselves as people who follow Muhammad's friends. We criticize some of Wahhab's literature, as relying too heavily on weak hadith that may not be the word of Allah." He considers himself more fundamentalist than Osama bin Laden, though he makes a distinction between 'kafir' (infidels) who hurt Muslims and kafir who either help or do not harm Muslims. The former he is fighting against, the latter, he believes, ought not to be hurt. Television is banned in Laskar camps and women wear burqa; but

Got that? This is one bad dude, who thinks OBL is soft on the kaffir! This guy is persecuting Christians horrifically, and believes in the conversion by the sword, death, or dhimmitude!

Friday Gross-Out

From al-Reuters:

An undated handout photograph released on September 27, 2006 shows Lee Redmond of the U.S. who has won entry into the latest edition of Guinness World Records September 28, 2006 with the world's longest fingernails.

Is this not one of the most disgusting things you have ever seen? UGH! How does she use her hands AT ALL?











And now, for the coup de grace:

Psst... It's called a BRA, Babs!

Cartoon Friday

What the Pope SHOULD'VE said...
Hugo Chavez is looking into career options since he won't be making as much with Citgo anymore...


Not exactly a helping hand... But what can we expect from the U.N., really?



And it's business as usual here, too!

More Muslim Tolerance For The Pope And The West

This post to remain at the top for several days. Please scroll down for new posts.

This cartoon is courtesy of an official Hamas run daily newspaper.

After coming under heavy fire by Muslims for quoting a 14th century leader during a speech, Pope Benedict met with Muslim leaders and offered up his apologies for offending the tender sensibilities of Muslim crybabies, who proved the quote correct nonetheless, with riots and murders of Catholics.

During his meeting, the Pope spoke of the need for "authentic dialogue" between the two faiths, and espoused his "esteem and profound respect" for Muslims.
"[We must] guard against all forms of intolerance and oppose all manifestations of violence," said the Holy See.

End of discussion, right? Not if you are an intolerant and bloodthirsty Muslim from the "religion of peace!"

Hamas' state run television aired a sermon calling the Pope "arrogant," "stupid," and "criminal," and "will be judged by Allah" on the day "when eyes will stare in terror."

Very tolerant and reasonable, huh? Very , very peaceful and understanding.

Here is some of the "sermon."

"To this arrogant Pope, criminal and arrogant, this message is from Allah the Elevated and the Exalted, as it was said: 'Think not that Allah is unaware of what the wicked do. He but gives them a respite until a day when eyes will stare (in terror),'" stated Gaza preacher Osama Al-Mazini in a sermon broadcast by the official television station of Abbas' Fatah party.

"For this ignorant and stupid pope, who has no one to attack besides Islam and the prophet [Muhammad] ... [the pope] characterized Islam as a cruel religion and characterized Muhammad, may the Creator have mercy on him and protect him, as a cruel man, spilling blood, who strove to kill," Al-Mazini said.

Nice, don'tcha think? Here are some more reactions by the "religion of peace" that is Islam, courtesy of World Net Daily, emphasis mine.

Mehmet Ali Agca, the Turk who tried to kill Pope John Paul II in 1981, warned Benedict not to travel to Turkey, stating his life would be at risk.

That's no surprise. Muslims have already shot an innocent nun in the back while she was praying. (Can you imagine the outrage had a Catholic shot a Muslim prostrated over his prayer rug?) They also fire-bombed several churches.

In an interview with WND last week, a prominent Gaza preacher called for holy war against the pope. He declared the "green flag of Muhammad" would soon be raised over the Vatican.

TOTALLY peaceful. Uh-huh.

"We did not need the words of the pope in order to understand that this is a Crusader war against Islam and it is our holy duty to fight all those who support the pope, who follow him and who did not condemn what this small racist had to say," said Abu Saqer, speaking to WND from the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis.

So you had already made up your mind to kill the kaffir? I can't say that I'm surprised. Oh, and can you all PLEASE stop it with that Crusader stuff? That was a long, long time ago; it's time to let all of that GO.

You will also notice the race card being played...

"The day will soon come when the green flag of La Illah Illah Allah (There is no god but Allah) and Muhammad Rasul Allah (Muhammad is the prophet of Allah) will be raised upon the Vatican and all around the world and on the fortresses of those who want to destroy Islam, because they know that this religion obliges them to face the truth that Islam is Allah's favorite religion. And until they join Islam, hell is their last station," Abu Saqer said.

Forceful conversions? Damnation? The Vatican conquered?

Keep saying it to yourself until you believe the taquiyya: Religion of peace, religion of peace, religion of peace...

Oh, and what is Allah's second favorite religion, I wonder? *snicker*

Abu Saqer said he rejected the pope's stated apologies.

"He did not apologize. He said everything but an apology, which proves these are diplomatic acts and not a feeling of being sorry."

Nothing would ever please these people, so I don't know why the Pope even bothered.

Abu Saqer claimed he did not condone violence. He blamed the pope for recent anti-Christian attacks in the Palestinian territories."We are deeply sorry for these acts that we condemn," he said. "But I am sorry that this little racist did not think of the consequences upon the Christians in the Arab world when he insulted our prophet. It is an open war: the Muslims against all the others."

Oh, so it's OUR fault that we're FORCING you to kill us... Let's not forget, ladies and gentlemen, that Islam is the religion where, under Sharia law, a woman is at fault should she be violently raped...

"Yeah, we don't condone rape, but your burqa was a half an inch too short, and you should've thought about that before you left the house. Now get ready for your stoning."

"It is an open war: the Muslims against all others." Can their intentions be made any more plain?

Asked to respond directly to Paleologus' observations about Muhammad and Islam, Abu Saqer replied, "About your stupid question (He's a little confrontational, isn't he?) about our contribution to civilization, did not you read about who were the pioneers in medicine, in mathematics, in astronomy? Did not you hear about Averroes and others?

What others, exactly? And do you have anything more recent than Ibn Rushd, who lived from 1126-1198... Like, say, anything from the past two hundred years or so? Also, writing mainly analytical critiques of Aristotle's works isn't exactly contributing anything new to the world, per se.

"I am not reading poetry, I am saying the truth. Islam, it is not the source of violence. Who is occupying by force and violence Iraq and Afghanistan? Who is occupying Palestine? Who occupied for years the black people and turned them into slaves while one of the first leaders of Islam was the black Bilal Ibn Rabah?"

I find this strategy of appealing to African-American people, (who are of course tdescendantsnts of slaves) interesting, considering the high numbers of jailhouse conversions to Islam by blacks here in America.

Of course, the black Africans in Darfur and other areas who are being raped and slaughtered wholesale by racists Muslims who hate black people probably don't feel quite as accepted and embraced. It is also a commonly held belief amongst Arab Muslims that the black Muslim is inferior to them, as they cannot grow the same sort of long beard that Mohammed had...(As well as Asians and whites.)


Continued Abu Saqer: "Violence is a result of lack of faith. See the Western society and culture. See what free sex brings to your Western world and then see the family cell in Islam. Even our problems in Islam come when some parts of the Islamic population want to imitate your way of life."

Oh, it's our fault again, never, ever the fault of the Muslim purveyors of death and mayhem. Not to mention that violence is a staple of Sharia law! Cutting off hands and feet, stoning... Need I go on?

The Gaza preacher said the pope and the Christian world are "panicking" because they realize "who is winning."

"See how Islam is progressing and gaining more and more members and see the moral crisis in the West," he said. "See today the support of Islam in the Arab and Muslim world and how Islam is gaining more and more adherents in Europe and even in the United States and you understand that Islam is the future and that this dwarf pope was wrong. But I can sympathize with him. He is frustrated because he understands where things are heading."

Indeed, this little pustule on humanity is right about one thing... As it stands now, they will win. Their use of legal taqiyya in the West, coupled with constaacquiescinging by the PC movement will destroy us. We must not allow our leaders to move us quietly into dhimmitude!

WE MUST WAKE UP AND DEFEAT THIS THREAT!

I think that, from now on, every time I see one of those lame Mulim "The West are the REAL Nazi-esque cartoons, I will counter with this:





After all of the violence, 9-11, the cartoon riots, the homicide bombings, the threats, ect, ect, I firmly believe that Manuel II Paleologus was 100% correct in his assessment of Islam all of those centuries ago:

"Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

Pocket Full Of Mumbles has an excellent essay on just how much tolerance we should have for this insanity!

Twelfth Imam: For Kids

You know how Islam is... They've got those kids trainied to kill the kaffir from the moment they can crawl!

Here's an early reader to help get 'em ready!







































I want to meet the Twelfth Imam
I want to meet him
Tom, I am

I'll kill the infidel here or there
I'll kill those infidels anywhere
I'd like to kill them in a boat
I'll dump their bodies in a moat

I'd like to meet him in the rain
I think I'll go blow up a train
I'll hide explosives in a box
I must be smart just like a fox

I'd like to meet him in my house
I'll take a bath and then delouse
I'd like to meet the Twelfth Imam
I want to meet him
Tom, I am



Hat tip to Glenn Beck Insider age234 for the pic, and SingerGuy59 for the words!

Religion Of Peace Preaching... HATRED!

MEMRI TV has translated a lovely demonstration of the peaceful nature of Islam.

Palestinian Sheik Ibrahim Mudeiris preaches hatred for Jews, and the subjugation of Britain and America, right from the pulpit at Friday prayers.








Watch, and be appalled!

More Ineffectiveness From The U.N.

NOW can we disband the U.N.?

Despite passing a resolution demanding the disarmament of Hezbollah as a condition of the cease-fire between Israel and the Lebanon based terror group, the U.N. now says that
"under the resolution, their job is merely to assist the Lebanese army in regaining control of southern Lebanon and to ensure the area cannot be used for launching rocket attacks into northern Israel."

Do people understand that the Lebanese army is a joke? Some of their soldiers are actually wearing tin pots as helmets, and nearly all of their weaponry is grossly out of date.

Meanwhile, Lebanese security officials say the army's mission in the south is based on what they call an "understanding" with Hezbollah that the army will not search for and seize weapons, but only confiscate those shown in public.

SO, NOW CAN WE DISBAND THE U.N.?

Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, at a rally last week, "publicly stated that he is out to flout the will of the international community and to prevent the implementation of what was an unanimous resolution of the Security Council." At the rally in the Beirut suburbs Friday, Nasrallah vowed his guerrillas will not surrender their weapons and said: "There is no army in the world capable of making us drop our weapons as long as there will be people who believe in this resistance."

French peacekeepers setting up base near the town of Deir Kifa noted they had encountered a less-than-friendly reception from some residents, who defiantly waved yellow Hezbollah flags. "We mustn't be seen as an occupying force; the people can reject us very quickly," said Col. Jerome Salle. He said the U.N. troops would mount patrols but would not establish checkpoints on public roads, to avoid inflaming residents. Gen. Alain Pelligrini, the French officer who commands the U.N. force, said the peacekeepers wouldn't even act if they saw weapons being carried openly by Hezbollah fighters. "No, I would ask the Lebanese army to intervene and if the Lebanese army has difficulties in intervening, then we would see what we need to do," he said last week.

HONESTLY, why are we giving money and support to the U.N.? WHY?!?

Movie Tag!

I've been tagged by Mad Zionist! I've procrastinated enough. Here goes...

1. The last movie you saw in a theatre, and current-release movie you still want to see.

Last seen in a theatre: Superman Returns.

Still want to see: Hollywoodland, and the Black Dahlia.

2. Last movie purchased/rented for home viewing:

Purchased: United 93

Rented: A History of Violence (eh)

3. A movie that made you LOL:

Monty Python And The Holy Grail

4. A movie that made you cry:

I don't recall a movie that made me cry... I'm a heartless NeoCon, you know. ;)

5. A movie that was a darling of the critics, but you didn't think lived up to the hype:

I don't know. Considering that most critics are leftist artsy-farsty morons who wouldn't know their own elbow from a hole in the ground, I don't pay much attention to what they say.

6. A movie that you thought was better than the critics:

See above answer.

7. Favorite animated movie:

It's more of a series, but my fave is Lodoss Wars.

8. Favorite Disney villain:

Judge Frolo from the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

9. Favorite movie musical:

Man of La Mancha.

It isn't a musical yet(coming next year), but another favorite is Sweeney Todd.

Favorite movies of all time: (Up to five)

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Full Metal Jacket

Patton

Much Ado About Nothing

Legend

Now that I've done my tag, I'm passing the buck... D.Daddio, Eyes All Around, and Cube.

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

The Great Soda Conspiracy, Or Muslim Paranoia

Check out THIS Iranian version of Dateline.

I'll bet you didn't know that the "Zionist conspiracy" had spread so far, did you?

Thanks again, MEMRI!

Leftist Talking Points

"Fatwa Fridays" At The Car Lot

I don't know about you, but I cracked up when I heard a car dealership in Columbus, Ohio was declaring a "Jihad on the automotive market" and would be offering "Fatwa Fridays", where one could get great deals on new and used vehicles, and a free rubber sword for the kids!

Dennis Mitsubishi was all set to have "burqa-wearing representatives" selling vehicles that can "comfortably seat 12 jihadists in the back."

They also said that "Our prices are lower than the evildoers' every day... Just ask the Pope!"

OK, hilarious, but probably not such a great idea, huh?

Rather than let this promo succeed or fail on its own (and my kids would LOOOOVE a rubber sword), CAIR of Ohio had to get in on the action, naturally.

Despite the ad never being aired, CAIR leapt in to suppress and intimidate the dealership.

From CNN.com:


The Council on American-Islamic Relations Sunday had complained publicly about plans for a commercial it said would have proclaimed a "jihad" on the U.S. auto market, offering "Fatwa Fridays" with sales representatives giving play swords to children. Mirza said the Council would likely contact the dealer to "offer some kind of cultural or sensitivity awareness training."

Sensitivity training from CAIR? I wonder how to say "GO TO HELL" in Arabic?

White And Nerdy!

Today is a red-letter day, folks! My all-time favorite "artist" is releasing a new album!

When I was a little girl, my mom gave me my first allowance, and I rushed right out to the RECORD STORE and purchased Weird Al Yankovic's BAD on vinyl. I still have it to this day!

I will be purchasing Straight Outta Lynwood as soon as I can get myself to a store today!

For a peek at one of the videos, go here. Be patient; it is a little slow loading up, but well worth the wait!

For all of you Weird Al and Glenn Beck fans, here's a money shot! ;)





How White and Nerdy Are You?

"God Is Good!"

Alice was to bake a cake for the
Baptist Church ladies' group bake sale in
Tuscaloosa, but she forgot to do it until the last
minute.

She remembered it the morning of the bake sale, and
after rummaging through cabinets she found an
angel food cake mix and quickly made it
while drying her hair and dressing
and helping her son Bryan pack up
for Scout camp.

But when Alice took the cake from the oven, the center
had dropped flat and the cake was horribly disfigured.

She said,
"Oh dear; there's no time to bake another cake."

This cake was so important to Alice because she did so
want to fit in at her new church, and in her new
community of new friends. So, being inventive, she
looked around the house for something to build up the
center of the cake. Alice found it in the bathroom:
A roll of toilet paper. She plunked it in and then covered it with icing.

Not only did the finished product look beautiful, it
looked perfect!

Before she left the house to drop the cake by the
church and head for work, Alice woke her daughter
Amanda and gave her some money, specific
instructions to be at the bake sale the minute it
opened at 9:30, and to buy that cake and bring it
home.

When the daughter arrived at the sale, she found that
the attractive, perfect cake had already been sold.

Amanda grabbed her cell phone and called her Mom.

Alice was horrified; she was beside herself! Everyone
would know, and what would they think? "Oh, my," she wailed!
She would be ostracized, talked about, ridiculed. All
night Alice lay awake in bed thinking about people
pointing their fingers at her and talking about her
behind her back.

The next day, Alice promised herself that she would
try not to think about the cake, and she would attend
a fancy luncheon/bridal shower at the home of a
friend of a friend and try to have a good time.

Alice did not really want to attend because the
hostess was a snob who more than once had looked down
her nose at the fact that Alice was a single parent,
and not from the founding families of Tuscaloosa, but
having already RSVP'd she could not think of a
believable excuse to stay home.

The meal was elegant,
the company was definitely upper crust old South...
and to Alice's horror, the CAKE in question
was presented for dessert.

Alice felt the blood drain from her body when she saw
the cake, she started out of her chair to rush to
tell her hostess all about it, but before she could
get to her feet, the Mayor's wife said,
"What a beautiful cake!"

Alice, who was still stunned, sat back in her chair
when she heard the hostess
(who was a prominent church member)
say,
"Thank you, I baked it myself."

Alice smiled and thought to herself,

"GOD is good."

Jihadi Bride Magazine

Click to enlarge.
Ever wonder what would happen if the company that produces Woman's Day Magazine started branching out into Muslim markets?

Hat tip to Stuff On Fire for this wonderful pic!

Clinton FREAKS OUT!!!

Apologies to those who read this post prior to 16:00; the missing YouTube interview (pt.2) has been added.



Apparently Clinton can't!





I may not be as smart as "Bubba", but can I ask just one question:

Why on Earth would Wallace ask President Bush about preventing the attack on the Cole?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Ow, my side...

For Part 3, click here.

Same Old Hamas...

Are you ready for a couple more little rays of sunshine from the Middle East?

Here goes...

The Prime Minister of the Palestinian "government" has refused to recognize Israel's right to exist.

Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said, ""I personally will not head any government that recognizes Israel," Haniyeh said in a mosque sermon in Gaza City.

How comforting.

The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, was at the UN on Friday when Haniyeh issued his statement. The President has stated that he would not ask Haniyeh to personally recognize the right of Israel to exist, but rather to abide by the PLO's agreements to recognize the Jewish state.

That's kind of like the Vice President publicly stating that he thinks the Constitution is a load of crap, and the President telling him, "That's OK, as long as you do what it says."

Of course, we couldn't wrap this up without an Iranian threat or two against the west... Check this out.


Speaking of the UN and debacles... Did anyone else awake in an alternate universe today?

Nanci Pelosi came to the defense of President Bush, calling Hugo Chavez "an everyday thug." WOW!


"Hugo Chavez fancies himself a modern day Simon Bolivar but all he is an everyday thug," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said at a news conference, referring to Chavez' comments in a U.N. General Assembly speech on Wednesday.

"Hugo Chavez abused the privilege that he had, speaking at the United Nations," said Pelosi, a frequent Bush critic. "He demeaned himself and he demeaned Venezuela."

Tell me again why we let these clowns into our country? If there were any time for Bush to orchestrate the clandestine controlled demolition of a building, this would've been it!

Vernon Robinson Update

Some time ago I posted about how impressed I was with Vernon Robinson, despite the fact that he is not in my Congressional district.

Here is his latest ad:



I hope he runs for President one day in the near future!

A Clear And Present Danger

The Paperless Society?

I haven't been posting or reading for a few days, but with good reason.

I have been filling out reams of paperwork! My son is a bit behind with speech and motor skills, and in order to get an evaluation for a therapeutic pre-school, I have to do literally 100+ pages of hand- written observations on his behavior and history.

I'm almost done, and I plan to get back to making the rounds later today and tomorrow!

Religious Tolerance and Islam

While "religious tolerance" is on the lips of Muslims who consider themselves slighted by the Pope's recent comments, we see these examples of the "tolerance" of Islam...


Go to Yankees Go Home to read and see it all!



Meanwhile, Islamic websites are hosting "Kill Bush" video games:

Red type is mine.

From CNN:

-- A video game that prompts players to kill characters that look like President Bush has been posted on a number of Islamist Web sites.

The game is called "Quest for Bush," or "The Night of Bush Capturing."

Not surprising. High-tech effigy burning, if you ask me.

Players are prompted to advance through six missions against soldiers who look like Bush, followed by a seventh mission against a character that looks like the president that takes place in a desert-like region. During the game, jihadist songs are played in the background.

I, for one, am enjoying my "Kill Ahmadinejad" video game... No, wait... WE DON'T DO THAT HERE!!!

The video game says it is produced by the Global Islamic Media Front, which is described by the SITE Institute as "a jihadist mouthpiece organization."

I'm sure that they're just referring to that "inner spiritual struggle." Riiiight.

SITE -- Search for International Terrorist Entities -- is a research organization that specializes in terrorists and terrorist groups.

The Bush game appears to be based on previously released games. One called "Quest for al Qaeda" was issued after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and another called "Quest for Saddam," issued after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The latest version of the game contains the phrase, "Quest for Bush."

Game missions include "Jihad Beginning," "A Day at the Desert," "Jihad Growing Up," "Americans' Hell," "Searching for Bush" and "Bush Hunted Like a Rat."

I see a theme. Heh.

The game uses a number of languages: some descriptions are written in English, others are in Arabic and others are in both languages. Labels on boxes containing gas masks in the game say, "Fabrique en France," French for "Made in France."

That's probably a paid endorsement, you know!

In the first mission, the player is in an American military camp, where pictures of Bush, U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Iraqi Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani are plastered on the walls.

The player starts out armed solely with an assault rifle. During the game, the player's goal is to obtain a shotgun, a grenade launcher and a machine gun before advancing to a final fight against a character that looks like the president.

The game appears to be inspired by "Doom," a video game released in 1993 in which the player -- wielding a weapon on the video screen -- has to collect other weapons and ammunition, slay a series of armed opponents and then find the path to the next level. Victory is achieved once all the enemies have been vanquished.


So there you have it, folks! Another sterling example of peace and tolerance from the "non-violent" religion of Islam.

Who Would Die For You?

A fellow blogger, Lawman, is overseas on military duty. Please visit his blog, From Behind the Badge, and wish him well!

Arbeit Macht Frei

In the second installment on Wright Patterson Air Force Base Museum, I have taken a few pictures of the Arbeit Macht Frei exhibit, which contains pictures and artifacts, and a memorial to the concentration camp.

It is, of course, a sobering experience.

Click on any image for a larger view.






This is a coat from the Camp, and next to it, a picture of the man who wore it.




















I, for one, was not aware that POW's were forced to enter concentration camps as just another number...










This was one thing that struck me the most in the Arbeit Macht Frei exhibit.

Just like nowadays, our enemies are lying to international forces, and putting on a good show. The more things change, the more they stay the same, huh?

#7 !

Today is Mr. NeoCon's and my seventh anniversary. Although we couldn't do much today due to work schedules, we will be wrangling some babysitting for the weekend, and wining and dining each other!

Hoorah!

Revised Map Of Iraq

The new government in Iraq has decided to release a revised map of the country, after years of neglect by Saddam Hussein.

A New Terrorist State?

So, is Algeria now considered a terrorist state?

I will reproduce the linked article below.

From the AP:

PARIS - Al-Qaida has for the first time announced a union with an Algerian insurgent group that has designated France as an enemy, saying they will act together against French and American interests.

Current and former French officials specializing in terrorism said Thursday that an al-Qaida alliance with the Salafist Group for Call and Combat, known by its French initials GSPC, was cause for concern.

"We take these threats very seriously," Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said, adding in an interview on France-2 television that the threat to France was "high" and "permanent," and that "absolute vigilance" was required.

Al-Qaida's No. 2, Ayman al-Zawahri, announced the "blessed union" in a video posted this week on the Internet to mark the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States.

France's leader have repeatedly warned that the decision not to join the U.S.-led war in Iraq would not shield the country from Islamic terrorism. French participation in the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon could give extremists another reason to strike.

The national police had no immediate comment on the announced alliance, but officials have long regarded the GSPC as one of the main terror threats facing France.

French experts agreed, but also noted the group has been severely weakened by internal divisions, security crackdowns and defections in Algeria, a former French territory still working to put down an Islamic insurgency that reached its most murderous heights in the 1990s.

"The GSPC is losing speed and has suffered very significant losses in recent months," said Louis Caprioli, former assistant director of France's DST counterterrorism and counterintelligence agency.

Some GSPC fighters took advantage of a recent Algerian amnesty for Islamic insurgents and others have been killed, said Caprioli, who works for Geos, a risk management firm.

Of the 800 combatants that GSPC was estimated to have had last year, probably no more than 500 remain, and the group has had no operational cells in France since the late 1990s, he said.

But Caprioli and others also said an alliance of GSPC and al-Qaida could increase the terror risk for France — not least because al-Zawahri's designation of the country as a worthy target could inspire extremists to take action.

In his video, Al-Zawahri hailed "the joining up" of the GSPC with al-Qaida as "good news."

"All the praise is due to Allah for the blessed union which we ask Allah to be as a bone in the throats of the Americans and French Crusaders and their allies, and inspire distress, concern and dejection in the hearts of the traitorous, apostate sons of France," he said.

"We ask him (Allah) to guide our brothers in the Salafist Group for Call and Combat to crush the pillars of the Crusader alliance, especially their elderly immoral leader, America."

Although GSPC leaders had previously sworn allegiance to al-Qaida, al-Zawahri's video marked the first al-Qaida recognition of a union between the two, French terror experts said.

"From now on, the links are official, legitimate, and they are taking part in the same combat," said Anne Giudicelli, a former French diplomat specializing in the Middle East who runs the Paris-based consultancy Terrorisc.

Sarkozy said it was "not by chance" that al-Qaida used the emblematic Sept. 11 date to announce the insurgency movement's alliance with al-Qaida.

"But there is nothing new," he added, noting that the GSPC had done the same three years ago.

The GSPC, in its own statement on a Web site used by militants, confirmed the alliance and urged other militant groups to also join al-Qaida.

Giudicelli said the alliance could act as a green light for al-Qaida and GSPC militants to operate together and thus raises the risk for France.

"The Americans have become harder to target domestically, so they are trying to widen the field of action and strike their allies," she said.

The Suicide Of Western Culture

Russet Shadows over at Strange Fire has a worthwhile read...

Western culture wants to die, and the Islamic Caliphate is the doctor overseeing its care. For Western culture was sick and self-hating for some time before it went to see the doctor, but now it has progressively worsened. In short, Western culture is experiencing corporately what Terri Schiavo experienced individually.

Read the whole thing...

Muslims Want The Pope To Shut Up!

Muslim leaders got their panties in a bunch yesterday over comments made by Pope Benedict on his visit to Germany.

From Reuters:

In his speech at the University of Regensburg on Tuesday, Benedict quoted criticism of Islam and the Prophet Mohammad by 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, who wrote that everything Mohammad brought was evil and inhuman, "such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." Benedict, who used the terms "jihad" and "holy war," repeatedly quoted Manuel's argument that spreading the faith through violence is unreasonable, adding: "Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul."

14th Century, huh? So you mean violence by Muslims isn't a new thing?

All in all, the Pope sounds as if he made a few salient and valid points!

The head of the Egyptian-based Muslim Brotherhood called for Islamic countries to break off relations with the Vatican unless the Pope withdrew his remarks.

*Gasp* Noooo... ANYTHING but that...

The Vatican tucked it's tail and quickly issued a statement to say that the Pope never meant offense to Islam. The Vatican press office said in a statement the pope had not intended to carry out an in-depth study of jihad (holy war) and Muslim thinking about it, "even less to offend the sensitivity of the Muslim faithful."

"It is clear that the Holy Father's intention is to cultivate a position of respect and dialogue toward other religions and cultures, and that clearly includes Islam," the statement by chief Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said.

It's a good thing he did acquiesce, 'cause just look at what happens to Priests that piss Islam off.

From Alijazeera.Net:

"This is the second time such an offence has been give before Ramadan," he said, referring to last year's publication of cartoons in a Danish newspaper that led to violent protests by Muslims around the world.

And we've all seen how much it takes to throw you guys into a violent frenzy, huh? NOT MUCH.

A top religious leader in Turkey advised that the Pope reconsider his visit to Turkey... And I have to wonder if that is a threat!

"I do not see any use in somebody visiting the Islamic world who thinks in this way about the holy prophet of Islam. He should first rid himself of feelings of hate," NTV's Web site quoted Bardakoglu as saying.

Sure, the Pope is full of hate... That's why he want Israel wiped off of the map. Oh, wait, that's not the Pope, is it? It's an Islamic leader!

Bardakoglu, whose directorate controls all imams in Turkey and sends prayer leaders to Turkish communities abroad, recalled atrocities committed by Roman Catholic Crusaders during the Middle Ages in the name of their faith against Orthodox Christians and Jews as well as Muslims.

Could y'all get over the Crusades? It was in the Middle Ages, for crimeny's sake! Why is it that every time a Muslim so much as perceives insult by a Christian, they start in on the Crusades? When was the last time we had one? When was the last time Muslims killed a Christian for their religion? 'Nuff said! (And that's just a cursory look! The examples are innumerable!)

Benedict is due to visit Turkey, an avowedly secular state whose population is predominantly Muslim, in November at the invitation of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. In Qatar, prominent Muslim scholar Sheikh Youssef al-Qaradawi rejected the Pope's comments and said Islam was a religion of peace and reason.

Uh-huh. That's why you still treat your women as chattel, and stone and 'honor' rape and kill them, right?

"Muslims have the right to be angry and hurt by these comments from the highest cleric in Christianity," Qaradawi told Al Jazeera television. "We ask the pope to apologize to the Muslim nation for insulting its religion, its Prophet and its beliefs."

Really, you sack of horse crap? Where are the apologies when someone gets their head sawed off on video for Islam's sake? Where were the profusions of "forgive us" when 9-11 happened? (It IS the fifth anniversary this week!) Where, pray tell, are the "mea culpas" when Muslims shouted "Allahu Akbar", and danced in the streets while handing out cake and candy to their children? Where, for God's sake, are the protestations when we see photographs of those very kids wielding automatic weapons, and at the tender age of five tell news reporters about how they want to become Shaheed and kill the Zionists and the infidel? Where is the condemnation when death and violence are promised against the infidel from your very mosques?

That's what I thought.


So just ask yourself, "What Would Muhammad Do?" I think we all know the answer to that question. Feel free to speculate in the comments field!

Ronald Reagan's Coat

Last weekend the family and I went out to Wright Patterson Air Force Base Museum, and fun was had by all!

I took a multitude of pictures, and some of them actually turned out. (I'm not even an amateur photographer, you see...) So, I have decided to make a few separate posts this week, featuring things at the AFB Museum that I found interesting, and that took a decent picture!

Click for larger pictures.

This is President Reagan's Wool overcoat, worn during his service in the Air Force in WWII, donated by him.

He also donated his lapel pins, shoulder patch, and service card.

OUCH!!!

You know how all of you guys cringe when you see another guy get hit in *ahem*
an area of particular sensitivity?

Well, here's one for the ladies...
Marie Michel Jean gave birth to the biggest baby EVER recorded in Norwich, Conn. on Tuesday. The newborn weighed in at a massive 14 pounds, 13 ounces!

Marie was not a gestational diabetic, which can cause macrosomic babies, but rather has a history of big kids. Her oldest son was 9 lbs., her youngest was 12, and her twins were each 8 1/2 lbs!

Think about that... That is 17 pounds of baby! Yikes!

Her husband, an over-the-road trucker, is on his way home to see the latest addition to the family.

Marie, for her part, is glad to be delivered.

"I was miserable," Michel said. "I couldn't sleep at night. My 13-year-old son had to help me get in and out bed."

The baby is too big for newborn diapers, and already wears clothing sized for a six-month old.

"I have baby clothes but I don't think they will be able to fit," Michel said. "I think I will have to return them."

Hypocrisy In Action:

Pretty much says it all, huh?

Barbie And Her Pooping Dog

So there I am, watching afternoon cartoons with the kids, when a commercial for this comes on:

This is Barbie and Tanner, her pooping dog.

Product Features:

*Tanner Barbie's doll is soft and fuzzy and her mouth, ears, head and tail really move

*You can open Tanner's mouth and feed her dog biscuits

*Comes with dog bone and chew toy that Tanner can hold in her mouth

*When Tanner has to go to the bathroom Barbie cleans up with the magnetic scooper

And don't worry; in the interest of racial equality, she also comes in "African-American."


So, my five-year old daughter immediately starts begging me for one! She thinks the fact that the doggie can not only eat, but poop too, may be the coolest thing since sliced bread.

I told her there was NO WAY I was going to purchase a pooping dog/Barbie combo, and informed her that if she thought picking up dog poo looked like so much fun, there is a whole backyard of it (courtesy of our Great Dane) she could tackle... That's probably good for at least an hour of fun, by my reckoning!

She was less than amused.




And don't worry, all you cat lovers! If, like Nanc, you are less than enamored with dogs, Mattel has a feline option for you:





Product Features:

*Mika, Teresa's cat can drink some water from a bottle and then wets in her litter box

*Teresa scoops ups litter clumps in the litter box

*Comes with a kitty litter box, bottle, cat litter in a variety of colors, litter scooper, cat food bowl and cat toys

*All accessories included

* Recommended Age Range 3 to 14 Years

Our Daughter: A.K.A. Mountain Goat

This is our daughter, Genna. She just turned a year old, and she can't walk yet, but she can climb anything!



I figured I'd better tape this for evidence, so that when she breaks something, I don't go to jail! ;)

Screw Loose Change - Not Freakin' Again edition

If you've ever been forced by a crackpot liberal friend, or chosen to watch "Loose Change" to see what all the X-Files-esque crap was all about, then do yourself a favor: Pop some corn, crack open a cold soda and watch "Srcew-Loose Change-Not Freakin' Again Edition." It'll make you feel good to see that piece of tripe shredded to bits. Actually, I didn't know that a second edition of "Loose Change" had been made. Ugh. Links that also debunk Loose Change: http://www.lolloosechange.co.nr http://www.lolinfowars.co.nr http://www.loosechangeguide.com http://screwloosechange.blogspot.com http://www.debunking911.com http://www.911myths.com Hat tip to Cate at Soccer Mom: Unplugged!

Arab Hypocrisy Towards 9-11.

“When the twin towers collapsed… My lungs filled with air and I breathed in relief, as I had never breathed before."
'Ali 'Uqleh 'Ursan,
Syrian Arab Writers Association chairman
Al-Usbu' Al-Adabi (Damascus)
September 15, 2001

Watch this short movie from MEMRI Films, but be sure to either have a stiff drink, or take your blood pressure meds first!

Moby: The Fourth (Male?) Dixie Chick...

I realize that this post will have no real impact on your life whatsoever, other than sheer entertainment value. Well, that's not true. Maybe it'll save you about $17 in the future, if you didn't dislike Moby already.

Moby has a blog, wherein he expresses his deepest feelings a la the Dixie Chicks or perhaps Cindy Sheehan. Here is his latest:

journal

go home, gw.

Sep 10, 2006 - nyc

dear president bush,

stay out of new york.

you don't like us and we don't like you.

90% of us voted for john kerry in the last election. we don't trust you, and we believe, based

on your record, that you've been a terrible president.

you're supposed to come to new york city today.

you're not welcome here.

you only come to new york city when you need to bolster your poll numbers.

you came here after 9-11 even though you ignored warnings of terrorist attacks and cut f

unding to anti-terrorist programs.

you came here for the rnc convention even though your policies have made america less

safe.

you are not welcome in nyc.

go back to texas where you can cut wood for the tv cameras.

or go back to washington d.c where you can watch dick cheney run the country.

you are a liar.

you are inept.

you are probably the worst president that the united states has ever had to endure.

you are not welcome in nyc.

we are not your cheap whore, to use whenever your poll numbers are in the toilet.

we are not your crappy prop, to use when you're worried that you might have to deal with the

consequences of your failed policies.

you suck, and we don't want you here.

everything you've done has gone wrong.

you are in the pocket of the oil and defense

industries, and the poor idiots on the religious right actually sometimes believe that you care

about them and their agenda.

you only believe in issues that will keep your corporate backers happy.

you are an awful, inept, corrupt, and tragically incompetent president.

and i'm sorry that you've chosen to come to new york city on 9-11.

we didn't vote for you and we're not in any way happy that you're here.

go home, gw, and let us just get on with living our lives in the city that was attacked

due to your pre 9-11 ineptitude and incomptetence.

-moby

Thanks, Moby; all I have to do now is consult Brittany Spears and perhaps Fergie to form the rest of my domestic and foreign policy views. *snicker*

I just cannot get over blaming Bush for "pre 9-11 ineptitude and incomptetence" (Nice spelling, BTW, Moby.) Need I once again repeat that the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole, the American Embassy, Blackhawk Down, and the FIRST WTC BOMBING all happened under your darling boy Clinton's watch? (Feel free to add anything I forgot in the comments.)

Also, Moby, please don't feel sorry for me, one of those "poor idiots on the religious right." I don't need or want any sympathy from you, but I can say that if it makes an emotionally and intellectually small man such as yourself feel better to insult us, go ahead.

Oh, and did anyone else notice how repetitive his little diatribe was? Sort of like his music... LOL!

Starbucks And The Litigation Lottery

Some of you may recall about a week ago, a Starbucks branch manager issued an email coupon for a "Grande" (Or large, for those of you who refuse to participate in this insipid, snotty coffee house language.) iced coffee to a few employees, and invited them to forward it to a few friends and family. Not surprisingly, the coupon circulated a lot farther than expected.

Starbucks got nervous, and rescinded the coupon. That may be crappy PR, but hey, it's their right and their loss, right? After all, it was out of control, and what would stop people from simply reprinting the email and getting free coffee for about a month, until the offer expired?

End of story, right?

Not in our litigious society.

Starbucks is being sued for $114 million by a 23 year old "regular" to Starbucks who felt betrayed when her coupon was not honored, and accuses the coffee purveyor of fraud. He felt "Let down and angry."

Dude, it's just a cup of coffee. GET OVER IT! Besides, if you can afford a $5 cup of Joe on a "regular" basis, I don't think one cup is going to break the bank!

Hey... You don't think this guy's intentions are more nefarious... That he might be using the court system as a 'get rich quick' system, do you? Noooo....

2,996

This post to remain at the top until 9-11. Please scroll down for more posts.


2,996: The number of people felled on 9-11. As part of a blogging alliance, each person murdered on that day will be individually memorialized on the day of the fifth year of their death. It is personal, everyone had a life, a story. They are not a statistic. They are and were real, breathing, loving, and vibrantly alive human beings who were innocent!

The New York Fire Department has a tear-jerking tribute to the men who gave their lives that day.

I will remember one of those men today.



Lee S. Fehling.

Lee Fehling lived for 28 years, and was born in Wantagh in 1972. His mother remembers his good nature: "You know when the doctor slaps you on the back and the baby cries?" said his mother, Joan Bischoff. "Lee came out laughing."

Lee took both the police department and firefighter exams as soon as he turned 18. He was accepted into both, but would have to wait for three years before he was able to go to work.

When Lee Fehling turned 21, he joined the 109th precinct where he worked for five years.

During his lunch break, Fehling would play a chanter, an instrument similar to a flute, to hone his bagpiping skills. This young man was an accomplished musician, and was proficient with the saxophone, clarinet, piano, accordion and of course, the bagpipes, which were his favorite. He was a member of the Wantagh American Legion Bagpipe Band.

Lee Fehling was quite the cut-up, too. He was always behind a prank.

"I miss his smile and his sense of humor the most," his wife said. Danielle Fehling remembers when Lee called her friend, who had just purchased a new home, and told her that he was with Nassau County, and her fence was encroaching on her neighbor's property.

Lee kept her going for awhile!

He could never fool Danielle, though. "I could tell a mile away if he was up to something," she said.

Lee joined Engine Co. 235 in Bedford Stuyvesant. He had been working on the Company's round dinner table for months, painting a memorial shield to every man in the firehouse who had either been killed or was missing. The men of Engine Co. 235 have finished the memorial for Lee, and they have added him to it.

Lee Fehling left behind his wife, and two children. The youngest was born on October 18th, 2001, just a month and one week after her father died. She will know him only through his honorable memory. The children are now nine years and five years old.

Rest well, Lee S. Fehling. This country owes you and the family you leave behind a great debt. May we honor your memory, and remember your great sacrifice.




This post will also appear at Band Of Bloggers.

9-11: A Day Which Shall Live In Infamy

Five years ago today.

Where were you?

Do you remember what you were doing, what you were feeling?

2,996. Read as much as you can, and remember.












One of my favorite quotes about 9-11 comes not from some famous pundit,
but from a fellow blogger, Mr. Beamish.

"Islam Was Not Hijacked On 9-11. Four Planes Were. By Devout, Practicing Muslims.





This is an exhibit at the Wright Patterson Air Force Museum. (Click for larger image.) It is a piece of the Pentagon, from 9-11. This is the only exhibit in the lobby of the museum, next to a statue of Icarus. It is one of the most gut-wrenching displays at the entire museum. Although none of the exhibits are permitted for touching, I would have loved the chance to place my fingertips on that stone.





And finally, an email sent to me by The Merry Widow needs to be shared by all, so I shall reproduce it here:

ON MONDAY...9/11...In Memory Remember 9/10 and the day after?

On Monday there were people fighting against praying in schools.
On Tuesday you would have been hard pressed to find a school where someone was not praying.

On Monday there were people trying to separate each other by race, sex, color and creed.
On Tuesday they were all holding hands.

On Monday we thought that we were secure.
On Tuesday we learned better.

On Monday we were talking about heroes as being athletes.
On Tuesday we relearned what hero meant.

On Monday people went to work at the world trade centers as usual.
On Tuesday they died.

On Monday people were fighting The Ten Commandments on government property.
On Tuesday the same people all said 'God help us all' while thinking 'Thou shall not kill.'

On Monday people argued with their kids about picking up their room.
On Tuesday the same people could not get home fast enough to hug their kids.

On Monday people picked up McDonalds for dinner.
On Tuesday they stayed home.

On Monday people were upset that their dry cleaning was not ready on time.
On Tuesday they were lining up to give blood for the dying.

On Monday politicians argued about budget surpluses.
On Tuesday grief stricken they sang 'God Bless America.'

On Monday we worried about the traffic and getting to work late.
On Tuesday we worried about a plane crashing into your house or place of business.

On Monday we were irritated that our rebate checks had not arrived.
On Tuesday we saw people celebrating people dying in the USA.

On Monday some children had solid families.
On Tuesday they were orphans.

On Monday the President was going to Florida to read to children.
On Tuesday he returned to Washington to protect our children.

On Monday we emailed jokes.
On Tuesday we did not.

It is sadly ironic how it takes horrific events to place things into perspective, but it has. The lessons learned this week, the things we have taken for granted, the things that have been forgotten or overlooked, hopefully will never be forgotten again. On Monday - pray and be thankful. On Tuesday - pray and be thankful. On Wednesday - pray and be thankful. On Thursday - pray and be thankful. On Friday - pray and be thankful. On Saturday - pray and be thankful. On Sunday - pray and be thankful.

I've Been Tagged!

D. Daddio tagged me, so I have set about fulfilling my "it" duties. This isn't easy for me, 'case I was just 11 years old at the end of the 80's; I'm pulling from memory here!

1: One 80's song that has changed my life:
I don't attribute life-changing moments to songs, but if I had to pick one song, it would be Peter Gabriel's "Don't Give Up." (And he's hawt in that video, too!)

2: One 80's song you can still sing all of the lyrics to:
A lot of 'em! Um, how 'bout "She Blinded Me With Science"?

3: One 80's band you would like to have on a desert island with you:
Weird Al Yankovic: He just never gets old, and he's a vegan, so he could live off of the coconuts!

4: One 80's band you are embarrassed you listened to:
George Michaels. He's SO skeevy now! *cringe*

5: One 80's band that made you cry or feel sad:
I dunno. I don't really cry at music.

6: One 80's band that you wanted to play with:
Sam Kinison. :D

7: One 80's band you wish had never formed:
I'm with Daddio: Motley Crue. Geez, they sucked!

8: One 80's band you still listen to:
Oingo Boingo!

9: One 80's band you want your kids to listen to:
Oingo Boingo!

Now it's my turn to tag: Kevin, The Merry Widow, and Always On Watch.

Relentless - The Struggle for Peace in the Middle East

This post to remain stuck at the top until 9-11. Please scroll down for new posts. My humble suggestion: Watch this in conjunction with Obsession. HonestReporting has launched the film, Relentless: The Struggle for Peace in Middle East. "Relentless" is a powerful one-hour documentary using primary source video clips to examine the history of the Mideast conflict and how the Peace Process unraveled in a surge of violence. "Relentless" provides Americans of all backgrounds and persuasions with the balanced, honest facts needed to understand and contextualize the struggle in the Middle East. An acclaimed production for individuals and nationwide communities concerned about the struggle within the Middle East and the threat of a broader conflict that could engulf the West. "Relentless" is an important documentary for anyone interested in learning the truth about the Middle East conflict. Alan Dershowitz

Muslim Solidarity

In a touching gesture of solidarity with the Australian people, whom Muslim 'immigrants' are a growing minority, Islamic followers are offering condolences and expressing displeasure with comedians who would use the death of Steve Irwin as comedy fodder.

Thanks, guys!