Note: Each block of text actually is a link to a story or a web page that I am commenting on. Click on that text and it will take you to the page being referred to.
This one bodes to be a rather long one, unless I really edit down from the number that are on my open window bar in my browser. Sigh, well, I hope that the ones that I put on the list you will find interesting, if not enlightening … and in a few cases (I hope), entertaining. As always I welcome your comments on either my commentary or the articles/sites themselves either here or on my Facebook page. Enjoy!
I start of tonight with a tongue-in-cheek response to a story out of Hong Kong: Woman charged with using breasts as a weapon against a police officer. Of course, the protests are all about how could a woman's breast be a weapon. To be totally sexist about it, when have women's breasts NOT been a weapon wielded in the war between men and women. Give me a break. As a man, I happen to think that women often use their whole bodies as weapons, rather effectively too, I might add. Ever know of a sexy pair breasts displayed on a woman that have not reduced every red-blooded, heterosexual male within viewing distance to a slobbering mass of protoplasm.
Top collegiate party school in the US ... awww ... how the mighty have fallen. Back in my day, the year that I spent at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Playboy magazine was issuing its ranking of party schools. CU rated a special category with the note: How do your rate rank amateurs with a bunch of professionals ... well, I can attest, it was party hearty there, although I was too poor to participate most of the time. This here list, CU doesn’t even break the top ten.
People see the strangest things in the images streaming back from Mars from Curiosity. Unless, Curiosity catches one on the move, I doubt it is more than an interesting rock formation that we are reading into it what we want to see.
In keeping with the review of history of the A-bomb used on Japan, this story's first paragraph sucks ... it is terribly untrue ... it took almost three years for the weapon to go from theory to a practical device ... not 90 days. The rest of it is relatively correct, given what I have learned from my history, political science and general reading over the years.
Which dovetails into this article about the future of the US nuclear ballistic submarine fleet. The question always has been will the missiles ever be launched - see the movie Crimson Tide for an interesting look at that dilemma. Are they really a deterrent ... and if so, how many does the US need.
This column has a ring of truth to it ... as well as being supported by some links to actual data ... because in the many years at the news helm of various newspapers, it became readily apparent that possession often was a catch-all charge to get a conviction on something, if the defendant agreed to plead guilty.
In this pro-America-is-the bad-guy story on carbon emissions, it actually admits a) it is complicated ... b) China emits more than we do, with Russia and India rapidly closing in. Well, the president has decided that the US will be the one to pay for a) past sins and b) to lead the way ... regardless of how many people it throws out of work.
Food for thought that ties Cecil the Lion, immigration and abortion together with progressives. Please think about the thesis, however, as it pertains to the future of the United States and the rule of law.
Interesting article on the sin of homosexuality from a truly Christian perspective ... unfortunately those at either end don't get the message. I do. And I try to explain that to people why it is possible to opposed same-sex marriages, but not hate or wish harm on those who wish to have one.
This is an interesting point, from a Christian point of view. The lesson to me is that in our instant gratification society today, we just can't understand why God doesn't immediately answer our prayers: Maybe God is saying that we aren't ready for his answer ... and then again, sometimes his non-answer leads us to new revelations and new relations.
Since this is the anniversary of the start of Persian Gulf War I, here is an interesting first person account of some of the lessons learned .... it is a good read.
Whether it is the Pope's "ideological colonization" or "21st Century imperialism", the president and the progressives in the US seem ready to do the same thing they accuse neo-conservatives of doing: Trying to remake the world in America's image. Some times I think Americans just cannot learn from history ... recent or ancient ... and we cling to things that just don't work ... like socialism/communism ... and now LGBT rights.
A hopeful view of Iran and the nuclear deal. While I understand her point, at the same time, rhetoric repeated over time becomes perceived reality. And I noted she said nothing about the continued existence of Israel. I guess the demise of the Jewish state is a non-negotiable demand.
This offers a different perspective, if a bit hopeful, of the political future of Iran ... it is a mixed bag.
Another exercise that illustrates that Congress, particularly Democrats, is loath to protect its prerogatives. Democrats, unfazed by the way the Iran deal was handled and unwilling to consider it on its merits, have their leadership celebrating that despite a number of Democrats who are going to jump ship, they still will have the numbers to sustain a veto by President Obama. That really shows the hubris of Democrats.
Me thinks this person doth protest too much ... I think the only problem is that people who spend more money on left and right have a bigger megaphone than this person has. Still, I do not buy into the progressive notion that the government can regulate political speech, or how much is spent on it. I have real problems with how that violates the First Amendment and individual rights to spend their wealth as they see fit. But then, I am just a voice in the wilderness. All the hue and cry about bribery and unfair access really ignores the fact that a) bribery is a crime (and if you can prove it you can send both the supporter and the politician to jail) and b) access always goes to those who support the elected official before those who opposed him or her. He was elected to represent his supporters, not his opponents ... but people tend to forget that. And we are a republic, not a democracy, because our elected representatives are elected to represent their constituents (those who support them) rather than have all of us try to vote on every little thing needed to govern. So, Jimmy Carter wants to say we are ruled by an oligarchy since he got defeated. Sounds like sour grapes to me. And you want to take a lot of money out of politics: Axe the tax code that rewards individuals and groups with all sorts of benefits and get the federal government out of the position of trying to pick economic winners deserving of subsidies and those not deserving.
Fairly good article on how polarizing the broadcast media has been in the American culture. Unfortunately, it ignores the fact that the media always has been a polarizing factor in American politics going all the way back to middle of the 18th Century, before the Revolution, before the Constitution, and before everything else that has happened in the last 230 years.
I happen to agree with this commentary. I played a part of rebuilding the NCO corps in the 1970s and 1980s in the Army National Guard ... but what is happening is traditional in America. After the war, the politicians cripple the Army and we always pay the price the next time we have to have them on the line. Unfortunately, both sides are guilty this time, progressives and conservatives, Democrat and Republican. It is sad, but I have no sons to offer, and only one grandson (the stepson and the step-grandson are Canadians) to offer ... and as it stands now, I am hope my grandson doesn't become cannon fodder, rather (should he so choose) than a well-trained and motivated warrior.
And for those who think mankind has evolved past wars ... think again. Two ancient and evolved cultures are still struggling over a border ... with the potential that any conflict between the two could escalate quickly in a nuclear war.
And while the US struggles and dawdles over fielding new aircraft for a new world of combat, the Chinese just merrily go their happy way, quickly catching up to the US.
Well, I guess the Navy Reserve Centers are catching up with the War on Terror.
And the US sinks even deeper into the morass that is Syria ... again without Congressional authorization.
There is much irony to be seen in this story ... but then, I would like to see a similar crackdown on extremists on the West Bank and in Gaza by the governing authorities against Palestinian extremists .... nah, not going to happen.
My opinion of this WaPo expose on Sen. Graham ... well ... it isn't printable ... sorry, but I really get tired of cheap shots at reservists ... it is hard enough being active in the reserve components, much less facing the stuff you get heaped on you. Graham is no saint, but he was on the rolls and did participate, although not as much as his critics and those jealous of him wanted, even though Congressional representatives are exempt from serving, as is about half of the senior executive service inside the beltway, assuming they even volunteer.
Somewhat of a moot point since the Senate rejected the bill to defund Planned Parenthood, but still it does point out that, yes, Planned Parenthood is not an indispensible institution and if it went away tomorrow, there are a lot of groups and organizations that could gear up, and step up to fill the gap.
The Little Sisters and their battle for the freedom of conscience ... unfortunately, I suspect that the future is not good for the Little Sisters, or any of the other groups trying to protect the freedom to practice your religion. Of course, the real fun will begin when the Muslims try to impose Sharia law and the SCOTUS has to balance that right versus traditional English Common Law and statutory law rules that govern the United States.
Damn those billionaires .... they are stealing our political language
Got to keep track of all those evil rich people who attend any function sponsored by the Satanic Koch brothers.
Then take a number and get in line ... nope, can't do that ... not in the United States if you are fleeing something somewhere else.
I would expect a lot of this to be taken out of context ... because it is rhetorically extreme ... but then one should pause to think about the substance of the author's argument.
Interesting explanation of why fighting for the Confederacy was not always the same as fighting to preserve slavery ... at least in the minds of many of the soldiers of time.
I have two points here: If we are going to go to war with China - cyber or real, because cyber has real effects - then I think the Obama Administration and Congress need to do some serious talking. War is war, and it really doesn't make a hill of beans of difference if you are throwing darts, spears, bullets, cannonballs, missiles or electrons, it still is war. And if the US "retaliates" against China's attack ... and yes, it was an attack, just like Pearl Harbor or the sinking of the Rueben James. Wars should not be fought with half measures and proportional responses ... that only perpetuates them. Second, why do we always have the New York Times telling our enemies and everyone else what our strategy and tactics are going to be ... this ain't a game folks ... and it quickly could wind up with real people dying real deaths.
Why don't defense contractors do 'Cyber" ... because a) it is hard, b) it doesn't bring in a lot of money, and c) because it puts them, instead of warriors on the front line ... they would rather stand back and pass the ammunition, etc., to the warriors and let them do the fighting.
Even though you are a captive ... you can still fight back. Some examples. My favorite is #4, who has been one of my personal heroes since I was in high school.
And last but not least on tonight's list is this story ... and there is nothing goofy about dogs and their people ... unless it is the people who sometimes act pretty goofy. But I have had wonderful bonds with the dogs who adopted me and became a part of my life ... a few cats too, but the dogs seem more special.
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