Memorial Day 2010

This Memorial Day weekend and Memorial Day itself I've been at work in the ER, so I've not had much time to put together a fantastic post to honor our soldiers who have fallen in service to this country.

All I can say is that we cannot be thankful enough.

Please see this, found at AOW's site.

Also, here are Charlie Daniel's thoughts and memories, well worth reading:

Memorial Day 2010




As I approach my 73rd Memorial Day my mind goes back to a sunny June morning in 1944 when my mother got me out of bed early to go to the Methodist church where the good people of Valdosta, Georgia had gathered to pray for the brave Americans who were storming the beaches of Normandy.



The church was packed to the rafters with patriotic Americans who were turning to the only help they knew for the brave men so far away.

It was D-Day, and the allies were making an all out effort to deal a fatal and decisive blow to Hitler and the Nazi war machine.



We didn't have television in those days and the radio news reports were sparse and spotty.



I was only eight years old, but I was a child of the Second World War and grasped the gravity of anything the United States military was doing, I knew America was in a battle for something precious and was paying a tremendous price to win.



Even now as I think of brave men facing German artillery and being cut to ribbons by Nazi machine gun fire, I still tend to get choked up even after all these years.



That day, that moment in history was America in it's finest hour, America the liberator, America, "the land of the free and the home of the brave," fighting for freedom on foreign shores and on it's knees before Almighty God in the homeland.



There is no way, no words I can use to articulate or express the gratitude I feel in my heart for those who have given their all for this nation.

There are no garlands or bouquets that I could place on the grave of a hero that could represent the respect and admiration I feel for those who have fallen in the cause of freedom.



The young men and women who volunteer for the military are not to be taken for granted, nor should the service they perform be taken lightly, deployed thoughtlessly nor used as a football in a game of politics.



When someone takes that oath and puts on that uniform they deserve the respect, admiration and support of every American whether liberal, conservative, Democrat or Republican, native born or naturalized.



On this Memorial Day I pay my humble and heartfelt respect and gratitude to those fallen heroes of the past wars and my undying support and admiration to those who are fighting the present day wars.



I salute you all.



The flag in my yard will be lowered and will remain at half-mast throughout this weekend to commemorate America's fallen warriors.



Pray for our troops, and for our country



What do you think?



God Bless America



Charlie Daniels

Friday Post. Yeah!

As you may be able to tell, I've been feeling a bit bored of posting about politics while waiting for Obama to be impeached and charged (Clinton, too) over the Sestak scandal, so I bring you this bit of insanity:

If you thought Bros icing Bros was genius, you're gonna love this new teen trend: pouring vodka directly onto your eyeball. The Daily Mail reported on the phenomenon a couple of weeks ago, and now it's catching on in America, according to a scary report on CBS2.


-------------------
But why? CBS2 doesn't actually have any attributable quotes in their segment, but they watched a lot of the YouTube videos and report that "the pain gives way to an instant high and then a deeper state of drunkenness." 




I often feel like pouring vodka into my eyeballs when Obama opens his mouth, if only to distract myself from the pain of listening to him, but I had no idea people were doing this to get drunk really quickly. I guess waiting for alcohol to hit the bloodstream is so yesterday, and possibly going BLIND is worth it, too.  Sheesh.

And a side thought: Don't most people have a natural instinct to keep shit out of and away from the eyes?

In slightly related news, Ohio is attempting to make improvements to the concealed carry law. Hopefully, it can now get past the state's Dems:

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Firearms owners with the proper permit would be allowed to bring concealed guns into establishments or events where alcohol is served, under a bill the Ohio Senate has passed.

The measure was approved by a 23-10 vote on Thursday, despite objections from groups representing Ohio sheriffs and police chiefs. The legislation bars the concealed carriers from drinking any alcohol, but the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police says policing that will be difficult.

The bill's supporters in the Republican-led Senate say change is needed in the current law because prohibiting concealed weapons in bars and restaurants turns those places into "victim zones" where citizens can't protect themselves.


The legislation now heads to the Ohio House, controlled by Democrats.

Of course, whiny leftists bemoan how difficult it will be to enforce someone not drinking while they have their weapon with them.

It isn't. Obviously.

The people who have a CCW are responsible gun owners. I damn sure don't drink with my gun on me. I'm smart enough to know that's a bad idea. It's going to be the kind of idiots who pour vodka into their eyes that are going to drink and mess with a deadly weapon.

That said, I can go to the restaurant and not order a drink from the bar, so why can't I have my weapon with me if I'm not drinking? Enforcement is easy. If a situation breaks out that requires a CCW person to draw and/or discharge their weapon while at an establishment that serves alcohol, simply give them a breathalyzer or blood test.

Or I'll give you one easier. Ask the waitress or bartender if the dude has a tab running.

What is it with Dems that makes thought and logic go right out the window?

You Know You've Thought This...

... Sitting in front of your TV, watching your favorite show, and then BLAM. The news breaks in:

Towel Day!

Don't forget your towel, and DON'T PANIC.

Today is towel day, and here is a link for you to find stuff in your area to do with your towel.

When you're done with that, do go by the library and pick up a copy of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. I would say I like it even more that Hitchhiker's Guide.

So You Want A Boycott, Eh?

I find this just freakin' hilarious:

"Doggone it -- if you're going to boycott this candy store ... then don't come in for any of it," Pierce told FoxNews.com. 

In the letter, he ridiculed Villaraigosa for saying that the point of the boycott was to "send a message" by severing the "resources and ties" they share. 

"I received your message; please receive mine. As a statewide elected member of the Arizona Corporation Commission overseeing Arizona's electric and water utilities, I too am keenly aware of the 'resources and ties' we share with the city of Los Angeles," Pierce wrote. 

"If an economic boycott is truly what you desire, I will be happy to encourage Arizona utilities to renegotiate your power agreements so Los Angeles no longer receives any power from Arizona-based generation." 

Appearing to tap into local frustration in Arizona over the raft of boycotts and threatened boycotts from cities across the country, including Los Angeles, Pierce warned that Arizona companies are willing and ready to fight boycott with boycott. 

"I am confident that Arizona's utilities would be happy to take those electrons off your hands," Pierce wrote. "If, however, you find that the City Council lacks the strength of its convictions to turn off the lights in Los Angeles and boycott Arizona power, please reconsider the wisdom of attempting to harm Arizona's economy." 

Go, Gary Pierce, GO!!!

EFF YOU, Calderon!

Racial profiling? Are you frickin' KIDDING me?!?

Just how does Mexico treat those coming up from countries south of their own?

Just what place is it of Calderon to say jack shit about one of our states fixing a problem that neither he nor our government will?

Bottom line, this asshole is terrified that the flow of American dollars sent home by ileegals, the second largest income to Mexico second to oil, will be cut off if all of the states start implementing the law.

And just where do these treasonous Dems get off applauding Calderon when they have admitted that they haven't even bothered to read the mere ten page law?!?

Where is my damn pitchfork?

Draw Mohammad Day: The Morning After.

'Cause we're never gonna give you up:

It's Draw Mohammad Day!!!

I've got one!

But first, from this source:

LAHORE, Pakistan — Pakistan blocked access to Facebook on Wednesday on a court order over a competition encouraging users to post caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed on the social networking site.

The "blasphemy" caused by a Facebook user who set up a page called "Draw Mohammed Day", inviting people to send in their caricatures of the Muslim prophet on May 20, could inflame parts of the conservative Muslim nation.

Thousands of young people and Muslim faithful had already unleashed an online campaign, leading to isolated protests that grabbed the government's attention and saw the controversial page blocked on Tuesday.

But a group of Islamic lawyers went a step further Wednesday and petitioned the court to order a blanket ban on Facebook in Pakistan.

Islam strictly prohibits the depiction of any prophet as blasphemous and Muslims all over the world staged angry protests over the publication satirical cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in European newspapers in 2006.

"Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has directed all concerned operators in Pakistan to block website www.facebook.com till further order," it announced in a statement.

Religious Affairs Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi "strongly condemned" the caricature competition and urged Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani "to take immediate action and call a Muslim conference".

Justice Ejaz Chaudhry directed the PTA to block Facebook until May 31, when the Lahore High Court will open a detailed hearing into the case.

The petition also called on the government to lodge a strong protest with the owners of Facebook, lawyer Rai Bashir told AFP.

Facebook, which is based in the United States, was not immediately reachable when contacted by AFP for comment.

The information technology ministry ordered Facebook blocked and PTA was following those directives after already preventing access to the offending page from Tuesday, PTA spokesman Khurrum Mehran told AFP.

The PTA released a toll-free number and email address, asking to be notified of "all similar URLs where such objectionable material is found".

Nayatel, a leading Internet service provider, notified clients that it had blocked access to Facebook until May 31 in compliance with the court order.

"Facebook has been holding a competition to draw caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad and has not removed the objectionable hate materials despite thousands of emails from Pakistani Facebook community," it said in a statement.

At least two other service providers confirmed they would follow suit.

Hardline Islamic party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, an ally of the main ruling Pakistan People's Party, welcomed the court order and called for a complete ban on all Western websites "promoting liberal culture and obscenity".

To all of you bloggers and Facebookers out there, I recommend re-posting the Mo Day toons on June 1st just to screw with those who cannot brook any insult to their pedophile prophet.

And now, here's my toon:

Yes She Can

Ready for a bit out outrage?

Remember the controversy surrounding Obama's illegal alien aunt during the 2004 election? It seems that she can now remain in the U.S., with us paying for all of her medical bills and welfare and with NO consequences for the time she was here illegally despite being ordered to leave the country.

From this source:

President Barack Obama's Kenyan aunt can stay in the United States, a U.S. immigration judge has ruled, ending a more than six-year legal battle over her status.

Judge Leonard Shapiro made the decision Friday, court officials told CNN. Two government sources confirmed Monday that the ruling will give legal status to Zeituni Onyango, allowing her to remain in the country.

Onyango's attorneys plan to hold a press conference at 2 p.m. in Ohio.

Onyango, who is the half-sister of the president's late father, applied for political asylum in 2002 due to violence in her native Kenya. She was a legal resident of the United States at the time and had received a Social Security card a year earlier.

Onyango's asylum request was turned down in 2004, and she has been living in the United States illegally since then. She appealed the rejection of her request twice, but was denied each time and ordered to leave the country.

Judge Shapiro gave Onyango permission to remain in the United States in April 2009 while he considered her case.

In February, Onyango arrived at an immigration court in a wheelchair and testified before the judge for more than two hours, her representative, Amy Cohn, told CNN at the time. Two doctors, including her personal physician, also testified on her behalf. Onyango's medical condition was part of her legal defense against expulsion.

White House officials said during the appeals that Obama was staying out of the matter.

Of course he does. God forbid he ENFORCE the law and expel someone he knows is here illegally.

And I guess that the 'natural course' of this case is that it will of course turn out the way that King Obama wants it to... It just had to go before the right judge.

Say NO to Ground Zero Mosque!

So Damn Ugly It's Cute:

I worked all weekend in one of the busier parts of the ER, so I can't muster a 'serious' post right now. Maybe tomorrow. 

Meet the sloths from Amphibian Avenger on Vimeo.

When I grow up, I want to be a sloth. 

New Ray Stevens on Illegal Immigration

Ain't it the truth?


And now for your parting shot:

The Cartoonifada Rages On

Mo' Toonist Lars Vilks was attacked by a devout Muslim during a presentation:

Why?

Because screw YouTube, that's why.

Female Genital Mutilation in America... Condoned.

I hate dhimmitude. That's the nicest thing I can say after reading this story: 

The American Academy of Pediatrics has suggested a new way to fight female genital mutilation in the United States: Allow doctors to give girls a “nick” down there. In a policy statement titled “Ritual Genital Cutting of Female Minors,” the Academy suggests that allowing such a ritual could serve as a way to “build trust” with immigrant families and prevent parents from sending their girls overseas for far more extensive, and potentially life-threatening, procedures. It’s a “possible compromise to avoid greater harm,” the statement says. [...]

Dr. Lainie Friedman Ross, one of the statement’s authors, compared it to an ear piercing. It wouldn’t involve the removal of skin, instead it would be more like “a pin prick, a drop of blood.” As she described it, the “nick” would be ritualistic and symbolic. Ross strongly disagreed with an Equality Now press release saying that the Academy’s statement “essentially promotes female genital mutilation.” Much of the five-page statement takes care to emphasize the Academy’s opposition to “all types of female genital cutting that pose risks of physical or psychological harm,” as well as the need for education to eradicate the demand for such procedures. “In an ideal world, there would be no female genital cutting,” said Ross, but we clearly do not live in an ideal world.“If you just tell people ‘no,’ they go elsewhere,” she explained, adding that a “nick” should be seen as an “option that’s not ideal but is better than its alternatives.”

(A link to the AAoP site.)

Are you freaking kidding me? The AMERICAN Academy of Pediatrics is willing to legitimize the barbaric, misogynistic practice of female genital mutilation by doing a 'mock up' cutting? 

Good God Almighty, why not just start training witch doctors, AAoP? Have you any credibility left?

First of all, I don't give one shit about "building trust" with "immigrant families", ie MUSLIMS most likely from the most backwater African places, as this is where FGM is typically practiced. Although FGM predates Islam, it is in the Koran and therefore not only some archaic social custom.

And why compromise on a practice that is "not ideal but better than it's alternatives?" No kidding. IDEAL would be labeling the practice barbarous and condemning it. Instead we have a bleeding heart liberal idiot mentality that is incapable of realizing that some cultures are INFERIOR. Now, instead of rejecting misogyny, we let the misogynist simply practice a 'lite' version of it.

Also, I have a hard time believing that an "immigrant family" would settle for anything less than fully mutilating their daughter if they need FGM.

Here's a though... In AMERICA, why don't we charge someone who allows FGM to be performed on their  daughter with child abuse and jail them?  (Which is a lot nicer than what I would do.)

Finally, FGM is not the same thing as male circumcision. While it is true that there is a Jewish/Christian connotation to circumcision, it does not leave the penis mangled; the male is still able to function properly and enjoy sex. FGM is a way of insuring that the little woman in question doesn't get too hot and bothered and stray from her 'husband'.

Symbolizing this mutilation with a "nick" is it's own act of barbarism.

Treat Her Right...

...By not making her listen to this. ;)

Right On, Jan!!!

Grammar Nazis

You must watch this. :)

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

If you like to cook and have some time to kill, you might try this:

Home-made Pop Tarts. From this source: 


Homemade Pop Tarts
Adapted from King Arthur Flour
Pastry
2 cups (8 1/2 ounces) all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks or 8 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into pats
1 large egg
2 tablespoons (1 ounce) milk
1 additional large egg (to brush on pastry)
Cinnamon Filling (enough for 9 tarts)
1/2 cup (3 3/4 ounces) brown sugar
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, to taste
4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1 large egg, to brush on pastry before filling
Jam Filling
3/4 cup (8 ounces) jam
1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water
Alternate fillings: 9 tablespoons chocolate chips, 9 tablespoons Nutella or other chocolate-hazelnut paste or 9 tablespoons of a delight of your choice, such as salted caramel or a nut paste
To make cinnamon filling: Whisk together the sugar, cinnamon, and flour.
To make jam filling: Mix the jam with the cornstarch/water in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, and simmer, stirring, for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, and set aside to cool. Use to fill the pastry tarts.
Make the dough: Whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Work in the butter with your fingers, pastry blender or food processor until pea-sized lumps of butter are still visible, and the mixture holds together when you squeeze it. If you’ve used a food processor, transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Whisk the first egg and milk together and stir them into the dough, mixing just until everything is cohesive, kneading briefly on a well-floured counter if necessary.
Divide the dough in half (approximately 8 1/4 ounces each), shape each half into a smooth rectangle, about 3×5 inches. You can roll this out immediately (see Warm Kitchen note below) or wrap each half in plastic and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Assemble the tarts: If the dough has been chilled, remove it from the refrigerator and allow it to soften and become workable, about 15 to 30 minutes. Place one piece on a lightly floured work surface, and roll it into a rectangle about 1/8″ thick, large enough that you can trim it to an even 9″ x 12″. [You can use a 9" x 13" pan, laid on top, as guidance.] Repeat with the second piece of dough. Set trimmings aside. Cut each piece of dough into thirds – you’ll form nine 3″ x 4″ rectangles.
Beat the additional egg and brush it over the entire surface of the first dough. This will be the “inside” of the tart; the egg is to help glue the lid on. Place a heaping tablespoon of filling into the center of each rectangle, keeping a bare 1/2-inch perimeter around it. Place a second rectangle of dough atop the first, using your fingertips to press firmly around the pocket of filling, sealing the dough well on all sides. Press the tines of a fork all around the edge of the rectangle. Repeat with remaining tarts.
Gently place the tarts on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Prick the top of each tart multiple times with a fork; you want to make sure steam can escape, or the tarts will become billowy pillows rather than flat toaster pastries. Refrigerate the tarts (they don’t need to be covered) for 30 minutes, while you preheat your oven to 350°F.
Charming tip from King Arthur: Sprinkle the dough trimmings with cinnamon-sugar; these have nothing to do with your toaster pastries, but it’s a shame to discard them, and they make a wonderful snack. While the tarts are chilling, bake these trimmings for 13 to 15 minutes, till they’re golden brown.
Bake the tarts: Remove the tarts form the fridge, and bake them for 20 to 25 minutes, until they’re a light golden brown. Cool in pan on rack.
Whole Wheat Variation: I was itching to swap out 1/2 cup of the flour with whole wheat flour. I am sure it would make it more deliciously breakfast.
Pop Tart Minis: The biggest struggle I had with these was the size. I actually like my baked goods on the tiny size, thus I think this could make an adorable batch of 16 2 1/4″ x 3″ rectangles.
Savory Pop Tarts: Nix the sugar in the dough and halve the salt. Fill with pesto, cheese, ground nuts or olives, or any combination thereof. Brush the tops with additional egg wash and sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds. Please invite me over.
Do ahead: The sweet versions should keep at room temperature in an airtight container for a week. If you’d like to make them further in advance, I vote for freezing them unbaked between layers of waxed paper, and baking them as you need.
Warm kitchen warning: Guys, I live in an inferno, the kind of steam-heated, 85 degrees inside (68 gorgeous degrees outside) existence many other New Yorkers are familiar with. Between the heat and yesterday’s rainy humidity, me and this dough were struggling. To keep it from being too warm and soft, I was stuffing the trays of dough in the freezer for 10 minute shifts almost every time I worked with them. If you find yourself in an overly warm kitchen working with dough that gets soft too quickly, just keep using your freezer. The 10 minutes here and there that you extend this project will save you many gray hairs as the dough becomes easy to work with again.



Of course, I'm not suggesting you totally give up the processed quick-and-easy-and-gritty version. There's a place for that, but Geez's latest post at Mac N' Geeeeze inspired me to post an unprocessed recipe.

I just might have to try this Friday night. Yeah, that's a wild weekend night for me. ;)

Magritte Explained:

Just Who Are They Watching?

Unbelievable.  Napolitano's crack team is so busy making sure those tea partiers aren't getting out of line that she can't be bothered to keep track of a naturalized Pakistani who'd been to Pakistan for damn near a year. 

From this source: 

A man was arrested late Monday night in connection with the failed Times Square bombing, administration officials said. The suspect, Faisal Shahzad, a 30-year-old U.S. citizen from Pakistan, allegedly purchased the sport utility vehicle that authorities found packed with explosives in New York on Saturday night.

Authorities became aware of his identity Monday afternoon. He was arrested just after 11 p.m. by Customs and Border Protection agents at JFK International Airport. Shahzad’s flight to Dubai had left the gate and was headed toward the runway when authorities discovered that he was on board and wanted. He was removed from the plane and taken into custody, an official said.

This piece of Islamist filth put his bomb right outside of The Lion King play. He fully intended to kill innocent civilians, including children. I believe the proximity of the bomb to the Viacom building could be intentional as well; retribution for the South Park cartoon.

 Seriously, this screams volumes about the mental instability of the left. They are more worried about peaceful protesters who disagree with them than people who are actually violent and want to kill them. 

Meanwhile, the mayor of New York, Bloomberg, proves the idiocy and dhimmitdue of the left:

That's right, the mayor of New York City, a man who ought to have an up-close and personal perspective of terrorism is giving al-Qaeda the benefit of the doubt before American citizens. 

A bit of an aside... Don't you feel safe knowing that the government can't be bothered to find Muslim terrorists hell-bent on murdering Americans, but they'll be right on top of things when it comes to finding Tom: 

Unless, of course, Tom is an Obama cabinet member.

Conspiracy?

Get out your tin foil and let me know if you have any thoughts on this.

From this site: 

A grim report circulating in the Kremlin today written by Russia’s Northern Fleet is reporting that the United States has ordered a complete media blackout over North Korea’s torpedoing of the giant Deepwater Horizon oil platform owned by the World’s largest offshore drilling contractorTransocean that was built and financed by South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., that has caused great loss of life, untold billions in economic damage to the South Korean economy, and an environmental catastrophe to the United States.