4/23/2007

Sheryl Crow: Back to Square One

Noted environmental scientist Sheryl Crow (no, wait, she's a rock singer) has issued a new fatwa in the war on freedom being waged in Gaia's name. Now, she declares, people should be "limited" to one square of toilet paper per usage that necessitates the consumption of said product. This reduction will somehow save the planet. The jokes almost write themselves.

This reveals the reality of what the environmental movement at heart is all about--controlling people. It's not about saving the planet. The planet isn't dying, and even if it were, it's beyond our power to rescue it. It's a way to make people do what the elites think they should. And it's the end of freedom.

4/21/2007

Fan Is Short for Fanatic

Today the Crimson Tide held their annual A-Day scrimmage to conclude the Spring practice schedule. Over 92,000 fans packed Bryant-Denny stadium...and the fire marshalls turned away an estimated 10,000 more! For all those who questioned the hiring (and more likely the salary) of Nick Saban...take that!

This is by far the largest crowd ever to watch a Spring game anywhere, breaking the old record (held by the evil, cheating team in Knoxville coached by the slimy Fat Phil Fulmer) by more than 20,000. I can't wait for this fall.

ROLL TIDE!

4/19/2007

Blood on the Feathers of the Peacock

Yesterday NBC News aired portions of the video sent them by the muderous scum who killed so many innocent people at Virginia Tech. This is a horrible breach of journalistic ethics...and an incredibly stupid decision. But hey, they ratings were up last night, so I doubt they care.

There are two reasons this is tragically misguided. The lesser reason is that publicity is exactly what the killer wanted. By airing his rant, NBC accorded him the attention and notice that he craved. Maybe you want get the same ratings by focusing on the victims, but at least you could sleep at night--well, since they apparently don't have moral qualms about anything, they probably slept fine. That evil young man does not deserve this fulfillment of his desires.

But far more important, the airing of this video has the potential to spark copycats and threatens the lives of thousands of other innocents. In his classic book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Dr. Robert Cialdini (If you haven't read it, get it today and read it. I guarantee its one you'll refer to and use over and over again, regardless of what you do for a living.) describes his frightening research into the effect of the news media coverage of tragic events. Every time there is a widely publicized suicide for example, there is a statistically significant increase in car wrecks and plane crashes! People who have been thinking about killing themselves are moved over the line into action by the knowledge that someone else has done it. They may not use a gun or take pills, but they arrange an "accidental" death on purpose. In fact, Cialdini said his research was so persuasive on this topic that if there is a publicized suicide, he cancels his travel plans for the next couple of weeks!

This copycat effect is what NBC has facilitated in their thoughtless quest for ratings. Shame on them. The next killer will be responsible for his own evil deeds...but some of the blood will also be found on the feathers of the Peacock.

4/18/2007

Call It By Its Name

In Ursula LeGuin's wonderful Wizard of Earthsea books, the secret of the wizards is that they know the true names of things. This gives them the ability and power to affect the world around them. The apprentice wizards go to school primarily to learn and memorize true names. We need to send our news media and political leaders to such a school. It would greatly increase our power to respond to events like the Virginia Tech massacre.

First of all, it isn't a tragedy. Yes, it is tragic. I cannot imagine the pain and grief of the families of those who were killed. But what happened was a crime. It was a heinous act of murderous evil. There is no meaningful response to tragedy outside of faith, but there is a meaningful response to evil that is concrete.

And it didn't happen because of guns. The New York Times in a fatuous editorial I'm not even going to bother linking because it doesn't deserve it said that the availability of guns "caused" this waste of life. Baloney. The evil in a human heart caused this. As the bumper sticker says, Guns kill people the same way spoons made Rosie O'Donnell fat.

In fact if anything, too much gun control is the problem. Virginia Tech is a "weapons-free" zone. Students and faculty, even if they are licensed to carry concealed weapons are not allowed to have them on campus. Of course that didn't stop Cho did it? All it did was stop those who might have been able to bring his rampage to a halt. Carrying weapons is not a panacea...but it does provide at least a chance to fight back more effectively.

And can we please stop talking about healing? I don't fault the President of the School for failing to lock the place down after the first shooting...that's hindsight talking. But I hold in complete contempt his remarks on the day of the massacre that they needed to start healing. No, they need to grieve. They need to mourn and lament. They need to be angry. They need to deal with the real and understandable emotions rather than stuffing them into a new age box called healing. That's a crock.

4/17/2007

The Problem with Schools

You simply have to read Paul Graham's entire essay entitled Why Nerds Are Unpopular. It is somewhat lengthy, but it will richly reward the minutes you invest in it. It's not a new piece, but I just came across it today. (Hat tip to Eric at Classical Values) Here's just one brilliant snippet:

Where I grew up, it felt as if there was nowhere to go, and nothing to do. This was no accident. Suburbs are deliberately designed to exclude the outside world, because it contains things that could endanger children.

And as for the schools, they were just holding pens within this fake world. Officially the purpose of schools is to teach kids. In fact their primary purpose is to keep kids locked up in one place for a big chunk of the day so adults can get things done. And I have no problem with this: in a specialized industrial society, it would be a disaster to have kids running around loose.

4/16/2007

A Nightmare with its Eyes Wide Open

I think every parent, especially those of us who have children in college, had the same reaction today. The first thought is "Where are my kids?" and then "Are they safe?" There are no words to express the horror of what happened at Virginia Tech today. Details are still largely unknown, but the one inescapable fact that words cannot adequately describe is that more than 30 young people are dead. There are no doubt lessons to be learned at some point, but today is for grief...and for expressing your love while there's still time.

4/13/2007

What the Media Isn't Telling Us

You aren't likely to hear this from Katie Copy or the oh so proud of his "profession" Brian Williams, but the "surge" is working--and it's just barely half implemented. It's been two months since the first of the additional troops arrived in Baghdad, and General Petraeus assumed command and put the new strategy in place. And remember this when you hearing the lying media and the Democrats (but I repeat myself) talk, this is a completely new approach to what has been tried in the past. (And yes, I think it took us WAY too long to change, but I'm glad we have.)

In what I think is one of the most important things ever posted on Al Gore's Internets, Big Lizard pointed out this today:

Let's put this into perspective. In Baghdad, civilian deaths dropped 45% in the last two months; throughout all Iraq, 20% fewer civilians were slain...The rise in killings was in parts of Iraq still in the red zone -- or red zone transitioning to pink -- while the drop in killings was in areas transitioning from pink to white.

Just to remind folks of what these terms mean, I refer you to the Arthur Herman article from the Wall Street Journal. I don't know if subscription is required, so let me quote the relevant portion (you can read more, along with our analysis, in How to Win/Lose In Iraq):

Galula divided his own district into zones: "white," where government control was complete or nearly complete; "pink," where insurgents competed with the government for control; and "red," where the insurgents were in complete control. A successful counterinsurgency involved turning pink zones into white zones, then red into pink, through a block-by-block, neighborhood-by-neighborhood struggle to force the terrorists into the shadows.

It's working...and when we get the full force in place (assuming the Dems don't succeed in kneecapping the President and the troops), it's going to work even better. This is a workable strategy led by a man who knows how to win the fight. The only way we can lose in Iraq is to give up and leave before we win.

Forget Imus; Fire Rosie O'Donnell

In a typically long and brilliant essay, Bill Whittle writes this about Rosie O'Donnell: (Warning...the rest of the piece, while worth reading, contains some very strong language so be forewarned.)

Recently, Rosie O’Donnell said on national television that she believes 9/11 was orchestrated by the US government.

Rosie O’ Donnell making such a claim on a major network is a national disgrace. The fact that much of the audience cheered and applauded is nothing less than a national catastrophe.

To her, and to her audience, it is taken as granted that the government is capable of such things. As if “the government” was operated by cyborgs grown in Haliburton vats, rather than by well-meaning and patriotic people that love this country.

"This is the first time in history that fire has ever melted steel," she said. This is a statement of such pristine and perfect idiocy that it surely must be emblazoned in stone across the entrance to the Physics Imbecile wing of the Moron Museum of Natural History. But mastery of physics and engineering requires some intelligence, some perseverance and some discipline: none of which are in evidence in this buffoon. Everything is a conspiracy to a mind this far gone. The 15 British sailors kidnapped at sea? All a plan by our evil (but incompetent!) government to get the next war it so desperately needs. “Gulf of Tonkin! Google It, people!” she said on national TV. (emphasis added)

And I will, Rosie. I promise. As soon as I finish googling MAD COW DISEASE.

I will make the point yet again because I believe it is the crux of the issue: what kind of moral universe do you have to inhabit to be able to believe that your own people – airline personnel, demolition experts, police and security forces, faked witnesses and all the rest – are capable of such a thing? How much hate for your own society do you have to carry in order to live in such a desolate and ridiculous mental hell? What psychoses must a mind be riddled with in order to negate what was perfectly obvious and instead believe a theory of such monumental fantasy? How much pure constant hatred does that take?

What, in short, is the miserable black hole of self-loathing that drives a person like Rosie O’Donnell and millions like her?

Word.

4/12/2007

Pressure? Shut Up

Tonight on the CBS Evening News, hosted by the plagiarizing Katie Couric, the members of the Rutgers ladies basketball team were featured. Unless you've been living under a rock for the last few days, they are the group who were slammed by radio shock jock Don Imus with a racially charged slur.

Look this whole thing is stupid. You have the two biggest racists in America, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, calling Imus to account. Anyone who takes that seriously doesn't deserve to be part of the national conversation. But the idea that a guy who made his living handing out insults left and right, and was handsomely paid for it (to the tune of $10 million a year) has done something surprising is willful blindness. What he said was nasty and disgusting...that's what he does (from all reports, as I've never listened to him). No shock there.

But tonight the reporter described the Rutgers team as showing "grace under extreme pressure." Sorry. Nope. Not even close. Pressure is getting shot at in Iraq. Pressure is trying to pay for your kids to go to college. Pressure is trying to survive a blatantly false rape allegation. These girls have everybody in the country, from Oprah to Obama rallying to their side. They have a long and profitable career ahead of them as professional victims. And no, to contradict one team member, they haven't been "scarred for life."

Insulted? Maybe. Under pressure? Give me a break.

4/11/2007

Worst Church Sign Ever

A lot of churches use their marquees to try to be funny (they rarely succeed). Sometimes churches try to be controversial and attract attention. But this morning, I saw what has to be the worst church sign ever.

At the Tulsa Bible Church, they always post Scripture verses on the sign. You'd think that would be foolproof, but no...For Easter (and why they haven't taken it down yet I don't know), they posted the following:

The Lord is risen
He is not here!

Well, if the Lord's not at your church, why would I want to come?

4/09/2007

"Fighting Back Was Simply Not An Option"

I'm astonished that some people seem intent on portraying the release of the British sailors and marines by the mad Iranian as a victory for the civilized world. It is anything but. While I'm glad the 14 men and 1 woman were released, their conduct, both during their capture and during their captivity, reveals a grim decline in the fighting spirit of a once-great nation.

"Let me be absolutely clear, from the outset it was very apparent that fighting back was simply not an option. Had we chosen to do so, then many of us would not be standing here today," Marine Capt. Chris Air said. (News story from LATimes.com, emphasis added)

I've tried to process this statement in the context of American history, and for some reason, it doesn't quite scan:

Patrick Henry, "I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me slavery, because fighting back is simply not an option."

John Paul Jones, "I have not yet begun to surrender, but I'm about to--fighting back is simply not an option."

Thomas Jefferson, "When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to separate themselves from another, they'll just have to suck it up, because fighting back is not an option."

William Travis, "A large number of the enemy is in sight. As soon as they reach the Alamo, we will turn it over to them, as fighting back is simply not an option."

U. S. Grant, "I intend to just stand here outside Richmond all summer, because fighting is simply not an option."

Anthony McAuliffe, (101st Airborne commander at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge) "We surrender. After all, I'd hate to get home without all my men. You've got us outnumbered and outgunned, and fighting back is simply not an option."

McAuliffe's actual reply to the German demand for his surrender in its entirety was, "NUTS!" That is the American ethos...the reason we have been victorious in so many seemingly hopeless battles. Yes, when we have fought, heroes bled and died. Yes, when we have fought, precious lives have been lost. Yes, when we have fought, a terrible price has been paid. But the cost of not fighting is far greater in the long run.

I hope and pray that the American spirit is never replaced with this new cowardly British version. And I hope and pray that British cowardice does not exact its toll on our men and women--either in Iraq or here on our own shores.

4/08/2007

Happy Easter

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. I Corinthians 15:12-20

4/05/2007

It's Not Supposed to Happen in April

Tonight the season opening game for the Tulsa Drillers (AA farm team for the Rockies) was snowed out. OUCH. Bring back spring!

4/02/2007

What Are They Buying?

According to the fundraising figures for the first quarter of the year being released by the candidates for President this week, combined they have gathered in over $100,000,000.

While it is true that we have an open office (no sitting President or Vice President running) for the first time since 1952, and there are many candidates running in both parties, that is still an astonishing amount. Apparently three candidates (Hillary, Romney and Obama) have cleared $20 million, and Guliani came in around $15 million in only about half the fundraising time of the others. Edwards is apparently going to be close to $15 million as well, and McCain brought in $12.5 or so. Even long shots like Biden, Dodd and Richardson pulled down between $3 and $6 million.

Robin Williams once remarked that cocaine was God's way of telling you that you had too much money. I think perhaps coke has now been replaced with candidates. The question that comes to mind is...who in the world is turning over that kind of money...and what are they buying?

4/01/2007

Danglin' in the Wind

On Meet the Conflict of Interest Challenged Former Cuomo Aide this morning, Russet asked Senator Pat Leahy (D-Leaker of Classified Intel) if given the seriousness (sic) of the matter if he would move up the date of Alberto Gonzalez' hearing (now scheduled for April 17) before his witchhunt...I mean committee. Leahy flatly answered, "No...It will not change." In fact, he even admitted that the Attorney General called and asked to move up his appearance, but Leahy refused.

That's pretty telling. What the Dems are trying to do here is drag out this tempest in a teapot in hopes that it will either grow into a real scandal, or at least at minimum bog down the White House as the Executive Branch tries to fight off the defeatists in Congress over the war.

With that admission in mind, I present the following, with apologies to Bob Dylan, Jim Nabors, Peter Paul & Mary, and anyone else who liked the original...

Danglin' in the Wind

How many days can we drag this thing out
Before he comes and testifies?
Yes, 'n' how many times can sadly declare
That Alberto Gonzalez lies?
Yes, 'n' how many aides can we drag through the mud
With a perjury charge as their prize?
The AG, my friend, we're danglin' in the wind,
The AG we're danglin' in the wind.

How many ways can we make this appear
Like it's never happened before?
Yes, 'n' how many days must we try to pretend
That Bill Clinton didn't fire more?
Yes, 'n' how many news cycles can we trump this up
Political cheap points to score?
The AG, my friend, we're danglin' in the wind,
The AG we're danglin' in the wind.

How many years until we take control
Of the White House with Hillary?
Yes, 'n' how many attorneys will she get to fire
Before the press sees hypocrisy?
Yes, 'n' how many ways can we slap down the Pres,
While we cut off the troops at the knee?
The AG, my friend, we're danglin' in the wind,
The AG we're danglin' in the wind.

Happy National Atheist's Day

After all, don't they need a holiday of their own?