Americans Need to Exercise... More.

What have you, as an American citizen, lost that you wish you could get back?

Do you have any regrets for not having been more outspoken about something?

Have you ever wished that you had gone to the ballot and voted?

After reading the news, did you ever think that maybe you should have written that letter, or called that representative, or maybe showed up at a rally?

Am I wrong when I say that mainstream America...

good Americans...

lack the strength, the stamina, maybe even the intestinal fortitude to stand up for what is right?

Or do Americans think, "Surely that won't happen to us. It would be un-American."

Then all too late, find out that it did happen to "us".

Americans have a voice, but have we forgotten how to use it?

Little by little, what makes our country great continues to be eroded away...

What is precious to us is destroyed by one, maybe two individuals...

Prayer and the Bible in schools...

The Ten Commandments proudly displayed in our courthouses...

Nativity scenes in our city parks and on court house lawns...

The rights of the unborn nullified...

Have our country's ills gotten better since we have allowed the basic and fundamental principles, that this country was established on, to fall by the wayside?

Have our children become better citizens? Are our prisons less populous? Are our neighborhoods more friendly and less dangerous? Are our schools teaching more and disciplining less? Is security at our public schools to be the norm from now on? Do Americans demonstrate stronger morals, or are they more 'amoral'?

We're currently seeing freedom of speech and freedom of the press being censored. Not by governments per se`, but we're seeing self-censorship by newspapers, magazines, and television networks. And it is being practiced, world-wide. All because of a group of radical muslims/Islamists who demand, and extract, death as a punishment.

Oh how I wish that the television networks would practice censorship to protect my children's minds, and not their own 'asses'.

Maybe Americans would not have lost some of the things that we hold dear if we had been more outspoken, been more demonstrative, been more visible... been more radical.

Americans have been lulled into a deep complacency...

If we continue to be apathetic, we will continue to lose more and more of what America is all about.

I believe that soon we will have a historic opportunity given to us to reclaim some of what we have lost.

South Dakota's abortion bill will be going to the govenor, Mike Rounds, soon. We can show our support by writing him a letter, or by sending an e-mail.

We should be showing our support for Denmark and the Manifesto that has been published by the Jyllands-Posten, too.

There will be a rally at the Danish Embassy in New York.

It will be held outside the Danish consulate at One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 885 Second Avenue, on FRIDAY, MARCH 3RD, FROM 12:00 PM TO 1:00 PM.


I can't physically be in New York City or in South Dakota.

But rest assured, my letters have already been sent.

later...



Contact the Danish Embassy.

Say What You Mean, and Mean What You Say...

I have these little sayings that I have made up during the course of my life. I developed most of these sayings from my years of raising kids.

And, uh no, I haven't finished raising my kids. I have two still left at home.

I don't know why I made these kinds of things up other than it was some coherent way to hold on to my sanity during insane times. Or maybe I am such a self-amusing sort of person that it's just something that I did...

Out of survival.


One of my sayings is:

Say what you mean, and mean what you say.

I have found this particular saying to stand me in good stead many a time. It helps me to keep from saying things that I might find myself regretting later. It also keeps me from making promises that I may not be able to keep.

By holding myself to this standard, it helps a great deal in my effort to think before I speak.

But the biggest benefit by far is that it keeps me an honest person.

A person of my word.

So in light of this, I tend to judge people's words in conjunction with their actions. If your actions don't match your words, then I will probably view you as an insincere and dishonest person.

Simply put, a liar.

So the New York Times published an Op/Ed article which is quite baffling to me. If you remember, this paper refused to publish the Mohammed Cartoons.

Well, the article reads well and tends to reflect my viewpoints. But it really just rings hollow coming from the New York Times.

February 25, 2006

Editorial

Silenced by Islamist Rage

With every new riot over the Danish cartoons, it becomes clearer that the protests are no longer about the caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, but about the demagoguery of Islamic extremists. The demonstrators are undeniably outraged by what they perceive as blasphemy. But radical Islamists are trying to harness that indignation to their political goals and their theocratic ends by fomenting hatred for the West and for moderate regimes in the Muslim world. These are dangerous games, and they require the most resolute response.

It is not the West that is most threatened in this crisis. The voices of moderation in the Muslim world are the ones that are being intimidated and silenced. Those few journalists and leaders who have spoken out against the rioting have been vilified and assailed, and even jailed. According to a report by Michael Slackman and Hassan M. Fattah in The New York Times, 11 journalists in five Islamic countries face prosecution for printing some of the Danish cartoons, even when their purpose was to condemn them.

In most of these cases, the legal action represents attempts by cowed authorities to appease the Islamists. But the effect — in Yemen, Jordan and other countries — has only been to give extremists a dollop of legitimacy, and to encourage them to turn up the heat. That, in turn, increases the perception of a "clash of civilizations" between Islam and the West.

It is time for moderate Muslims to abandon the illusion that they can placate the Islamists by straddling the fence. It is they who must explain to their people that the cartoons were an isolated incident, and not the face of hostile crusaders. It is they who must make it clear to their people that blowing up mosques, beheading hostages and strapping on belts of explosives are far, far greater evils than a few drawings in a distant paper. They must do so because their future is at stake — not Denmark's.



This editorial really seems cheap to me since none of the NYT's guys stuck any of their necks out for fear of Islamic retaliation.

Didn't the New York Times refusal to publish the cartoons give some form of legitimacy to the rioting Muslims?

Or am I confusing 'legitimacy' with 'cowed' behavior?

Sometimes I get confused with things like this...

It's kind of like talking about having 'the guts' to do something when it's not *your guts* that are likely to get spilled.



The Australian Prime Minister, John Howard is certainly standing up, as well as his Treasurer, Peter Costello.

Mr Howard told the Herald, "when you come to this country, you become Australian". Similarly, Mr Costello had said: "Before becoming an Australian, you will be asked to subscribe to certain values. If you have strong objections to those values, don't come to Australia."

In the interview, Mr Howard said multiculturalism had become distorted and too often stupidly meant "a federation of cultures". And he said Muslims must work at avoiding their alienation. Mr Costello condemned "confused, mushy, misguided multiculturalism".

Initially, the Costello comments - including stripping citizenship from people who advocate Islamic law over Australian law - were judged to be at odds with Mr Howard. On the same day, Mr Howard had spoken of the contribution of "all of those who weren't born in this country" and extolled Australia as the least discriminatory country. In the interview, however, Mr Howard said integration was underdone, even though Australia was "very socially cohesive". Yesterday Mr Howard said Australia's core set of values flowed from its Anglo-Saxon identity and the Treasurer's essential point - that people should not migrate to countries they do not appreciate - was unexceptional.



Sounds like the political powers in Australia aren't very politically correct.

Reading that article kind of refreshed me there for a bit.

I even love its title:

Live Here and Be Australian, Howard Declares

I don't know these two guys...

so we'll have to see if they "mean what they say".


Or better yet...

See if their idea *catches on*.

later...

Dr. Frankenstein is... ALIVE!

What happens to your loved ones after they die?

They go to the funeral home to be prepared for burial right?


Well... it depends on which funeral home you go to.



If you, or someone you know, is getting tissue transplants...

Tissues from things like bone, heart valves, tendons...



For surgeries like heart surgery, disc replacements, knee replacements...

You know... real *live* human tissue stuff...



Do you know where it comes from?

Well, no... it's not a grocery store...but kind of like one...


What do you do for a living if you are an oral surgeon and loose your dentist license?

What kind of career moves do you make? Do you go back to college?

hmmm...

Here's an interesting job description:

...enterprise corruption, body stealing and opening graves, unlawful dissection, forgery and other counts.


Evidently there is a black market for human body parts and tissues.

This is just absolutely crazy and ridiculously lucrative.


Prosecutors said Thursday the defendants made millions of dollars obtaining bodies from funeral parlors in three states.

They allegedly forged death certificates and organ donor consent forms to make it look as if the bones, skin, tendons, heart valves and other tissue were legally removed.

...Prosecutors said the defendants took organs from people who had not given consent or were too old or too sick to donate. The defendants forged consent forms and altered the death certificates to indicate the victims had been younger and healthier, authorities said.

X-rays and photos of recently exhumed cadavers show that where leg bones should have been, someone had inserted white plastic pipes -- the kind used for home plumbing projects, available at any hardware store. The pipes were crudely reconnected to hip and ankle bones with screws before the legs were sewn back up.



I wonder how many communicable diseases have been passed around to the unsuspecting victims who received the 'black market' "bio-medical products"?

You can read the entire article at CNN here.


So do you think that there are other 'body snatcher' rings across the country?

For those kind of wages... You bet there are.

So when you go to the funeral home, how are you going to make sure that everything is still...

well...

intact?



Changes the meaning a bit when you say...

"Mom, I don't think Grandpa is all there."

later...

Anonymouse*

I'm sure that everyone is familiar with the word 'anonymous'.

Main Entry: anon·y·mous
Pronunciation: &-'nä-n&-m&s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Late Latin anonymus, from Greek anOnymos, from a- + onyma name -- more at NAME
1 : not named or identified
2 : of unknown authorship or origin
3 : lacking individuality, distinction, or recognizability
- anon·y·mous·ly adverb
- anon·y·mous·ness noun

I particularly am fond of the definition as explained in #3.

I'm not big on anonymous commentors, or information given to me anonymously, or any individual who won't stand up and take responsibility for what they say or do.

This morning, I got to thinking.

Don't laugh.

Whether you believe it or not, I've been thinking all day.

I visit a few blogs and opinion pages here and there, and it never ceases to amaze me how the *anonymous* posters use such vulgar and profane language, have a total disrepect for the authors of the page, say vile things and make undefensible statements, and all in all are just plain rude.

Rhetoric, discourse, and debate are not part of their vocabulary, nor is it their intent. The offensive commentors methodology for the airing of their ideas or opposing points of view are not even remotely related to, or an encouragement of, civilized, open, and friendly debate.

Therefore I have decided to invent a word.

A word that would describe and label such blogospheric lack of respectful and polite mannerisms, actions, and attitudes.

The word I am inventing is anonymouse*.

In between my many thoughts today, I have contemplated a definition of my new term and have tentatively come up with the following definition:

anonymouse*:

1: a blog or opinion commentor of unknown indentity that uses vulgar, hateful, and socially unacceptable language within the context of a blog comment.
2: a blog or opinion commentor who uses anonymity as a shield to say things in public that he/she would never have the guts to say to someone in person, face to face.
3: a blog or opinion commentor who refuses to identify themselves for fear of reprisal, due to their comments, from their friends, family, or social peers.
4: a blog or opinion commentor who, much like that of a mouse, rat, or other vermin, comes to feed on the foodstuffs/comments/opinions provided by others and whilst "feeding" does indeed urinate and defecate upon such foodstuffs/comments/opinions, thereby causing spoilage of the remaining foodstuffs/comments/opinions whereby making it unfit for further consumption/discussion/debate.

Yes... I do compare anonymouse* posters to mice and rats which, in fact, do those very nasty things in your kitchen cabinets, and in your pantries, upon and in your foodstuffs.

Why the asterisk:

I want to make sure that emphasis is placed on the 'mouse' part of the word, as well as the definition as I have described in #4.

Now, as a side note...

The "Muslim Madonna" has a video that has been pulled off the air because it has offended some... you know, 'folks'.

She is a muslim who is against the oppression of women which is practiced by muslims and is supported by Islam. She goes by the name Deeyah and she lives in fear for her life because she is outspoken about women's rights within the muslim community.

The video is composed much in the same way as an MTV video is done, and she is well, a little... how do the kids say it?

Oh yeah... *hot*.

So... with that said, do not click on the link if you think that you will be offended in any way.

That includes muslims, Islam Imams, people who don't like MTV, yada yada yada...

And, as it says in the song to the muslim, "Whatcha doin' even watchin' video?".

Deeyah's music video:

What Will It Be

later...


*After you watch the video, you can use your cursor and view the video's frames one by one. The video is definitely making a visual statement against the atrocities of Islam. There is one frame that speeds by at less than one second during the video and your eyes aren't quick enough to catch it while it is playing. If you stop to look at it, it shows a man pointing a rifle to the back of the head of a kneeling woman.

Within Normal Limits...

The Supreme Court will soon have its work cut out for them. South Dakota has pretty much issued a challenge for the highest court in the land by passing a law that bans abortions within the state.

I think that the lawmakers in South Dakota who voted for this law are courageous. It takes guts to stand up and make a statement like that.

South Dakotans should be proud of them.

Finally, a challenge for a politically correct law.

It's about time.

Do you remember when I wrote on my blog about Christian DeJohn and the difficulties that he was having in getting his master's degree?

Mr. DeJohn feels that his degree is being withheld because he spoke against a liberal viewpoint that was held by one of his professors.

There seems to be growing evidence that professors are infringing on conservative students' rights to free speech.

In this case, I presume that there is enough evidence that the issue is going to go to court.

Penn State and Temple University face lawsuits for imposing restrictive speech codes on campus. The suits are being filed by the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a pro-family legal organization based in Scottsdale, Ariz., which says the schools' policies target conservative and Christian speech.

Colleges and universities across the country have similar codes, and ADF lawyers warn they could face similar challenges.

Finally, a challenge for politically correct campuses.

I suppose that everyone has heard by now about the autistic high school senior, Jason McElwain, who was the basketball team's manager, but had never played in a basketball game.

To me, this is the feel good story so far of the year.

McElwain, who's autistic, was added to the roster by coach Jim Johnson so he could be given a jersey and get to sit on the bench in the team's last game of the year.

Johnson hoped the situation would even enable him to get McElwain onto the floor a little playing time.

He got the chance, with Greece Athena up by double-digits with four minutes to go.

And, in his first action of the year, McElwain missed his first two shots, but then sank six three-pointers and another shot, for a total of 20 points in three minutes.

Not only was this Jason's first and only game, he set a school record.

They caught it all on video.

You have to watch it.

The kids on the team, as well as the students in the bleachers, just go nuts when Jason makes the last three-pointer at the buzzer.

Finally, proof that being who you are should be good enough for anybody...


later...



dogscatskidslife: University Bounty Hunters... Earn $100/head.

Out of the Loop...

I guess that I haven't been in touch with reality lately.

I wasn't aware that there was a new, up and coming, Chuck Norris sub-culture forming out there.

Having sat with the kids, watching hours upon hours of "Walker, Texas Ranger", I became indoctrinated and found that I had also grown fond of the actor.

I had even written a letter for the kids to him one time. (that was several years ago.)

So now there is a Chuck Norris joke craze going on with the teenagers.

It's those kind of jokes that your kids tell you, and well... you have to laugh.

Not so much because the joke is that good, but because kids are usually funny when they're telling jokes. And, besides, you have to let them think they're being funny, right?

A Brown University freshman started a website called, The Random Chuck Norris Fact Generator, and it is full of jokes *like that*.

And the kid has had over 50 million hits.

Anyone can contribute a joke to this site.

And there are a few of the jokes that aren't so good and could offend some people.

This site has t-shirts that you can buy with the joke of your choice.

hmmmm...

I wonder how many hits they're getting?

Anyway...

From all reports, Chuck Norris has had a good sense of humor about it all and has actually picked out 20 jokes as his personal favorites.

~*~*~*~*~*

A FEW OF CHUCK'S FAVORITES

From a list of Chuck Norris' favorite Chuck Norris jokes:

When the boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.

Chuck Norris can lead a horse to water and make it drink.

Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.

When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he isn't lifting himself up - he's pushing the Earth down.

Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.

There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.

Outer space exists because it's afraid to be on the same planet with Chuck Norris.

Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.

Chuck Norris does not get frostbite. Chuck Norris bites frost.

There is no chin behind Chuck Norris' beard. There is only another fist.

Chuck Norris is so fast, he can run around the world and punch himself in the back of the head.

There is no such thing as global warming. Chuck Norris was cold, so he turned the sun up.

Chuck Norris doesn't wear a watch. He decides what time it is.

Chuck Norris gave Mona Lisa that smile.

Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.

Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding.

Remember the Soviet Union? They decided to quit after watching a Delta Force marathon on Satellite TV.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Simple, huh?

Wish I had thought of it.

But I guess it was too complicated of an idea for me.

later...

The Blob Attacks Los Angeles...

I'm back from class and it's time for bed.

I really need to get some sleep, but I am afraid that I may have some difficulties.

Do you kids know why parents tell you not to watch scary movies at night?

I thought I would read a few news stories before bed.

Mystery Blob Eating Downtown

Then I ran across a story about oozing black goo coming up through the cracks and orifices in Los Angeles, California.

A basement is being flooded with the foul smelling liquid too.

The street is buckling.

Residents have been evacuated.

It seems that there is a real-life reincarnation of *The Blob*!

Did they not bury that film "deep enough"?

Can you kill the blob?

Does the blob have a brain?

I wonder who it is after?

Can 'they' stop it?

I wonder where it came from.

Stop! Stop! Stop already!

My imagination is getting away from me.

I'll never get to sleep now.

later...



Oil Buckles Street and Damages Building

Oklahoma Senate Bill 1747...

Oklahoma Senate Bill 1747 has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee today.

The bill, if passed into law, will give Oklahoma juries the option of sentencing repeat child molesters to life without parole or the death penalty.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm is the author of the bill who believes that this will make Oklahoma children safer.

“Those who repeatedly prey on our children in this unspeakable manner should face the most severe penalties allowed under our justice system.”

Evidently, so do a majority of other Oklahoma lawmakers.

This is a tough piece of legislation that's being proposed here.

If this bill passes, it will be interesting to see how tough the jurors will be.

I don't know how much of the original language has been kept intact on this bill, but it also addresses other forms of child abuse including electronic abuse associated with internet predators.

The penalties are stiff.

This is good.

later...

Watch Your Neighborhoods...

Here is the recent list of registered sex offenders that I received via my e-mail alerts.

Caution: This isn’t a complete list for the state of Oklahoma.

Just the ones that have met my alert parameters.

Once again, I urge everyone to sign up for these alerts. The one I use is a free web-based service called ScanUSA.

Go here to read more about it and to sign up.


Thomas D. Barton

Jeremy Don Blalack

Shonn Paul Champagne

Forrest Allen Draper

Sonny Boy Lance Jr

Robert Allan Lockett

Robert Ceasar Muzio

Francisco Z. Rodriguez

Louis Ray Satterlee

Daniel Zimmer


I’m sure that there are other similar services on the internet.

It doesn’t matter which alert service you use.

Just use one.

later…


dogscatskidslife: Close to Home...

dogscatskidslife: Head's Up... It's a Free Service!

Ask the Imam...

The FBI might be a little slow to respond sometimes.

In this case it took three years for them to decide to investigate a concern called in by a director of a commercial trucking school.

It seems that the school was concerned about the applicants for commercial truck licenses who had not attended their school.

Eslinger said the truck driving program's director, Dean Proffitt, said he had first contacted the Highway Patrol in 2003 after noticing what he called a suspiciously high number of names that appeared to be Middle Eastern among those who walked in for the driver's test.

Do you get the feeling that the FBI didn't think it was something important?

Of about 520 people who did not train at the school but took the test there from May 2004 through December 2005, over 300, or about 60 percent, had names that could be Middle Eastern in origin.

I don't think you could call it profiling if these people don't live in or around your community either.

Missouri can issue commercial driver's licenses to noncitizens residing in the state if they provide proof of identity, training and legal residence in the United States, according to the Department of Revenue Web site.

West Plains, about 100 miles southeast of Springfield near the Arkansas border, is a town of about 11,000 people in Howell County, where the population is over 95 percent white, according to the U.S. Census. The largest immigrant population is Hispanic.

``We don't have any community of Middle Eastern immigrants,'' Howell County Commissioner Larry Spence said, adding he was not aware of any similar immigrant groups in neighboring counties.

Trucks can carry tons of stuff. Good stuff, bad stuff...

Oklahoma City knows what an average size truck can do.

Can you imagine an 18-wheeler loaded down with explosive materials?

By the way, another bounty has been posted.

This time it is from a government guy in India.

A minister in India’s Uttar Pradesh state government has offered a reward of $11.5 million to anyone who would kill any of the cartoonists who drew the images of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

So... in my search for wisdom and knowledge today I ran across the Muslim American Society's "Ask the Imam" page.

I was tempted to ask a question.

You know, something like...

"How come you guys insist on everyone being a Muslim?"

or...

"Why do you guys want to kill everyone who doesn't convert to Islam?"

But I didn't.

Though I did find an interesting post (my emphasis added):

Name: binta

Question: As salaam alaikum. I am an American born revert woman. I would like to know if it is true that a woman has to have her husband's permission to go outside the home. I love my husband and he is good to me. When I ask, he almost always says yes, but I find it humiliating and oppressive to have to ask, so most of the time I stay home rather than ask. This is depressing to me and I fear I can not live like this longterm. I want to go out to lectures, museums, and things like that, because I need the intellectual stimulation. My husband is not interested in these things and works most of the time. He can not relate to my need for these things. What should I do?

Answer: Marriage never means ownership of a wife, nor is it full dominance over a wife either. Marriage means that the two spouses joined each other for improving their life under Islamic affect and guidance. Husbands have the right of leadership of the family, which includes the power and authority for managing every member of the family for the interest of the household and family welfare. Of course, a woman cannot leave the household without having her husband's approval. Usually, a good husband is not a dictator when he says "no", he should have a good reason, but the leadership of a husband for matrimoial business is needed, without which the family life will be in chaos. Allah (swt) describes a good woman by being obediant. I do not see any good logic for saying "I should be free" whereas you would accept "dos" and don'ts" by a boss when we are employees.

Which brings me to a question that I might consider posting on the "Ask the Imam":

Can you get *unconverted* from Islam, or do you have to die first?

later...

Breed Specific Legislation Committee Hearing...

**UPDATE**

Due to the icy road conditions, the committee meeting has been postponed to Tuesday, February 21, 2006.

**UPDATE**

Per Joan Morrison:

The current status of the bill(s) is: All the Senate bills are dead in
committee - they will not be heard. Paul Wesselhoft's only bill to be heard is his "compromise" or "preventative measures" bill which will be heard in committee Tuesday at noon in room 432A.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Tomorrow, February 20, 2005, Paul Wesselhoft’s bill concerning breed specific legislation will be in committee at the state capitol.

I have received an e-mail this morning asking those who oppose breed specific legislation to please come and show their support.

Joan Morrison, the Treasurer of the Endangered Breeds Association, has been tracking events at the capitol and has also hired a lobbyist to represent dog owners that would be detrimentally affected by Wesselhoft’s proposals.

If you are a dog owner and could show up tomorrow at the state capitol, I know that your support would be very much welcomed. As I have stated before, breed specific legislation will not solve Oklahoma's dog bite problems.

Irresponsible pet owners will simply ‘change breeds’, therefore rendering breed specific legislation useless. Requiring responsible pet ownership is the only logical and long-term solution that will effectively address the problems that are associated with dog bite injuries and fatalities within our state.

Joan Morrison’s e-mail:

Our bill and Wesselhoft's bill (his compromise or preventative measure bill) will be in committee Monday at 1:30 p.m. in room 412 or 432. Our lobbyist said they probably will move it to room 432 because it is larger.

PLEASE, PLEASE, any and all of you who can - and bring your friends - try to attend. The lobbyist said it would be good to have some supporters there. I'd like to see as many of you as possible show up - I know some of you will have to take off work, but let's try and do it for the dogs. And some of you likely will have to stand during the meeting.
It's not a sure thing yet, but hopefully, the committee will hear our bill before Wesselhoft's - that's the hoped-for plan.

If you could be at the capitol by 12:30, it will be good. I will be there at 10 a.m. to meet with the bill authors. If any of you can be there around 11:30, it will be good and we can pass out the packets the lobbyist has made up. We also will be presenting the signed petitions at the 10 a.m. meeting.

Please send me an email if you will be coming.

Joan Morrison
morrisons@mynewroads.com

I know that this is an emotionally charged issue, but it is at this time that emotions must be curbed and intellectual reason must be allowed to dominate.

later…


dogscatskidslife: Today...

dogscatskidslife: My Letter to Paul Wesselhoft...

dogscatskidslife: Frustrating Issues...

dogscatskidslife: A Bite of Reality...

Close to Home...

The crazy Islamists are at it again today about the Mohammed cartoons. Of course, we all know that all of this isn’t about the cartoons.

They’re just using the cartoons as an excuse because Muslims need a good reason to do what they do best…

Nigeria had the most violence today with 27 people dying. I know that there weren’t any tears shed for those dead souls, because everyone is proud that they were martyred.

So don’t go feeling sorry for them yourselves.

It’s their “culture”.

It’s just the way they are and we should respect them for it.

I received a phone call today that was quite alarming. A friend called me and said, “T.J., I just wanted to call and tell you ‘thank you’ for sending me the e-mail about the sex offender. The man lives next door to a friend of mine and her daughter has been babysitting his kids.”

“I just wanted to let you know that you probably saved a lot of kids,” she added.

The man is a registered sex offender who has been convicted of indecent exposure. Children have been reporting indecent acts about this person to adults. Additionally, if the kids don’t want to “watch” freely, the man then offers to pay them.

The parents and adults just thought that the kids were making these stories up, because he and his parents are well-known, long-term members of the community.

I am refraining from giving any further details at this time out of respect for the families. They have some decisions to make and their children’s identities to protect. Additionally, I haven’t had a chance to speak with them first-hand, so I don’t want to give any information out that isn’t factual.

What I do know is that the perpetrator lives within yards of a public school. My friend also told me that he was a band sponsor of that school and had just recently gone on a trip with the band students. He also has five children of his own.

My questions:

Don’t schools do background checks on their volunteer adult sponsors?

I haven’t measured the distance from the sex offender’s house to the corner of the school property (yet), but I would venture to say that it is closer than the 2000 ft. distance that he is supposed to keep.

So why hasn’t someone made this man move?

This article reports on a sex offender who is challenging the proximity law as being “unconstitutional”.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Finally, why didn’t an officer or some other official notify the neighbors that this sex offender was moving in? He has been there for about three months now.

I had just received the information via e-mail on his whereabouts the week before last.

Did you know:

There are 1,055 sex offenders in the state of Oklahoma that are not accounted for?

Evidently, it is very common for registered sex offenders to not tell officials where they are.

Habitual and aggravated sex offenders are required to verify their home address every ninety days, and all other sex offenders have to do so at least once a year. It is common for offenders to move and fail to notify the Department of Corrections or their local law enforcement agency of their new address. Reliance on any information provided herein is at the user's sole risk. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections shall not be responsible for any use or reliance on information provided, or the lack of any information present that might result in injury or damage of any kind.

I know that I e-mailed all of my friends who I thought would be affected by the location of this offender, but if any of you would like his address, just e-mail me and I will resend the pertinent info to you in private.

later…


dogscatskidslife: Head's Up... It's a Free Service!

A Million Reasons Not to Offend...

Things are icing up around here. I had a hard time getting home this evening from work.

I hope that it all turns to snow. I am having some bad 'flashbacks' from the catastrophic ice storm that we had a few years ago.

I don't want to live that nightmare again.

Well... the wonderful religious leaders of Islam have decided to issue a $1 million bounty for the death of a Danish cartoonist.

And this isn't a "dead or alive" thing. They want him D.E.A.D.

An Associated Press article states that there are at least two clerics declaring bounties:

First: In Pakistan, a cleric announced a $1 million bounty for killing the cartoonist. Denmark, where a newspaper first published the cartoons, temporarily closed its embassy in Pakistan and advised its citizens to leave the country.



Second: In Pakistan, the cleric Mohammed Yousaf Qureshi said the mosque and the religious school he leads would give a $25,000 reward and a car for killing the cartoonist who drew the caricatures - considered blasphemous by many Muslims. He said a local jewelers' association would also give $1 million, but no representative of the association was available to confirm the offer.

"This is a unanimous decision of by all imams of Islam that whoever insults the prophets deserves to be killed and whoever will take this insulting man to his end, will get this prize," he said.



The article also reports on a Libyan riot:

It was the deadliest demonstration yet against the cartoons, which have set off violent protests throughout the Muslim world. At least 29 people have been killed altogether.

You would think that a publicly announced bounty on a civilian, by another civilian, would be against the law.

I mean, isn't that the same thing as hiring a killer?

You know, the conspiracy to murder thingy?

Do other countries have similar laws on that kind of stuff?

So is someone *thinking* about picking these guys up and putting them in jail or something?

Or are officials afraid that someone would be offended by jailing clerics.



One dead cartoonist...

$1,000,000.00

Converting to Islam...

Priceless?



later...

Basketball Season is Over...

Just now back from Shawnee.

It's late.

I need to get more gas... again.

The girls lost their semi-final game in the state tournament tonight.

So...

Basketball season is over for the 2005 - 2006 school year.

Both teams did very well this season and I am very proud of all of them.

I know that the seniors on the girls team are very disappointed tonight.

But as young people usually do, they have already moved on to new horizons.

There was some talk about track this evening...

We'll see you at practice on Tuesday.

later...

The Hypocrisy...

Mohammed Cartoons vs. Abu Ghraib Photos and Videos?

hmmm...

The mainstream media 'cannot' publish the Mohammed cartoons because they might offend Muslims.

We absolutely cannot offend any Muslims. Not even if it means giving up our rights to free speech.

We cannot offend Muslims.

Let's see now...

Do you think that the dehumanizing photographs from Abu Ghraib will offend Muslims?

Of course not. Why would it offend them?

It will only endear America to the Islamists, just like Al Gore tried to do when he slammed the United States during his speech this past Sunday in front of a Saudi audience.

These three incidences alone are so coincidental that it's evident that all of this has been a well executed plan.

There can't be any other explanation for it.

The mainstream media is manipulative, or are they being manipulated?

This could get really confusing.

What I want to know is what is the motive behind all of this?

Is it money, or something else? Could it be "someone" else?

Want to voice your opinion concerning this hypocrisy?

Go here. There are some e-mail addresses and telephone numbers posted that you'll find very helpful.

later...



Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin

Al-Taqiyya and Kitman...

Ethics.

Main Entry: eth•ic

Pronunciation: 'e-thik
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English ethik, from Middle French ethique, from Latin ethice, from Greek EthikE, from Ethikos
1 plural but singular or plural in construction : the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation
2 a : a set of moral principles or values b : a theory or system of moral values c plural but singular or plural in construction : the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group d : a guiding philosophy

I find that many people make decisions, judgments, as well as base their beliefs on what they know and have experienced. And there are many times we make mistakes due to the lack of knowledge and understanding. We all make mistakes. I have made mistakes.

The Denmark Cartoons.

I find it quite disturbing to realize that there are many people who do not truly understand what it is that the Muslim community is doing. I know that I don’t have a complete grasp of what is currently transpiring. I also find it difficult to believe that the average citizen in the United States has a true understanding of what is going on as well.

I know what I believe in. I know what I feel. I know what I understand in my soul as what is right and what is wrong. I feel in my gut that the Muslim reaction to the publishing of the Mohammed cartoons in Denmark is wrong and strangely skewed. It’s in my gut. There is something not right here.

Certainly there are people who respond to offenses in a very negative way. We can see it here in the United States and we can view it on the evening newscast. But these reactionary responses are limited to a small population, many times being executed by single individuals and not by enormous groups of people.

What’s wrong here?

I find it very disturbing that the Muslim community is not speaking out against those that they have labeled as “radical” and “extremist”. I find it almost surreal that there isn’t a clear and distinct voice coming from the moderate Muslim community. When there is opportunity for civil discussion, they echo what the violent protestors have been yelling in the streets. They say they have been offended . They don’t offer any apologies for the radical behavior of their religious zealots. They do not display any shame or embarrassment for their actions either. The moderate Muslim community isn’t protesting, or showing up on the streets, with an opposing point of view and declaring, much less demanding, for a peaceful protest.

Why is that?

It is difficult for me to put a finger on what is wrong here. What is it that I am feeling in my gut? Why do I feel so strongly about this issue?

In trying to put into words what I am feeling, I find that I am falling horribly short in that task. What I can tell you is that I have a deep feeling of alarm. This feeling of foreboding seems to be directly related to what I am seeing being played out across the globe. When governments are pressured into apologies… when newspapers are firing editors and journalistic staff… when citizens relinquish their freedom of speech… when governments incarcerate those who have been outspoken… when no one will stand up for fear of offending the Muslim religion… I believe that these things trigger something deep inside of me.

The thoughts that come to my mind… blackmail, coercion, deception.

I have a real problem with people who support these apologies, terminations of employment, and the imprisonment of journalists and editors.

Muslim ethics ~ Al-taqiyya and kitman.

The Muslim faith supports deception and lies. It supports lying for malevolent intent. It also supports and encourages believers to take on fake identities for the purpose of achieving their goals.

Muslim ethics are not equivalent to my ethics, and I don’t believe that they match most of the ethical values that are held by most of the people in the United States. When people support the “soft approach” of being extra-sensitive to the Muslim psyche they are playing into the hands of the enemy.

I have received a couple of e-mails from individuals who support the “do not offend Muslims” stance.

And it is here that I defend my stance on why we should ignore their ‘fake outcries’ and see it for what it really is.

later…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The excerpts printed below come from the article entitled Tactical Deception and Strategic Surprise in Al-Qai’da’s Operations. The authors have made an extensive study which includes a study of the Koran.

Please take the time to read the article. It is quite detailed and provides a lot of insights into the ethical viewpoints of the Muslim religion, infiltration into an established society, the World Trade Center bombing, and the 9/11 attack.

Al-Qa'aida's use of denial and deception operational techniques akin to those employed by intelligence services is also shaped by and related concepts found in Islam. Two in particular are relevant here -- taqiyya and kitman. Broadly speaking, taqiyya means precautionary dissimulation and keepin one's convictions secret, while kitman constitutes mental reservation or concealment of malevolent intentions. For the most part the concepts refer to Shi'a practices that have become tenets of Shi'a theology.

The authors:

Professor Richard H. Shultz is a professor of International Politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, and is director of the school's International Security Studies Program.

Professor Ruth Margolies Beitler is an Associate Professor of International Relations and Comparative Politics at the U.S. Military Academy.

Round Trip...

250 miles,

15 gallons of gas,

and

9 1/2 hours later,

we're home from Tulsa.

State basketball tournament.

The girls won tonight and they advance.

Missing three key players, my high school boys lost tonight's game. Their basketball season is over for this school year.

They played really hard and did very well, especially when you consider the strain that the team played under.

I'm proud of them.

The boys are already asking me about training for track.

We'll see.

It's almost midnight now.

later...

Cartoon Wars Escalate: Secret Weapon Soon to be Released

APP – Associated Pressured Press
It’s me, T.J. – APP Staff Writer

“The cartoon war seems to be escalating”, stated an unidentified statesman today.

Indeed it has. Since Denmark’s preemptive cartoon strike, cartoons have been detonated and fired globally with reckless abandon. APP’s war correspondent reports that cartoonist and editorial casualties are mounting.

Requesting anonymity, a Democratic congress member declared this afternoon, “This has got to stop. I plan to submit a bill before Congress this week to outlaw all manual writing instruments (MWI’s) across the United States.”

The anonymous congress member added, “I already have tentative arrangements made for a meeting with European and Middle East leaders who are willing to take similar measures within their countries… after passage of the bill.”

There seems to be strong support for such a ban in several countries, including the United States.

“There are untrained cartoonists putting innocent civilian lives in danger,” stated a suburban mother of three.

But opponents of the ban on manual writing instruments argue that pencils, pens, paints, crayolas, and map pencils are not the problem.

“You can take away all of the MWI’s in the entire world and it won’t stop this war. It won’t even make a dent in it. The real problem lies within the illegal use of computer keyboards, computer software, and the internet”, stated a national pen company spokeswoman.

She also points out that there could be drastic economic backlashes, particularly here in the United States. “A ban would put millions of workers out on the street without jobs if you shut our industry down.”

A child development psychologist argues, “Denying our children their inalienable right to draw on the walls of their homes, school bathrooms, and other public places could lead to serious psychological and developmental deficits.”

Currently, a grassroots organization is being formed to counter the growing support for the proposed bill. They plan to contact the National Rifle Association and ask for their support in funding and developing an effective lobby in Congress.

The group’s leader and founder stated that the NRA’s proven lobbying tactics would be a key component in their approach to congress. A name for the activist group has yet to be chosen.

The leader of the Republican Party was unavailable for comment. However, an available Republican staffer did state, “We must protect the artistic rights of every American. Artistic rights belong to every free man, woman, and child throughout the world.”

According to war analysts, it might be too late to change the current course of the Cartoon Wars. Newly unclassified intelligence reports state that a new weapon is soon to be released. Unknown to the general public, weapons of mental destruction (WMD’s) have been under development for quite some time. In fact, a newly unclassified weapon has been undergoing top secret research for the last five years.

The new WMD, a nuclear powered air brush, has passed system checks and, according to recently released reports, exceeded all the expectations of its developers with its performance in the field.

“The only thing holding us back are qualified cartoonists”, stated a lead researcher this morning.

Adding, “With cartoonist casualties rising, it is difficult to find people to fill these new positions.”

Indeed. It is possible that Congress will have to enact the draft here in the United States to fill these positions since few volunteers are expected to come forward.

When inquiring about the amount of skill and training that would be required to handle such a powerful weapon the lead researcher responded, “The person wielding this weapon would have to be at least 5 years of age and be able to spell correctly the name of every known religion, as well as each country’s top five political and religious leaders.”

“The quality of the cartoon isn’t what we care about. What we consider a successful launching is solely dependent on whether or not it hits its mark,” he added.

But launching facilities could also be as hard to locate as are good cartoonists. Without a seasoned editorial staff and publishing facilities, the new nuclear WMD could be rendered useless.

In the meantime, according to the WMD manufacturer’s CEO, a search is currently being conducted to locate the Danish cartoonists who created the original 12 published cartoons of Mohammed for the Denmark paper, Jylland’s-Posten.

“These people are the best cartoon marksmen in the world, and we want to get a nuclear powered airbrush in each of their hands as soon as possible.”

This Just In...

Tough Law Will Tackle Misuse of Cyberspace

The law will seek to guard against the use of digital technology to insult any religion, among other issues, and will arm the judiciary with the necessary laws to ensure that there is no misuse of cyberspace, legal consultants told Gulf News.

How many websites have published the Danish cartoons of Mohammed?

Will this law be retroactive?

Will anyone be able to stop this?

later...

Dhim the Lights... So We Can Hide the Truth.

I took some breaks between studying and doing school work today to visit a few blogs.

The cartoon I've posted is absolutely hilarious to me. It just makes me laugh out loud.

But what is not funny are the comments that were left with that posting. It doesn't appear that the people leaving the 'irate' comments even bothered to really look at the cartoon and make an accurate interpretation. In fact, I don't think they interpreted its intent at all.

There's even an article about this benign cartoon:

Bok said he did not draw his cartoon with intentions of offending Muslims and has defended his right to free press.

But Muslims on Friday said Bok's cartoon was disrespectful and demeaning.

The level of hurt, they said, was deeper since it was in the local paper.

``It pained me to know that the Beacon Journal printed its own editorial cartoons that sought to challenge the beauty of our community by bringing hate into its pages,'' said Rabbi David Lipper, of Akron's Temple Israel.


hmmm... They're probably liberals and just need to "get a life". It just seems that they misinterpret a lot of things.

Things like the Constitution of the United States and other stuff like that.

Michelle Malkin has really stayed on top of the Mohammed cartoon developments. I thought it was great that Instapundit's blogger was on CNN. I have only visited his site a couple of times, but I hope you have the opportunity to watch the video.

Anne Coulter has written a little tongue-n-cheek article too called "Calvin and Hobbes - and Mohammad".

But what I really enjoyed reading today was an opinion editorial by Diana West of the Washington Times which gives us a definition of *dhimmitude*.

This is the lesson of Cartoon Rage 2006, a cultural nuke set off by an Islamic chain reaction to those 12 cartoons of Muhammad appearing in a Danish newspaper. We have watched the Muslim meltdown with shocked attention, but there is little recognition that its poisonous fallout is fear. Fear in the State Department, which, like Islam, called the cartoons unacceptable. Fear in Whitehall, which did the same. Fear in the Vatican, which did the same. And fear in the media, which have failed, with few, few exceptions, to reprint or show the images. With only a small roll of brave journals, mainly in Europe, to salute, we have seen the proud Western tradition of a free press bow its head and submit to an Islamic law against depictions of Muhammad. That's dhimmitude.

People seem to still have difficulties in recognizing what is really going on here. I guess I saw that from those comments about Mr. Bok's CNN cartoon.

But...it seems that there may be some light bulbs coming on.

We cannot succumb to blackmail or coercion of any kind, at all. It will prove fatal if we do.

One more thing...

What's the correct spelling for Mohammed, Mohammad, Mohammoud?

I mean...

How does anyone expect me to get any of this political correct stuff right if there's a billion ways to spell one person's name?

later...

Today...

I had a really hard and difficult day today.

It was a long one too.

Just got home a bit ago.

Going to bed now.

later...

Today's Mailbag...

I heard on the radio this morning about the Danish guy who was fixing to be in charge over all that United Nations stuff. You know Syria and Iran are fixing to face him and the rest of the council.

With the cartoon controversy it would most certainly give them an excuse to not show up. They couldn't deal with a Dane, he would be biased and anti-muslim. I can hear the headlines now...

Could be that the Islamics had all this rioting and cartoon thing all figured out in advance. It's probably true too since the cartoons came out in September of last year, and nary a peep was heard over here in the states about it.

Makes you wonder...

Here's a few links for you guys to ponder:

Muslims challenged to address all 'hate speech': White House points out anti-Semitic, anti-Christian sentiment in Arab world

(It seems only fair.)

This is a video. It is in the form of a documentary.

Turning Muslim in Texas: People reverting to Islam in Texas

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I received an e-mail today from another blogger. In the body of the e-mail was a post that he had written.

hmmm... as I looked at it and wondered, "How did I get on this mailing list?"

I admit that I have stopped by his blog a couple of times, but I don't believe that I have ever left a comment. I don't think I have? Maybe I did, maybe I didn't.

Either way, I read the post.

"Is this a gigantic hint of some sort?", I wondered.

"Moron" and "idiots" are words that appear repeatedly throughout the text.

"Nah... This couldn't be for me.", I said to myself.

I may be intellectually challenged but I've never been *officially classified*.

So there were a couple of replies back and forth.

I haven't received another reply back from the blogger, but he may not have had time to do so yet.

Which leads me to my next thought.

Do I post this stuff or not...

It would be for educational purposes of course.

later...

Equal Time...

I got back from class tonight safe and sound.

I almost didn't think that I would make it home as I was nearly ran over by four police cruisers.

If I were to guess... I think that they were going about 65 in a 40.

geez... *We* all sat on the side of the street hugging the curb afraid to move, because we didn't know if 'nuther one was going come over the rise from behind us or not!

As I tentatively resumed my trek homeward it wasn't but a few hundred yards and I came upon those four cruisers plus another four or five...

No... I didn't stop to count them all.

Highlighted in the flashing lights I could see officers standing with their handguns pointing...

all in the same direction at a huge shadow of a man.

He was really big!

Well... the officers had gotten their man. And I think he's still alive.

I came home and got me some food, (Food is for nourishment and supper/dinner is for enjoyment.) then I started *browsing*.

I have posted a few comments... caught up on a few that I had left earlier.

I still can't keep up with D.T.'s comments. That one post of his is nearing 400 comments now.

Poor guy... I just know that he's wore out, even though he e-mailed me this morning claiming he was "okay".

So...

You guys stay in your homes tonight.

It's too cold to be camping outside.

later...

Google *heart* China...

D.T. Devareaux' blog, The Study of Revenge, has been flagged/reviewed/partially censored/blocked.

Because of:

1. sexual content

2. illegal drugs

3. poor grammar and spelling

4. pornography

5. selling AK-47's without going through e-Bay

6. wearing a turban as a diaper

7. plagiarism

8. posting bootleg videos

9. he lives in China

10. posting a cartoon of Mohammed

11. indecent avatar of himself

12. conspiracy against the United States government

13. he issued death threats

14. encourages the raping of children and women

15. torched an embassy

16. types with a lisp



ding ding ding

Your time is up.


And the answer is....


#10.


D.T. Devareaux has been *reviewed* by Blogger and his blog has been labeled as having 'offensive content'.

He posted a cartoon of Mohammed that he drew himself.

It is a very well drawn picture.

D.T. stayed between the lines and sharpened his crayolas.

Graphic? Yes.

Against the law? No.

Haven't I posted about this kind of stuff before?

(My posts about this kind of *stuff*.)

Google is into censorship these days and they are really liking how business has been going for them over in China.

They are learning the tricks of the trade.

I know. I shouldn't be talking like this about them, considering that I have a
~cough~
*free* blog due to their generosity.

But look...

If we don't stand up for human rights now...

We will be wondering where ours went...

Sorry D.T. for defacing your picture.

It just seemed to "fit".

later...

The Media is Finally Setting Higher Standards...

At CBS News, the decision was made not to run the cartoons. "We could explain it, so we didn't need to show it," says Linda Mason, CBS News senior vice president, standards and special projects, who compares the decision to one not to show dead soldiers. "Any rendering of Muhammad is an insult to Muslims, and desecration is even worse," she says, adding that the decision was made out of a desire not to unnecessarily offend, not because of the demonstrations or "out of fear of retribution."

Okay CBS...

Since you are in such a sensitive mood...

I'm tired of being offended so you had better start toeing the line or else.

(How long do you think it will take the media to figure this one out?)

And by the way...

I hear this term every now and then about "multi-culturalism".

I believe I have a good understanding of the term...

But someone, other than me, is going to have to explain it to the Muslims.

later...

The Silence is Deafening...

The Constitution of the United States directly protects the freedom of speech and press so that these liberties cannot be controlled by the government or by other factions. While the press here in the U.S. enjoys these liberties they do not serve the people of this country with honor.

The American press wields their power over the people in order to profit and promote, mold and create a society that reflects their ideals and their beliefs. The press favors political candidates, writes news reports that reflect their agendas, and constantly works at swaying public opinion into the directions that it favors. The average citizen has been tricked into believing that the mainstream media is telling them the truth without bias, without slant. But this is not true.

One cannot ignore the benefits that the press has brought to the American people, but by the same token, we can no longer ignore the damage that they have done.

The evidence of political bias and self-censorship by the American mainstream media is offensive. The silence of the press on the issues it doesn't support is deafening. The press has certainly driven home to us, the American people, their lessons on political correctness.

The press is allowing a religious community to tell them what they can and cannot do. If only the news media would treat Christians with such honor and respect.

How many pictures, news stories, and slanderous insults concerning Christians have been printed, aired, and profited from? It is certainly clear that the press is anti-Christian and pro-"all other religions".

Christians are constantly being degraded and are continually accused of being intolerant. Christians aren't allowed to speak up and demand apologies. And if Christians do speak up they are again demeaned and are not heard. The press wants to suppress Christians and Christianity.

Yet when Muslims threaten the press with death, the air is silent. The press doesn't accuse them of being intolerant. Only apologies are expected out of the press' mouths and some form of retribution is expected to be paid.

A rebuttal is not heard.

Censorship has begun.

later...

NZ newspapers debate Mohammed cartoons

NZealand newspapers publish Prophet Mohammed cartoons

Danish Imams Propose to End Cartoon Dispute (This link provides full size pictures of the cartoons.)

One more US paper prints blasphemous cartoons

Few U.S. outlets show cartoons

THE COWARDLY AMERICAN MEDIA

Better Fair American Immigration Rules...

The Muslim American Society wants to raise $100,000 for their PROJECT BFAIR
(Better Fair American Immigration Rules).

Maybe we should just shut immigration into the United States down completely.

Let everyone who doesn't like it here, or complains, leave/go home.

That way we can't be accused of being "unfair" to anyone.

Muslims in American Politics

The last decade of the twentieth century has witnessed a thriving, vibrant, and expanding Muslim community on the American civic horizon. The Muslim community in America, six million in number, is a replica of the more than one billion Muslims of the world. The community has at least three roles to perform on this continent. One is to function as a minority group seeking to protect its rights. Another is to represent the larger Muslim Ummah by struggling to help out Muslims around the world in difficult times. The third responsibility of Muslims and the Muslim Ummah in America is to bring the wisdom of Islam to promote social justice and political responsibility in America for all citizens, as well as to participate in ecumenical efforts to restore America’s spiritual underpinnings. The combination of these three roles has made the Muslim community a multiple agenda group instead of a single-agenda political-community.

The Muslim community in America possesses more financial, human, and high tech resources than any other Muslim community in the world. It is a fact that there are more professional Muslims in the United States than in any Muslim country. Interestingly enough and it may seem strange; the Muslims in America are also more active politically and Islamically than are Muslims in any other country. All these characteristics, plus being strategically placed in the belly of the sole super power of the world today, would give the Muslim community in America added effectiveness in its role as guardian for the future affairs of the Muslim World.

The following article is from Ray Hanania, an award winning Palestinian American journalist and author and is a regular contributor to YnetNews.com.

So what does he have to say?

Harnessing Power of Muslim World

Arabs need to come together not simply to punish those who offend them, but to also change policies that directly impact their causes and beliefs

This week, we witnessed the power of the Islamic and Arabs Worlds to bring a Western nation virtually to its knees over an issue that the nation’s government had nothing to do with.

So now what!!

I want to know how this happened:


(CNN) -- Interpol has issued "an urgent global security alert" after 23 "dangerous individuals" -- including a man identified as the mastermind of the attack on the USS Cole in 2000 -- escaped from a Yemeni prison.

The international crime-fighting organization said Sunday at least 13 of the 23 who escaped Friday were "convicted al Qaeda terrorists, some of whom were involved in attacks on U.S. and French ships in 2000 and 2002."

"Al Qaeda terrorists have been deemed a serious threat to the entire world community by the U.N. Security Council, by Interpol and by a wide range of countries," Interpol Secretary General Ronald K. Noble said in the statement.

They escaped via a 140-meter (150-yard) -long tunnel "dug by the prisoners and co-conspirators outside," Interpol said.

"Their escape cannot be considered an internal problem for Yemen alone."

Among the escapees was Jamal Ahmed Badawi, considered the mastermind behind the attack on the USS Cole on October 12, 2000.

Badawi was sentenced to death in September 2004 for plotting the attack. Two suicide bombers blew up an explosives-laden boat next to the destroyer while the destroyer was in the Aden, Yemen, harbor for a routine fuel stop.

The attack killed 17 sailors and wounded 39 others.

Also among the escapees was Fawaz Yahya Al-Rabeei, one of those responsible for attacking the French tanker Limburg in 2002.



I support better and more advanced intelligence operations.

President Bush, et al, can listen in on my conversations any time he chooses.

later...

Who's Bringing the Chips?

I located my post from last night in my trash bin. It hadn't disappeared yet from my Yahoo mailbox.

What fortune!

Dear Moof has offered to help me move from Blogger to another *more stable* domain.

You know, this is a serious consideration for me.

I don't have the links in place. Maybe I will put them in...

later...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Well...

I am unable to upload an image to Blogger at this time.

hmmm...

Moof provided a wonderful link in 'comments'. I think you guys should read it.

I have spent an enormous amount of time trying to catch/keep up with D.T. Devareaux's comments on his blog. With almost 200 comments, it's really hard for me to do.

Sometimes I wish that I had the talent that Moof and D.T. display.

There sure are a lot of good bloggers out there.

I got to reminiscing about the good ol' days this evening which got me to wondering/wandering.

Are my tax dollars still paying for crappy works of art? You remember... art like that crucifix in the urine photo.

I was wanting to post an image of an e-mailed copy of the letter that the Joints Chief of Staff had written to the Washington Post concerning that *awful* cartoon (of the quadriplegic bandaged soldier in the hospital bed) that Mr. Toles had drawn.

Of course, I have no way of authenticating this letter, but it looks good enough to me. And if it isn't a copy of the original... well it should be.

You guys know how I feel about posting incorrect information, but right about now I'm thinking...

What the heck... we all can't meet Mohammed's/Allah's high morals and expections.

And besides that, being the Christian infidel that I am, I might as well give up trying.

Maybe I can upload the letter later on.

So, since the letter part has been taken care of, has anyone heard of how, when, or where the death threats, bomb plans, throat slashings, and head loppings are to be executed (I presume Mr. Toles' residence?), and has anyone gotten together and planned out who will take care of which 'details'?

Details like who's in charge of the video camera and who can make the media contacts...

Being the busy single-mom that I am, I really have a hard time working on short notice.

So if the person who is in charge would just send me an e-mail, I will try to do my part.

How do cupcakes sound?

later...

It's Upsetting... To Say the Least.

Blogger is finally back up, but last night's post is gone.

I'm upset, but I promise that I won't make any death threats towards the corporate heads of Google or anything like that.

I guess that Iran has pretty much told every one to...

jump off a cliff.


"The path chosen by Iran's new leaders threats, concealment, and breaking international agreements and IAEA seals will not succeed and will not be tolerated by the international community," President Bush said in a statement.

Iran remained defiant, threatening to do precisely what referral was meant to prevent. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered the resumption of uranium enrichment and an end to snap IAEA inspections of its nuclear facilities, according to state television.

"As of Sunday, the voluntary implementation of the additional protocol and other cooperation beyond the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty has to be suspended under the law," Ahmadinejad said in a letter to Vice President Gholamreza Aghazadeh, who also is the head of the nation's nuclear agency.

And Syrian protestors decided that a boycott wasn't as fun as roasting Danish and Norwegian marshmallows over the embers of torched embassies.


In Santiago, the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Chilean Embassy in Damascus was also torched but nobody was injured.

The demonstrations in Damascus began peacefully with protesters gathering outside the building housing the Danish Embassy. But they began throwing stones and eventually broke through police barricades. Some scrambled up concrete barriers protecting the embassy, climbed into the building and set a fire.

"With our blood and souls we defend you, O Prophet of God!" the demonstrators chanted. Some removed the Danish flag and replaced it with a green flag printed with the words: "There is no god but God and Muhammad is the messenger of God."

Demonstrators moved onto the Norwegian Embassy about 4 miles away, also setting fire to it before being dispersed by police using tear gas and water cannons. Hundreds of police and troops barricaded the road leading to the French Embassy, but protesters were able to break through briefly before fleeing from the force of water cannons.

Everyone should drop by
Michelle Malkin's blog and look at the videos and pictures showing the Muslim's 'religion of peace' in action.

And while I am making suggestions...

We can show our support of democratic freedoms by purchasing
Danish products. Americans have a lot of buying power and we can most certainly replace any business that Arla foods has lost overseas with increased and new business here in the United States.

Denmark is standing firm and brave. They need our support.

Then corporations should stop shipping products to the middle east. They are threatening to boycott any and all countries that support the Danes.

Iran is telling everyone what they will and will not do.

So why not act on the offensive.

Muslims curse anything that is western. As long as it is convenient and suits their needs.

So let the Muslims live without their western cell phones, western computers, western televisions and all the other comforts of western life that they have adopted.

We cannot be a free people if we are afraid.

We cannot allow violence to tell us what we can and cannot say or do.

We cannot allow a violent people to rule the world.

later...

What?! CENSORHSIP?!!

Last night's post is MISSING!

Folks are unable to post comments on my blog!

Hey, Blogger!

What's going on?!

Head's Up... It's a Free Service!

I subscribe to a free alert service called ScanUSA. You can sign up online and receive various types of alerts for any area, or areas, that you submit.

For example:

I have signed up for sexual predator movement alerts. I receive an e-mail with a picture of the sexual offender and their current new address. This way I can keep tabs on who is moving around in my neck of the woods, so to speak.

A link to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections is also provided which shows what they have been convicted of as well as a physical description and other information.

What brought this up is that I got *spammed* recently by a lot of these alerts.

So I thought that I would share some of the links that I received with you guys and encourage you to sign up with ScanUsa.

A lot of these people look like regular folks.

Like the people that stand behind you in the check-out lane.



Jeremy Don Blalack

Benjamin Luke Boarts

Walter Delore Bouziden

John Arlington Brown

Robbie Eugene Cribb

Michael E. Delaughter

Forrest Allen Draper

Jared Paul Fenton

Sharon Annette Garcia

Darrin Wayne Keys

James Franklin Means

Bruce Shannon Michels

Phoung Van Nguyen

Billy Lee Williams



later...

Blackmailing the World...

Is it true that Muslims are a peaceful people following a religion that promotes peace?

There were several other newspapers that reprinted those Muhammed cartoons. One French editor was fired because of it.

Well... it was a few more than several:

Seven publications in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain all carried some of the drawings.

The cartoons have sparked diplomatic sanctions and death threats in some Arab nations, while media watchdogs have defended publication of the images in the name of press freedom.

The offices of Jyllands-Posten had to be evacuated on Tuesday because of a bomb threat.

This isn't the first time that people have 'crossed' Muslims.

1989: Iranian spiritual leader Ayatollah Khomeini calls on Muslims to kill British author Salman Rushdie for alleged blasphemy in his book The Satanic Verses
2002: Nigerian journalist Isioma Daniel's article about Prophet and Miss World contestants sparks deadly riots
2004: Dutch film maker Theo van Gogh killed after release of his documentary about violence against Muslim women
2005: London's Tate Britain museum cancels plans to display sculpture by John Latham for fear of offending Muslims after July bombings

Besides boycotting Danish goods, the Islamists are promising other types of retaliation.

Being an active boycott type of person, I feel that this is a good way to get a point across. But I have to draw the line at bombing and murdering folks.

So what about Hamas and Palestine?

It has been found that Iran has some designs for nuclear weapons. Officials are wanting to come and check things out...

So what does Iran say?

"If it happens, the government will be required under the law to end the suspension of all nuclear activities it has voluntarily halted," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said late Tuesday, speaking on Iranian television.

"We will have to start all nuclear work that has been voluntarily suspended," Larijani said, though he stopped short of saying explicitly that Iran will restart its uranium enrichment program.

Then you have this headline which actually says it all:

Hamas Leader: Why Recognize Israel? Arab State Must Replace It

Vowing to intensify education of youth to kill Israeli civilians, Al-Zahar discussed the reforms in the education system his group wishes to introduce: "Our ministry of culture will teach them [Arab children] how the martyr is turned into prose, literature, and poetry, and how a woman, who used to cook and do the laundry, turns into one of the heroes of Palestine."

Do you get the feeling that global society is being painted into a corner?

Do you think that an apology is going to be enough for the Islamists?

Denmark's reputation as an easy-going, consensual nation has been severely tarnished in recent days. All the Danes can do now is hope the repeated apologies for the offence caused, by both the government and the newspaper, will end this unseemly row.

I really don't think so myself.

The Muslim American Society(MAS) published an alert on their web page concerning the cartoons.

They're encouraging people to write letters to the Danish ambassador in Washington, D.C.

I can support letter writing.

Please express your concerns and protest in a dignified manner. Be firm, but polite.

Now there is another alert on the MAS website concerning the subsequent publishing of the cartoons.

"No one is asking for censorship or the negation of free speech, but a little common sense and self restraint might be in order,” said MAS Freedom Executive Director Mahdi Bray. “Just because one is free to do something does not mean that it is prudent or wise to do so.”

Somehow I get this feeling that there is an encrypted message somewhere in here.

later...