In Beak's Hot Seat!

I'm famous now; Beakerkin has decided that Yours Truly is worthy of an interview! I shall do my best to answer his questions thoughtfully!

Trolls

1. What are trolls and is a person who disagrees with a post a troll ? There have been times Jason Pappas and I have disagreed with each other.

In my opinion, a troll is not necessarily a person who disagrees with a post, but rather, a person who makes insulting or inflammatory remarks to the blog host and his/her guests, with the intention of hijacking the post or blog in general. It seems that some people cannot handle disagreement, so they try to shut down anyone who dares to poke a hole in their cute little bubble world.

I welcome civil discourse on my blog. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

2. Certain blogs seem to be troll magnets and I am surprised others have less trolls then I do. The title of your blog and the Mad Zionist should ensure a steady stream. However, this blog with a generic title does seem to be a troll magnet. What has been your history with trolls.

My history with trolls... Well, there was John Brown, of course, who now has me listed under his 'klan watch.' I've had spammers, if they count (I'm not sure that they do.), and before I came to Blogger, I had a site over at Bloghi. One of my posts there, made in January, is still a troll magnet. It has 650 comments now, and is nowhere near the original topic of the post. It even got comments today!

3. The term Neocon seems to be a liberal slang term for evil jewish Republican, all six of us. Liberals have used it to describe Reaganites like Mark Levin and myself a Rudy Republican . What is your definition of the term Neocon ?

I do not think that Republicans now are what they were 50 years ago, or even 20, during the Reagan era. Republicans now are what the Democrats used to be, and they will continue down the slippery slope.

I believe Zell Miller said of the Democratic Party, " I didn't leave the Party, the Party left me!" So too have the Republicans left their conservative base. A NeoCon is someone who has returned to those traditional views: That our country is the greatest on Earth, that our military is the finest, and that we should not be afraid to use it when necessary. Fiscally, the GOP is a nightmare. The government has it's claws into too many aspects of our daily lives; everything is taxed and regulated. I would like to see a return to the conservative view that a man does best when he keeps more of his own money and is left alone to his own devices; his success or failure is his own.

Immigration Follies

4. It seems as if some localities encorage law breaking. The mayor of Burlington VT declared his city a safe haven for illegal aliens. What is going on at the local level ?

At the local level, I think that towns like Burlington are using this as another way to take a swipe at the current administration, just like when they were passing "resolutions" against the war. I think it is nothing more than political immaturity.

5. There is some talk about elimination of the code of law that allows any child born in the United States automatic citizenship. The net result is twenty one years later the child can file for an automatic visa for their parents with no waiting period. Should this law be changed ?

Hmm. No. I think that if you are born here, you are a citizen. However, a woman (or man) using the baby as an anchor is also unacceptable. Therefore, I would change the law to this: A baby born in the US is a US citizen, but that citizen cannot be held responsible for his/her parent's illegal activity. The parent have these options. They can surrender the child to a legal relative or to foster care, and he/she can remain in the US. The illegal will always be deported. If the parent is unwilling to do this, they can take the baby with them when deported, with the option of the child returning to the US in the aforementioned option at any time, or whenever he/she wishes as an adult. The parent may apply for legal immigration. Whether or not it is achieved is not factored on the legal son/daughter. No automatic VISAS.

6. What is your position on reduced citizenship time for military personel ?

I am all for this. In my opinion, being a soldier is a great sacrifice, and proves loyalty to this country. I would suggest after a background check, if a foreigner wishes to enlist in the military he/she may do so for a mandatory four years, during which they will be taught English and given citizenship classes during and after Basic Training. At the end of four years, they are a citizen.

7. Should Universities that admit illegal alien be denied research grants and student
aid ?

Absolutely. All illegals should be deported, period. If a foreign national wants to come over on a student VISA, he/she may do so with a scholarship/aid/grant from their own country.

Aftermath of 9-11

8. Do you think that the News medias editing of film on 9-11 allowed the conspiracy theories to grow. The image of the plane smacking into the WTC has not been shown for a while.

Yes. People have short attention spans (myself included) and need constant reminding of the truth. Without it, our minds wander, and conspiracies get started. IMHO, World Trade Center images should be shown far more often than they are. I have a GIF tribute to 9-11 on my blog, and someone actually said that it's racist, because it shows the planes hitting the buildings, the wreckage, OBL and Palestinians celebrating in the streets. Apparently, this person thought that portraying our enemies as Middle Easterners is bad... Too bad for them that it is true!

9. Does the media select odd photos to run on the front page. The pictures from Abu Gharib were run for days. Yet I do not recall pictures of beheadings and people slamming into concrette.Do you notice this or is it my perception ?

Oh, I've noticed it, and it enrages me. The liberal media (and yes, it is) hates this country. This is a two-sided coin: On one side, the media hates the right and any excuse to make them look bad is OK, no matter what the cost and truth be damned. On the other side, the media is so caught up in the PC movement, it believes that we are somehow picking on everyone else (like Muslims) and therefore everything is our fault, and that we've got attacks like 9-11 and beheading coming to us.

10. In the after math of 9-11 the media ran with the Islam is the religion of peace hundreds of time ? Part of me was shocked at flight 93 when Muslims were shown stabbing people. Where are the movies about Beslan and the Achile Lauro ?

Again, the PC infatuation is to blame, and if they have to ignore the stark facts to support it, then so be it. Islam is NOT the "religion of peace" that so many claim it is, and even a cursory read of the Quaran or a little research into Mohammed's life proves it. I was not at all shocked at the hijackers stabbing people; these are mild attacks compared to the barbarity that goes on daily. Stonings, repression of women, "honor" rapes/killings, beheadings, taqiya...The list goes on and on.

As for Achille Lauro and Belsan... I don't know. I wish those films would be made.

11. Are you concerned the first 9-11 film will be made by Oliver Stone ? I hope he does not place conspiracy BS in the film.

I am concerned. I am not an Oliver Stone fan, and I have heard conflicting stories about what that film will contain. It's big-name quality also concerns me. I hope it is an accurate representation of what happened, and I hope that people go to see that story, rather than "the Oliver Stone Movie," or "the Nicholas Cage flick about 9-11."

Women and Blogging

12. There is a perception that political blogs are mostly male. However our community has several outstanding female bloggers . The media seems to think that the only women's issues are abortion and more abortion ? Is the entire notion of womens issues a media construct ?

We do indeed have a lot of outstanding women bloggers, as well as outstanding male bloggers!
The media tends to focus on abortion, and in particular the "pro-choice" side is touted as the women's rights argument, with women who are pro-life shrugged away as backwards or nutty. Abortion is wrong, and ought to be illegal, period. The "choice" comes before one is pregnant, when the option of birth control is available. Even the poorest of women have the option of Planned Parenthood for birth control, as the facility dispenses it on a sliding scale based on income, a poor woman can walk away having paid very little for contraceptives, if anything at all.
There are indeed tons of women's rights issues, none of which seem to concern the media.
That NOW says nothing on the suffering of women in third-world countries, and Islamic countries in particular is very telling about the true motives of "women's rights" groups. Can you imagine literally being the property of your husband, and being treated as an animal? Where is the media on these issues?

13. Are there issues you would like to blog on but do not think the audience is interested in ? I did a post on comodity economics and found out that there is an interest in such an odd topic.

Oh, I don't know. I might be a little ADD on this issue; I just blog on whatever catches my interest that day. I could probably go on about cross-stitching, but that would be a little boring!

Liberals, Commies and Fellow Travelers

14 What has happened to the Democratic party ? Where are the Pro American Patriotic
liberals of the old school ?

The Democratic party has started to spiral into an abyss of moral relativity. It's unrecognizable compared to what it was in FDR's time. The old-school liberals, like Zell Miller are few and far between, and when they dare to speak out they are given the politically equivalent label of "Uncle Tom." The Republicans are now what the Democratic Party used to be.

15. Does it seem that the current crops of Democrats are more concerned about the opinions in the UN and the salons of Europe the national security ?

The current crop of Democrats are not that far removed from the socialists of Germany or France. They pander to the UN (Anyone remember John Kerry's "Global Test?"), and would be happiest in the EU. I think that that is their vision for this country; to turn us into a Mexican/Canadian/American union, and then join that conglomeration with the EU.


16. Recently, I have been flabergasted when a friend who is a lawyer asked what is wrong about working with Communists if they are for peace ? I asked him if he would echo the same sentiments about the KKK or Nazis and he walked away. Have some on the left forgotten the disasters Communism created ?

They have totally forgotten. Those folks remind me of Neville Chamberlain, waving his peace treaty with the Nazis in the air. Some governments are evil, plain and simple, and cannot be worked with.

Personal Fun

17. Do you play video games ? If so what are your favorites ?

I don't usually play video games, but I do (did) have a few faves from when I was in school... Resident Evil (one and two), Tetris, and Silent Hill, and the original (nes)Super Mario Bros. and the (nes) Legend of Zelda.

18. If we were casting for the show Blog survivor who would you cast as a candidate ?
My money is still on Nanc because she knows when to clean house and when to use diplomacy?

Ooh, I hate survivor, but if I were casting for blog survivor I'd have to pit Anum, John Brown, Weasel and Ducky against Nanc, Elmer's Brother, Always on Watch and Mr. Beamish. I'd watch that one!

19. Do you play a musical instrument ?

Yes, the flute. Badly!

20. What type of music do you listen to ? Do an artists political views alter your purchases. I will not see a movie with Sean Penn, Danny Glover and a few others.

I am eclectic when it comes to music. As a rule, I don't listen to "gansta" rap, and I don't listen to country that often, but it's OK.
My favorite right now is Michael Buble and Haylee Westenra. I listen to the Dan Klass Podcast, and I hardly ever miss Glenn Beck's radio show. He's on Headline News also now, but his radio show is far better.
Politics do indeed influence my purchases. I will not see a Gary Busey (not hard to do, he sucks), Billy Zane, Sean Penn, or Susan Sarandon movie. I will not listen to Good Charlotte, or the Dixie Chicks. To a lesser degree, I cannot watch a Tom Cruise movie; he has ruined the suspension of disbelief. I can't see the character he's playing! All I see is placenta boy jumping up and down on Oprah's couch.

21. Have you ever driven a snowmobile ?

No. I live in Southwestern Ohio; we only get one or two good snows a year. I consider that more than four or five inches. Around here, if it snows more than an inch, folks think the white death is coming, and you can't get milk or bread for days.

22. Do you enjoy scenic drives in the country. I can not put my finger on it but I enjoy waterfalls . I went to a couple yesterday and found some odd areas almost like a Bayou in VT

I like scenic drives, but unfortunately I don't get to take them that often anymore. With three kids under five, one of them usually starts whining, so if my hubby and I want to get out into the country, we've got to find a babysitter. Plus, I'm on a bit of a budget as far as gas goes, being a stay-at-home mother. I love seeing a ratty old barn, and I love bridges and forests. There is a park close to where I live that has a forest trail along a large creek, and halfway through there is a small 4' waterfall with a pool under it. It's the best place ever to go have a lunch and go wading.

23. People who bring cell phones in theatres should be fined, flogged or scorned ?

We take ours for child-care reasons, in case the babysitter calls. It is kept on vibrate and not answered in the theatre. Anyone who inflicts one of those damn polyphonic rings and inane conversation on the moviegoers should have to reimburse the crowd for their tickets, and then be barred from theatres forever! If they cannot make reimbursement, they should be flogged, and ridden out of the theatre on a rail.

24. When you go on a trip do you micro plan or like to have spontaneous adventures ?

I do a little light planning. I like to figure out the one main thing that should happen in a day, and let the rest fall as it may. Folks that have an itinerary down to the minute are nuts!

25. Blogs come and go are there any blogs that have gone RIP that you miss ? Are there promising newcomers?

I miss American Crusader and hope he makes a speedy recovery! I also miss Iran Watch, and wonder what happened to him!
F.B. Jones is promising, provided he can get his computer fixed, and Florian looks promising, too.

There it is! Whew!