Rope, Tree, Journalist

You must read this from Karl at Protein Wisdom. An excellent analysis of MSM coverage of the war in Iraq. Go read it now!

She's Got A Ticket To Ride...

...But I don't care! Alrighty then. This is a post I've been meaning to write for a while now, but was stirred into action by a recent post by Rachel Lucas (language warning). First post here, with a follow-up here. Her post involved the topic of people who leave their infants in the car while shopping (or working for 10+ hrs) and come back only to find a well toasted corpse. Understandably, Rachel thought that anyone who could do such a thing was either stupid or criminal or both. Read both posts and the comments to get a feel for what other people think on this topic. My post today will not cover the dead baby phenomenon specifically, but will deal with a concept I refer to as "License to Breed." A thought that was shared by at least one commenter at Rachel's site.

If I want to drive a car, for whatever reason, I must first apply to the State, pass a written and behind-the-wheel skills test, and pay a fee. Driving a car is not a right, it's a privilege. At any time, if I do not act in a responsible manner, the privilege is either limited or taken away, either briefly or permanently. This is what is known as proactive enforcement. Before I am ever allowed to drive a car (legally), I must first jump through those aforementioned hoops. Now imagine a world in which licensing was done re-actively. Everyone is assumed allowed to drive, and it is only after an infraction that your right is taken away. At first blush this might appear very similar to the way it is now, if you mess up you can no longer drive. That is true. What about the deaf people, the legally blind people, the people who don't speak any English and can't read the road signs, the people who have no concept of the Rules of the Road. All of those people would have the right to drive, until such time they messed up. Imagine the carnage that could, and most likely would, occur. There is a reason that we don't handle driving licenses in that manner.

Now what about the concept of spawning, or in other words having kids. The cars in the previous example are inanimate objects that only become potentially lethal in the hands of a human operator. Humans, therefore, are the source of most possible calamity. Guns don't (usually) shoot by themselves, cars don't get liquored up and plow into a group of school kids, etc. etc. Oh, you say, there are controls in place if someone is not a good parent. If something happens, the State can take away the kids and place them in foster care. This, as I'm sure you realize, is reactive. The parent would still be allowed to have further children, and if something seriously horrible were to happen again, the State would once more step in, "in the interest of the child." What if we were to apply the driver's license model to having children?

Before a couple would be allowed to have a child, they would have to jump through a series of hoops. Prove financial ability to raise a child, have a home that is not a cardboard box or a complete dump, etc. etc. Just like our elected officials create the laws that determine what is required to drive a car, our elected officials would draft laws stating what is required to spawn. This would ensure that the law would be relatively fair and just (i.e.-no laws saying only white people can have kids, or only if you make 100K+ per year, etc). Some of you, I am sure, have already invoked Godwin's Law. "This reeks of Eugenics!!1!one!!" you say. Not true, I reply. While an argument could be made that certain very limited concepts in the broad eugenics category might be worth further serious inquiry, I understand that the concept of 'selective breeding' for humans is just a no-go topic. Seriously ask yourself the following questions. Should homeless people be allowed to have kids? Should people with serious genetically passed mental defects be allowed to have kids? Should two unemployed people be allowed to have 10 kids? Should two people with AIDS be allowed to have kids? Should a severely alcoholic woman be allowed to have kids? Should a crack head be allowed to have kids? Should people have to take home ec in school (carrying around an eggshell 'baby') to learn proper parenting skills (oh wait)? Should people then be tested on these parenting skills before being allowed to spawn? Should single women be allowed to have multiple children out of wedlock, each with a different father, if the father is not in the 'picture'? Should Democrats be allowed to have kids? (Sorry, couldn't help it).

Besides the obvious benefits to society as a whole, requiring licences to breed would result in lowered 'welfare' payments, fewer children born with serious physical and mental defects, fewer 'problem' kids, etc. etc. Think of that family in your hometown, you know the one. Their son went to school with you, until, that is, he got arrested for fill-in-the-blank. His siblings were also rabble rousers. The oldest one burnt down the school gym, the daughter had two kids before she dropped out of school at 16, their dad was a raging alcoholic that repeatedly beat the kids and their mom, the mom, of course, had been picked up a couple of time for 'soliciting.' The family in your home town that everybody knows is just trouble, rotten from root to twig. Should that family have been allowed to perpetuate the cycle of horror?

What if someone breaks these proposed laws, you ask. Simple, just like we treat moving violations. Depending on frequency and severity, a person would have to have counselling (financial, mental, whatever), monitoring of the home life by an outside agency, revocation of parental rights, and possibly even forced sterilization for really egregious cases. "Stop!!," you yell, it sounds like you're talking about increasing the size of the Nanny State! Yes, in the short term, this is almost certain. But look at it from a long-term viewpoint. Fewer social workers needed, fewer juvenile incarceration facilities required, fewer police officers required, fewer medical workers required, etc. etc.

So dare to dream for a better tomorrow! Vote today to make Licenses to Breed required in all 50 states of this great Republic.

What Is Heaven?

Many people have postulated on what Hell is, but I have heard fewer people describe their theories on Heaven. The classical vision of Hell, with the fire and brimstone and devils with pitchforks, has largely gone by the wayside in these more modern times. I have heard two common descriptions of Hell. Perhaps the most prevalent, and certainly the most 'spiritual,' is that Hell is an existence devoid of the presence of God. Apparently all the grace and beauty in the world, that many people take for granted, is God's gift to mankind, and the most painful experience is to live an eternity without it. Think a blind person who lost their sight in middle age, especially if they were an artist or someone that really relied on and appreciated the gift of their sight. To have it taken away, once you know the true wonder of it, is a bitter pill indeed to swallow.

Another common Hell theory I have heard is that everyone makes their own individual Hell. This is the theory that interests me the most. For example, if a person hates the cold and is deathly afraid of spiders, they would spend an eternity in a frigid wasteland beset upon by scores of vicious spiders. I think you get the point. This allows Hell to be all things to all people. The previous example would not phase someone who is both an Arctic explorer and an Arachnologist, their personal Hell would be something entirely different. I think the first theory, the absence of God's grace, is a good motivator for a person of faith. They are more accustomed to recognizing God's presence around them everyday, and would be loathe to take any action that would doom them to an eternity without it. The second example is probably more geared towards worldly or secular people. Everyone has an imagination, and it is easy to fear spending the rest of your life surrounded by the very things you hate and fear.

What, then, about Heaven? I think the classical vision of pudgy cherubs dancing amongst fluffy clouds is about as relevant in these times as the fire and brimstone version of Hell is. From the two prominent theories of Hell, it is possible to postulate two possible versions of Heaven. The first would probably consist of a more pure and encompassing existence in His presence. This, again, would appeal most to people of faith who would strive to do good in life so that they might have an even more gifted eternity with God in the afterlife. This is also sometimes seen in the Godhead theory of heaven, in which a decedent loses their individuality and actually becomes one with God. What about the secular people, what would drive them to live a good life?

I think that a possible second version of Heaven would consist of all those things that an individual loves and cherishes. Perhaps heaven for one man is a bottomless plate of nachos and an endless nail biter of a football game. I would like to think that Heaven, if it exists, is kind of a combination of both. If I was able to design Heaven, it would involve the ability to relive all the best moments of one's life, and experience different versions in which different choices were made at critical junctures. Heaven would also contain the sum of all universal knowledge, which I guess is a secularists way of defining the Godhead. In Heaven, one would be able to travel time and witness the wonders of ancient events, take a stroll on the moon, travel in an instant to distant galaxies and experience alien cultures, if they exist. Every question would be answered, from the mundane to the profound, from where in the heck the rubber snake is, to what is the meaning of life. In Heaven, a person could sit down with Plato, Gandhi, and Ronald Reagan and get their opinion of Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

There is, sadly, one possible drawback to my personal vision of Heaven. If we all maintain our individuality, then Heaven would be populated with only one copy of our individual soul. What then, if two people have differing views of Heaven? Imagine a young couple, Bob and Sally. They are high school sweethearts and madly in love. Before they have a chance to get married, have children, and live a lifetime together, Bob is run over by a bus. Sally is heartbroken for many years, but eventually moves on and meets Tom, falls in love again, has three beautiful children, and dies incredibly happy and contented of extreme old age. Sally's Heaven would most likely involve Tom, their children, all all their many other friends and family. But what about poor Bob? He ended his life completely in love with Sally and would probably expect to meet her in Heaven. If there is only one version of our souls in Heaven, then Sally would not be available to him. Would they meet, have "the talk," and then go their separate ways? That's pretty depressing. Perhaps some type of copy of Sally would exist in Bob's Heaven, but would it really be the same? What about Bob?

Therein lies the crux of faith, the great unanswerable question. What is the meaning of life, and what happens after? If I could answer that with unwavering certainty, I would probably have a book written about me, and people would talk about my theories for thousands of years. Hmm, that might just give a person pause.

Time For Vengeance

I suggest death by torture. Let them writhe in undefinable agony for at least a week, and then release them to the eternal pains of hell. All of them. The accused, their brothers, their sisters, their children, their parents, their cousins. Don't stop until the entire rotted family tree is burnt to the ground and the ashes scattered to the winds. Kill them all.

Back In Business

Well, [Redacted]! So, a bit of catching up to do. These last few posts have been as much for my benefit as yours, dear reader (who is but a figment of my imagination). I'll be able to follow up on these stories later that I didn't have time to read fully. Anyway, "further up and further in!", on with the blogging!

All following from Michelle Malkin's excellent site:

An update on the Newark execution murder case, with part two. Related story here, and also here.

A thousand words. The green dot is CAIR, the red dot to the right and slightly below is HAMAS, a terrorist organization.

Nothing beats post-modern feminism.

Here in Oregon, sanity appears to have won this round.

Also in our neck of the woods, keep you eyes peeled for these possible jihadis, unless of course you work for a loony liberal left newspaper.

Looks like a good book, perhaps someone can get me a Labor Day present?

Well, eff you too!

About time, bastards.

Today's Insty Round-Up

[Redacted] So light blogging until possibly tomorrow afternoon. The [Redacted], so maybe I'll slack off and catch up on my blogging then! For now, some interesting tidbits from the InstaProf.

Spying in Iraq with Michael Totten.

Debunking 9-11 conspiracy theories at Popular Mechanics. There was a 2 hour special on this last night on the History Channel, but I fell asleep about a third of the way through. Pathetic, I'm old.

Mmmmm, slow-cooking.

Far-out future tech.

Well, maybe they can eat lunch in Scotland after all. Click the link in the update to this post.

Surprise, surprise. Big Brother uses imaginary lines in robo-policing. Paging ED-209.

Politicizing science? The deuce you say!

Ooh, I made it to Ace's tonight. Following from The King Of All Morons:

I really hope this isn't real, but I know it is. Context (content warning).

Ha ha, dork!

Beware Teh Gorebal Worming!!1!!one!!

Rope, Tree, Journalist.

Jumping The Shark warning!

More lefty nonsense, in Hollywood no less.

Regarding the 9-11 debunking show on the History Channel? It will re-run this weekend.

Do we have a winner in the HD-DVD format wars?

Apparently Ace has never heard of Empire Of The Sun.

The Call of Cthulhu.

Carbon nano-tubes.

The sun sets on another day. Good night!

Blame It On The Rain...

...Yeah yeah. So yeah, it's been raining here, in Central Oregon, in August. WTF!!?!!11! Anyway, I've been light on my blogging because I've been spending a lot of time house-hunting. I typically prefer bow hunting but there's no bow season for houses, so I had to use my Winchester. Oh well. Anyway, here's your back to work round-up of the news!

[Redacted] I'll try and do a round-up this evening after work. Cheers!

An excellent wrap-up on the TNR/Scott Thomas nonsense at PJM. (via The Blender of Puppies)

A great essay on "The Peace Racket." (via Insty)

The BBC sucks.

Ha! What a tool.

That's gonna have to be it for me tonight. Dang!, didn't even make it past Insty. So good night!

How You Doin'?

First, from HA's headlines come this. No comment.

Related news from Russia, via The Jawa Report.

Gaia wept.

More problems for President Bush.

That's an excellent question.

Discrimination and torture in Seattle.

Heh. (Again, h/t to Hot Air's cool headlines section)

A picture of infinite sadness. Same dog, different story (mildly-strong content warning).

Even better than lolcats.

Now this is just messed up.

Well, that's it for me. Good night! (hee hee)

Okay, one more to go with your midnight snack. (h/t Ace, so like content warning, barely)

This is really the last thing I'll post today, maybe.

Guilty!

From Hot Air, Jose Padilla is guilt of all charges. More to come, I'm sure...

The left cries, Ace celebrates (content warning-duh).

Much more at Michelle's, including that excellent NYPD report on home-grown terror. And related seething at LGF.

More heartache shown at Little Green Footballs.

But wait! What's this? Even more anti-American whining from the left. Color me shocked!

Late Breaking News

Holy crap, is this for real? I think we should just drop "The Bomb" now and get it over with. Holy freaking hell. This is easily the most important 3 minute press conference our generation will ever see. (h/t: Instapundit)

New Category!

"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."

I think my brain explosion category might just not be enough for my brain to handle when faced with stuff like this. Enjoy. (Ezekiel 25:17)

The Victory Caucus

Over in my blogroll (over there on the left), you'll see a link to The Victory Caucus. That is the place for a more balanced and truthful reporting on the "Iraq War" "Bush" "President Bush" "General Petreaus" "surge" "Operation Iraqi Freedom" "war" "Bagdhad" and much more. (goofy formating to boost google ranking of Victory Caucus site). Please click on this link to go to their post where they let you know how you can help. Then help. Thank you!

Today's Round-Up

First, let me send you over to Michelle's to find out about Robert Spencer's new book, Religion Of Peace? Why Christianity Is, And Islam Isn't. Reading the review at Amazon, I'd say it looks to be most excellent. I'm about to order it from Amazon, you should too!

Also at Michelle's, more on those Newark NJ execution style murders of the three college students. I'll just send you to this previous post of mine for my opinion on the matter.

And in local news (again from Michelle), an update on the two Oregon middle schoolers who are facing charges of felony sexual abuse, and a lifetime on the sex offender registry. All that for playing grab-ass in school. Thank god it wasn't this PC when I went to school.

Charles at LGF brings news that you can't eat your lunch anymore in Scotland. At least, not at work during Ramadan. Related news from Charles here.

Check out this link to a site that allows you to find out who's been editing various wiki posts. (h/t: everyone, but especially Hot Air and LGF).

Palestinian child abuse at Hot Air. With bonus animal abuse video!

Yes please! Will Shilpa Shetty be the new Bond Girl?

Heartache

"Scientific method? We don't need no steenkeen scientific method!" Find out the latest on the whole "global warming" being based on shoddy "science" over at Hot Air. (pun not intended)

Also at Hot Air, another book review, this time regarding Funding Evil: How Terrorism is Financed and How to Stop It. More than just a book review though, also covers attempts by the very individuals who are sponsoring terror to get these books pulled from production. Read the whole thing, and then go buy the book to find out more. I did!

Video: Aliens of the Caribbean

al Qaeda on the move? (But to where?)

"Why Is There A Cork On His Fork?"

"Excuse me. May I go to the bathroom first?........Thank you."

Happy birthday Steve! Learn all about him on his wiki page, or look at how many movies he's made at IMDb. Aside from the obvious, I also really liked The Spanish Prisoner, My Blue Heaven, Father Of The Bride is kind of cute, well, there are really too many. So celebrate his birthday by watching your favorite Steve Martin movie tonight!

Flash....A-Ah...

...He'll save everyone of us.

Okay, so on this infamous post (be very very careful clicking that link, words can not even begin to describe the sheer horror that awaits you), I mentioned that I'd probably post a review of the new Sci-Fi channel Flash Gordon show. My first impression was that it was pretty low rent and kinda ghey. Not that the original movie was anything spectacular, but it is something of a cult classic, especially for guys from my generation. The biggest beef I have from last night's premiere (spoiler alert) is the whole "where is the IMAX" thing. I actually do have somewhat less than optimal hearing ability, but even I was pretty sure that the baddies were saying "where is the 'eye-mex'," phonetically speaking. Hmm, imex, Timex, what a stretch. Of course, I should mention that a very large point was made that Flash wears his deceased (??!?) father's watch. Could it possibly be a ....dunh dunh dunh.... Timex? And if I (who pride myself in subconsciously not figuring out plot elements, ever) am able to deduce this key point within a few minutes, than you know it's not exactly Usual Suspects territory regarding the surprising plot twists and revelations. Other than that, I guess it's alright for a basic cable TV show. It's no Eureka (much less Monk), but it might be worthwhile. I'm sure to give it another try next week, if just out of morbid curiosity. I'll let you know how it goes.

An Open Declaration of War

Let it be hereby known to all parties, a state of Open War exists between this blog and "undocumented immigrants." This blog is not a signatory party to the Geneva Conventions, and as such will not consider it necessary to follow acceptable laws of War. No quarter shall be given, no criminal shall be spared. Leave America now, or receive the brutal judgement that awaits you. You have been warned. This is getting real old, real fast.

An Instapundit Math Exercise

Okay, so InstaGlenn posed this question to his readers: If 10,000 Chinese people convert to Christianity every day, how long to reach 200 million converts (the amount mentioned in the linked article which claims that number will be reached "mid-century")?

First, assumptions need to be made. Since there is no start quantity, for the purpose of this blog post I will say there are currently zero Christians in China. Also, the rate of 10,000 converts per day results in the total of 10,000 occuring at midnight of the day in question. Now, on to the fun!

I determined that today is Day 221 in the Julian calendar. Then, in an unused but related search, I found that at 4PM PST, the day will change according to Zulu = GMT = UTC, which is a kind of general time zone. Therefore, with simple arithmetic, we find that as of 4PM PST, there will be 143 days left in 2007. Here, I found that 2008 is the next leap year (=366 days) which of course occurs every 4 years. So we now have 143 days in 2007, and 1,461 days between Jan. 1st 2008 and Dec. 31st 2011 (every 4 years).

Next, some simple arithmetic. 10,000 converts a day * [143 days + {(1461 days/4 years) * 56 years}] = 205,970,000 converts which is greater than our goal of 200,000,000 converts. The difference between the two is 5,970,000 converts => 597 days. Now, 56 years + 7 years = 63 years, or the year 2063, when we will have almost 6 million extra converts. Next, we start at Dec. 31st 2063 (the day we achieve the previous total) and go back 597 days. 597 - 365 = 232 days. We are now at Dec. 31st 2062, with 232 days left. 365 - 232 = 133 days. It is at this point, on the 133rd day of 2062 (May 13th), at midnight Greenwich Mean Time, that China will have 200 million Christians.

After attempting to find out what day of the week May 13th, 2062 will be (to see if it would be a Friday!), I sadly found this site. By plugging in 8/10/2007, and the required 20,000 days (at 10,000 converts a day to equal 200 million Christians), I found...dunh dunh dunh...that at midnight May 13th, 2062, China will have 200 million Christians. As AP at Hot Air would say, heartache. At least I was able to exercise my brain. As a note, let me be the first person to suggest that Armageddon will occur on May 13th, 2062!

(just kidding-sheesh)

Update: Just emailed the answer to the good professor (a little late at app. 4:14 PM PST, oh well).

More Stuff & News!

Via Ace, Confederate Yankee tracks down one of TNR's experts, and (surprise, surprise) finds that TNR was perhaps not completely honest in it's reportage. Also, the AP (yes, the AP) tears TNR a new one (via Insty). Hopefully this will be the end of the whole "Scott Thomas" affair.

Do you want to have a heart attack, an aneurysm, and a complete nervous breakdown all at the same time? Then just click this link and go over to MM's article which will certainly fulfill all of your objectives. Yay!

Also at Michelles, this post about the violent rape and murder of a 15-year-old Oregon girl by...wait for it...illegal immigrants. It is time. You know what must be done. Do it.

The Psychiatrist Is In

Unbelievable

Today's News & More!

Michelle Malkin pretty much has the definitive wrap-up on the whole "Scott Thomas" affair in this post. Read the whole thing.

The Jawa's inform that the 2008 Pin Ups for Vets calendar is now available here.

Geoff and See-Dubya at the JunkYardBlog have the lowdown on the Middle East Terrorists/Mexican Drug Cartel nexus reported today in the Washington Times. Also covered by AllahPundit at Hot Air here.

Bryan has this thoughtful post up at Hot Air, regarding the $20B arms sale to Saudi Arabia, and wider regional implications. A definite must read.

Ohmigod I want one of these. h/t to Insty.

Embassy Bombings

Nine years ago today, the US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya were bombed by al Qaeda, resulting in 224 dead, including 12 Americans, and more than 4500 wounded. This was the terror attack, clearly targeting America, that prompted Clinton to launch cruise missiles at an aspirin factory in the Sudan, as well as some tents in Afghanistan. Had we responded with more vigor, this attack could well have been the last attack by Al Qaeda against America. Preceded by other al Qaeda attacks like the 1993 WTC bombing and the Khobar Towers attack, and followed by the assault on the USS Cole, this was just one of many in a string of failures and missed opportunities for the Clinton Whitehouse, preoccupied as it was with more pressing affairs. Had any of these four assaults been met with a fierce and total response, 9/11 may never have happened.

Remember
Never Forget
Never Forgive

It Go Boom!

62 years ago today, the Enola Gay dropped "Little Boy" on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The 13 kiloton bomb, comprised of 130 pounds of Uranium-235, detonated about 2000 feet above the city and instantly annihilated 70,000 people, with another 30,000 to die within 4 months from the effects of the bomb. Much more available from Wikipedia here, and also remember Pearl Harbor. The first, and along with "Fat Man" dropped on Nagasaki, only nuclear weapons ever to be used in warfare. Don't mess with the US.

Update: Bryan at Hot Air has more.