July 31, 2004
Welcome To Food For Thought Saturday
Saturday at the Laughing Wolf is a day for good news and food for thought. This got started because of my Blogfather, Joe Katzman, and his good-news-only posts on Saturday. While we will post other news if it is needed, our hope is to keep Saturday’s a fun day, a philosophical day as much as we can. So, enjoy the food for thought, and while you are at it, go check out Sufi Wisdom at Winds of Change, food for thought at Who Tends The Fires and at Right Thoughts, and the Saturday question of the day at Road Warrior Rules for Survival. Enjoy your day.
LW
What Is Truly Important
Think of this: there is a disaster and you have just a few minutes in which to evacuate. Quickly, you must decide what – other than emergency supplies – you will save. What items hold the most value for you? Why do they hold that value for you? How far will you go to save them?
What people mean the most to you? How far will you go to save them? If it came to a choice between people or things in an emergency, which would you choose and why?
Just some food for thought on this moving day,
LW
July 30, 2004
Edict Of Catwah?
There is a feral cat here that some neighbors have been helping out a bit, that I call Spooky. It has taken a while, but she has gotten used to me to the point she now expects me to fulfill my duties as Opener Of The Way and more. Trying to explain that I can’t open the door to the neighbor’s apartment, and that I am not going to let her into mine, is falling on deaf ears. I think that I may find myself under edict of Catwah if the neighbor’s don’t get up soon…
LW
The Hardest Item To Pack
Has not been the most sentimental or the heaviest. No, it is my swim fins. Good fins don't seem to fit most standard boxes, and may have to go into a mirror box with the last painting as it is the only box in which they seem to fit. I may have also erred a bit in selling as many of the lamps as I did, as the lack of overhead lights limits packing activities now to hours of daylight. Oh well, live and learn.
LW
Cigaretting
A young lady I know was telling me yesterday the delightful story of her five-year-old brother. It may be that Mom put him up to it, but he has been guilting her into quitting smoking. He asks her if she has quite “cigaretting” yet, because he does not want her to die. Please don’t die. Please quite cigaretting. It is not smoking, it is cigaretting. If I ever get to meet him, he is getting a cookie, a big cookie, along with lots of praise for worrying about his sister and getting onto her about her “stinky” habit. Hope she does quit, as I have buried quite enough people from cigaretting as it is. I do not want to add yet another.
LW
July 29, 2004
Poisoned Baby Food?
Just caught a bit of something about some baby food in California being laced with poison. Not sure of the whole story, so check it out. My thought right now is that if someone did this with delibration and malice, then shooting is way too good for them. Hamstring them and leave them at the mercy of mothers of infants.
LW
Computer Security
Just so you know, I am not sending out spam. Some sweet old boy somewhere out there is spoofing the e-mail addy from the sale page to send out spam, but it is not me. If you get an e-mail from that address and it has an attachment, and I don't normally send you stuff much less attachments, don't open it. Someone who has that addy in their book is infected, and has been for some time. Just a quick thought to everyone: Use virus protection and a firewall. If you don't, you are just as much a part of the problem as those who do the malicious things.
LW
July 28, 2004
Atrios -- The Interesting Thing
I could care less about his name, but find who/where he is working to be most, most interesting. In journalism, and even in bastions of the Old Media such as the Shady Lady, this would be considered a conflict of interest. Think this explains a lot...
LW
taking a quick break from packing...
Michael Moore On O’Reilly
Now we know why Moore has been ducking the folks at O’Reilly so hard despite his public claims to be willing to go on. I can’t decide if the man is just delusional, or what; and, I sure can’t take him seriously after listening to him. If you have not seen this segment, go find someone with a tape or see if it is online somewhere as it is truly educational. If you think this man some sort of fountain of truth and light, you really need to see this.
LW
Posting Lite
Most likely, posts will be sparse the next few days. Yes, even more sparse than they have been. Moving is fun, just so much fun, and to top it off I am temporarily reduced to dial-up and it seems to take forever to load any page on any site. Makes reading and such an interesting experience. So, please hang in and I hope to resume more regular operations soon.
LW
Knology Blows
Here I am moving, I am tired, and headed off to sleep. What happens next? I get a telemarketing call from Knology, wanting to upgrade the account I’ve cancelled. He does not want to hang up, so I do it for him. I call Knology and go through the voice mail from heck, get a rep who had a lot of trouble finding my records and then didn’t seem to understand the problem – the account was not yet cancelled, why was I calling? I explained, and also had her tell Sales – that being who she said was responsible – that if I had any choice, I will go with the competition and that it will be a cold day before I go with Knology again. Between this and that irredeemable screw-up during Reagan’s funeral that they tried to blame on “the government” I have had it with them. I do not recommend their service, especially since apparently having an account makes you fair game for calls at odd hours.
LW
July 27, 2004
It's Just The Dust In My Eyes
Honest, that is all it is. It has nothing to do with A, the 4-year-old, grabbing onto my leg and telling her grandmother (and me) that she wants to go with me; stay with me. Nor the realization that she is already more than halfway up her grandmother, and now topping my waist as well. Just dust, and a blonde hair...
LW
Barnes & Noble Coffee Shop On University
Okay, I refer a lot to my coffee pushers and the coffee place, but have never named them. A good part of this is because I consider them more than a mere provider or restaurant, friends if you will. I tend not to name friends and others here for a variety of reasons, but this morning I was given blessings by Don, the manager, to name names. Okay, it is done and I urge all of you to go by there as they will take care of you and do right by you. They also happen to do good espresso and such, and even open up at 0800 now to accomodate their patrons. Highly recommended.
LW
U-Bake Mobile Oven
Well, the major items excepting the bed are now all in storage despite adventures. The son of a neighbor had volunteered to help me with the loading and such, and I took him up on the offer. It is a rare treat these days to meet a well-mannered, nice kid and to spend a bit of the day with him.
howl on, brother! »July 26, 2004
Tour de Lance
Congratulations! Not a lot more can be said that is not already being said, but the win truly is awesome. The win is also the best reply to those along the way who had no class. Care to go for a 7th?
LW
Crimes Of Fashion
Okay, I will give hokey, cheesy, and even corny – but I liked it. Besides, I needed a good laugh to end the day.
LW
July 25, 2004
It Just Keeps Getting Better And Better
Not. Go check out this excellent post by Michelle Malkin on the great job our government did in checking out the musicians. One does indeed wonder why Homeland Insecurity is allegedly pressuring the promoter not to talk...
LW
The Real Problem With The Jacobsens: They Did Not Do Enough
Blackfive hits the nail upon the head, and in so doing has helped me make a decision. When I have been asked “What would you have done?” I have given some tepid answers. The fact is, I was not on there so can’t tell you exactly what I would have done. What I will do, is tell you what I have done.
howl on, brother! »July 24, 2004
The Passion Of The Anne Jacobsen
Saturday is supposed to be a day for food for thought, happy if at all possible, but given my move and given a lot of what is being slung around, I have decided to add to the day some food for thought that is a bit savory.
The story of Anne Jacobsen has taken some interesting twists and turns of late. Almost from the moment it came out, it has been under attack from various quarters for a variety of reasons. The fact that it was corroborated seems to have just added fuel to the fire for some, who have been steadfast in their attempts to discredit it.
When this story came out, it was eagerly seized upon as proof that not only was Anne wrong, that she was the problem. There is a huge problem with this take, and it deserves to be examined. Let’s look at the story. While it claims multiple sources, it only cites two by name: Cathy Viray and Dave Adams. The most damning portions of the story, which claim that “The lady was overreacting” comes from an unnamed source. In fact, from the writing of the story, it is this single unnamed source that provides all the “juicy” parts. It is interesting to note that from the way it is written, that the source is not an air marshal, just someone alleging to speak for them.
Now, nowhere in the posts I’ve read has any of her detractors taken the time to verify any of the story. Indeed, while it has been demanded that every facet of Anne’s story be verified and cross-checked, none of her major detractors appear to have given this any critical examination. The anonymous source is accepted as a voice on high without question; unlike those who called the spokesmen in Anne’s story to verify that they exist and that they were quoted accurately, no one reports doing so this time; and, the story lede – accepted without question by many – indicates that the air marshals were outed by the Jacobsen’s, yet the final paragraphs of that story indicate that they were not, but that there was concern that they would be: so which is it, did anyone check?
Did anyone ever check the other statements made about the thoroughness of what happened after landing, an important point given the questions about visas and such that has arisen? Did anyone ever even stop to consider that this detailed a laundry list of what was allegedly done also just happens to put governmental efforts into the best possible light, while trashing a person who has caused some very embarrassing questions? Gee, we all know that no governmental agency of any type would ever retaliate against a whistleblower of any type, now don’t we.
Frankly, I am disgusted on several levels by the way this story has been treated. Strip away the $5 words, and a lot of what is being said is “Well, this is just some hysterical female type, and you know how easy it is for the little ladies to panic. Why, heck, it might have even been her time of the month, and you know how they get then.” You who read me or know me know that I am not PC, but the blatant and rampant sexism dripping from many of the posts – no matter how fancy a wrapping is put on it – is reprehensible.
The fact is, we may never know exactly what happened on that flight. The flight crew is apparently barred from speaking; if very many or any of the other passengers are willing to talk after watching the feeding frenzy underway I would be very surprised; and, the air marshals are not supposed to be talking to anyone either. I note again that the deep throat of the story cited above speaks for them, not as them. It has also been acknowledged that the flight was getting special scrutiny because of intelligence and that there were multiple air marshals aboard. It is here that the real kicker lies: there was intelligence about the flight.
The fact that this information came out speaks volumes, for it can blow sources and methods in a heartbeat. It is why I suspect that the full story of this flight, and what happened with the Cenk Kaptanoglu will not be known for quite some time, for we have assets to protect, assets that gave us the intel. Did any of you ever consider that some or even all of the spin on the story was in part to protect sources of information? That we were not supposed to know that extra precautions were being taken?
Did you ever consider that the behavior on the part of the 14 cited by Anne Jacobsen, and confirmed by other sources, was a bit odd? That while innocent of the ability to actually do anything this flight, that they might have been probing for others? That it could have even been a check for leaks within a terrorist organization? If none of this has occurred to you, and you automatically assume that they are completely innocent, you just flunked Analysis 101.
So, for all that so many are eagerly flogging and scourging Anne Jacobsen and her family, consider this:
Do the attacks and attempts at character assassination invalidate any of the concerns raised?
Does such negate the fact that excessive PC and pre-9-11 rules have a strong negative impact on airline and airport security?
Does such mean that there are not still profound problems with the INS and the tracking system?
Does such negate the fact that it is acknowledged that terrorists are probing and testing security at airports and on airplanes?
Does such mean that we should just sit back, keep quiet, and let the government handle everything without question? Why not ask the Citizens on Flight 93?
There are many, many more questions here, but I think you have quite enough to chew on today. Unlike Michelle Malkin, I am not taking respectful issue with some of the characterizations. I am taking strong disagreement with them, though I doubt it will do any good. Those determined to kill the messenger will do so, regardless of cost or other issues, just as those determined to lionize Anne Jacobsen will do the same. Ultimately, it really doesn’t matter if she was a screaming hysteric on that flight or not. What matters is that she did have the courage to step forth and voice her concerns, and in the process has exposed serious issues that need to be addressed. For serving as a forcing function, she has my gratitude, and I sincerely hope that she and her family will not pay too high a price.
LW
BTW, I would be most remiss if I did not link to this excellent post by Teresa at Technicalities.
Welcome To Food For Thought Saturday
Saturday at the Laughing Wolf is a day for good news and food for thought. This got started because of my Blogfather, Joe Katzman, and his good-news-only posts on Saturday. While we will post other news if it is needed, our hope is to keep Saturday’s a fun day, a philosophical day as much as we can. So, enjoy the food for thought, and while you are at it, go check out Sufi Wisdom at Winds of Change, food for thought at Who Tends The Fires and at Right Thoughts, and the Saturday question of the day at Road Warrior Rules for Survival. Enjoy your day.
LW
What I Will Miss
In no particular order, here are some of the things I will miss about living in Huntsville.
People: My former boss; the person whom my plants refer to as the “NICE!” lady; a number of former co-workers; b – who is best of the best in many ways; A – the “other woman” in my relationships, a darling as tall as a 6- or 7-year old though just 4, and who gives delightful hugs and has no shame at the collecting of hats for they are to her as shoes were to Imelda (yes, she managed to score one of mine and is trying hard for two others); the older gentleman I always see walking in the mornings and with whom I exchange waves; my new neighbors who seem so nice; the LeF’s who are friends indeed; H&J who are good friends as well; Lucy, an pup who makes an old wolf feel young again; the maintenance gang here; the members of the geek groups; and, the gang at the coffee shop. There are others, but this is a good start.
Places: Thai Garden, China Star, The Coffee Place, Casa Blanca on 72, Tim’s, Café Baba, 801 Franklin, Pauli’s and the wine tastings, Mac Resource, Larry’s, the Burrit Museum, and the Wellness Center.
Things: Monte Sano, a great place to walk, hike, meditate, rappel, and more; the outside exhibits at ASROC; the range at Larry’s; the range at Skyline; and, the thing (s?) that lives in the wall.
Things I’m Not Likely To Miss So Much: Madison PD; security at MSFC/Redstone; Alabama Road Projects; people who don’t listen to the lectures and end up putting 50,000 volts into their groin (don’t ask); the person with the souped-up exhaust who likes to sit in his car for an hour or longer in the wee hours of the morning (Uncle Robbie, can I hit it with the EMP generator, pleeeaaaaasssssse?); having to pronounce fois gras as Foice Grass for the salesperson at the gourmet meat market to get a clue (thank Ifni for internet sales!); being referred to a hardware store when inquiring of the largest sporting goods store in town about fencing foils and masks (ditto); and, some of the politics.
So, if you had to relocate suddenly, what people, places, and things would you miss most? Least?
LW
July 23, 2004
Oh Yes, Let’s Talk Nice
Okay, I will be the first to admit that I prefer to talk first and then act and I think it a good thing to do overall. Yet, in the face of New Rules In The Skies, follow-ups, and all the other aftermath of 9-11, those that favor talk above all else miss something (deliberately perhaps) that whatever else may be said about it, the 9-11 Commission did NOT miss:
“It is not a position with which Americans can bargain or negotiate. With it there is no common ground—not even respect for life—on which to begin a dialogue. It can only be destroyed or utterly isolated.”
Thanks to Wizbang! for this and to both Instapundit and my favorite Bellicose Women ( Hi Kathy!) for the pointer.
LW
Anne Jacobsen, The Real Threat?
At least that is the claim being trumpeted by Armed Liberal at Winds of Change. I rarely take public exception to anyone at my Blogfather’s site, but this one deserves my fullest contempt. Armed Liberal and several others have maintained all along that if Anne and others had just talked nicely to these people, been good to them, then that everything would have been fine. They have seized on a news report allegedly from air marshals that states that Anne Jacobsen was the problem on the flight to push this even further.
Of course, doing so ignores several points, including the change in behavior reported, the fact that others have corroborated events, and that there were things out of the norm on the flight including behavior by the 14. Not to mention that there was apparently intelligence about said flight and that as a result there were several air marshals on board. It also ignores this story posted by Michelle Malkin that indicates that ALL 14 had expired Visas, or overstayed visas at the least. I agree, this does not inspire confidence in either the investigation or the innocence of the events.
They 14 may be the innocent and misunderstood victims as portrayed by many, apparently including Armed Liberal. It may be that they were innocent and decided for whatever reason to just plain mess with the minds of the other passengers. It may well be, given the report just cited, that there is yet more to this story to be uncovered. Ever consider that as the 14 were being so closely watched, that it drew resources away from other areas? There are a lot more possibilities than a binary solution set here.
As for me, the story continues to raise valid concerns about aviation security, especially when coupled with other reports of tests by terrorists. As for the air marshal story, I will believe it when it has been as scrutinized as Anne’s story, and when an official source is willing to back it publicly, not before.
LW
A Clean Exit Strategy
The good Sgt. Hook has an excellent post up on the need for a clean exit strategy. While I agree with his post, there are some areas deserving of some scrubbing.
howl on, brother! »Cenk Kaptanoglu Update
Interesting continues to be the word here, but the latest and greatest I can find is as follows. According to stories here and here found through The Philadelphia News Daily, a detailed search did not find anything, the captain has been charged with filing a false report, and the ship will not be allowed to enter the port until the investigation is complete. Both stories are taken from the AP wire, and should therefore be taken with a large grain of salt. The Philiadelphia Inquirer seems to be giving the story very little play, with only this story online that says very little. The Philadelphia Daily News is carrying an extremely sparse report from Al-Reuters and nothing else. WPVI is carrying the same AP story as everyone else, KYWdoes have the AP story as their lede online, WCAU/NBC10 has a very early AP story buried well down their homepage. WPHL/WB17 has a short but non-wire service story on their site, WTFX/Fox29 links to yesterday’s Fox News story. There was nothing I could find this morning about the story in the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times, The New York Post, or the Washington Post. Gee, you would almost think the story mentioned Sandy Berger or something… More later.
LW
July 22, 2004
Flash Traffic: Ship With Bomb?
FNC has just reported that a merchant ship is being escorted out of Philadelphia and out to sea after the captain reports a bomb on board. Updates as more information becomes available.
LW
UPDATE 1: 1253 hours Central. Fox correspondent at Pentagon confirms ship is being escorted off the coast of Delaware, and that there had been prior intelligence about the ship. According to Fox, the ship is of Turkish registry and the captain/master is now refusing to allow a boarding and search; unclear if other cooperation has stopped as well. Ship has cleared harbor and is now off the Delaware coast.
UPDATE 2: 1317 hours Central. Fox is now reporting that the ship had been under observation for some time, and when it docked this morning, the captain became very upset at it being searched, and denied permission to search several sections. At this point, according to sources, the captain then warned of explosions. Because of this, the intel and concern over an incident tied to the 9-11 commission report and the upcoming Democratic convention, the ship was ordered to sea where it will be boarded and searched after it reaches a safe distance from land. Interesting.
UPDATE 3: 1329 hours Central. Still some minor conflicting info, but the ship is apparently named Jenka Tomalu -- this is phonetic spelling not real spelling, nothing avialable on proper spelling so far. What they consider a safe distance may speak volumes too...
UPDATE 4: 1342 hours Central. According to Fox, the captain is now saying that it was just a joke, that he was only joking about there being a bomb/explosions. Fox also reports that the Defense Department had the ship under observation for some time, but that there is no confirmation that there is a bomb on board. So, the question mark in the title remains very valid. From the captain's reaction and his strong desire not to be searched, makes me suspect that there is something he did not want found, be it a bomb, drugs, smuggled goods, or some such other. This remains very interesting on several levels, and is well worth watching.
UPDATE 5: 1431 hours Central. Not much new to report except that the ship is now anchored in Delaware bay, several miles from shore and will be boarded shortly. Fox is now emphasizing, strongly, that there is no reason to believe that there is a bomb onboard. Latest update also appeard to downplay previous reports on intel and that the ship had been under observation by U.S. forces/agencies. Interesting continues to be the word here. One does hope that a geiger counter goes on with the bomb-sniffing dogs, and that given all that the ship is taken apart bolt by bolt as well -- if for no other reason than to discourage any further "jokes" by captains.
UPDATE 6: 1610 hours Central. The proper spelling of the name of the ship is Cenk Kaptanoglu and now more information is available. Fox is reporting that while there is no evidence there is a bomb on board, a multi-agency search will be conducted. The ship, a bulk carrier, has been in the news before. According to this, the ship collided with a dock in the Columbia river in 1999 and sustained some heavy damage. The release also states that the ship was built in 1983, is 568 feet long, and is 36,788 tons. Full technical specifications are here and more here indicating it was built in Korea at the Ulsan shipyards. If the owners are still the same, and records I can find indicate that they are, they are the Kaptanoglu Shipping Group. If this is correct, the ship was scheduled to dock at the Novolog private commercial port on the Delaware River. Previous stops include Durban, from which it was scheduled to sail here. I have not been able to determine ports of call between South Africa and Philadelphia but will see what else I can turn up.
UPDATE 7: 1654 hours Central. Some quick notes of explanation. This story caught my eye for several reasons. First, a maritime attack has been expected and there have been rumors upon rumors for some time. Bulk carriers can be bombs all by themselves (see Texas City for what can happen when things go wrong with bulk cargos), much less with a little judicious help. With the right cargo and the right addition, such could be very nasty. Add to it the news that we had been looking for/observing the ship, indicating that while it may be just breaking news, it also could be something even more interesting, hence the Flash Traffic designation. We are in for some interesting times, and I do believe that we will be hit again and soon, though I am betting on a time closer to the election. That said, I could be wrong and today was a day of interest (i.e., one of the days people are betting on for something to happen). I do not think we will get the full story on this for some time, and that the captain and his “joke” become the focus for law enforcement and coverage. We will see. BTW, am trying to find out the current insurers of the ship, if anyone knows or hears, please do let me know.
The Great And The Weird On Yard Sales
The yard sale continues through the weekend, and the E-bay auction is over. I have had some true delights with the yard sale, from the couple that came to look and left with seven bookcases, a recliner, the office desk, and more, to a few items going to what I felt were really good homes. It is nice to match things up with the right people. The response from the blogosphere has been tremendous and I thank you all! Especially EV and VP, to whom go many, many thanks.
Then there are the “interesting” offers and demands. There was a male who demanded that I pay Christie’s or Sotheby’s to authenticate the Chiparus, a process I think would take several $k, so he could then bid $1,000.00 for it. Or the lady who made an offer of $200 for a $1k pilot’s headset because it would cost $300 to upgrade the set to the absolute latest and greatest. Or the male who got upset and somewhat belligerent when I rejected a $100 offer on a $400 item: I was not negotiating fairly, did I mean I would negotiate or not? Well, tell you what: you make a realistic offer and make it clear that it is the opening of a negotiation, and not a demand, and I will play along.
To those that did play along, again my thanks! It has been fun, and has greatly reduced the amount I have to store.
LW
Road Warrior Has Hit A Speed Bump
Just wanted to let everyone know that Road Warrior Survival has hit a bit of a technological speedbump. Tammi reports that she is unable to post, make comments, or do much of anything, but that her web guru is working on the problem. She hopes to be back up shortly, as she has several things she wants to post, and we wish her all the best.
LW
Farewell To Tim And Capt. Patti
Sir,
I understand your reasons very well, but I must dispute one supposition of yours most strongly. You state in your wonderful farewell post that “My departure will not appreciably affect the blogosphere in any way.” On this point you are most sadly mistaken, for your departure will remove a voice of reason, of civility, of rational discourse, and of responsibility. I have no doubt that your departure will indeed have a large effect upon the world of you and Patti, for the best, and you would indeed be a fool not to devote your time and energies to that world. Yet, the world of the blogosphere is indeed diminished by your departure. I do wish you both the best in all things.
LW
Who thanks Tammi for the heads-up on this
Airline Insecurity: A Follow-Up
Michele Malkin has a good post up that ties up a lot of loose ends. Does this mean that we should not be worried, or that some of the behavior was indeed not strange? No. Does this mean that Ms. Jacobsen and other people on the flight were just a bunch of paranoid racists? No. Does it expose holes in the systems and problems with a reactive mindset? Yes. Does all of this force us to ask a lot of questions. Yes. Do we need to be observant and prepared when we fly? Yes. There are still some questions to this story for me (one being why this band and their agent have not seized upon the tons of free publicity and free money this represents being just one of them), and I hope that you will ask yourself a number of questions in the days ahead. BTW, if you are not reading the talented Ms. Malkin, why not?
LW
July 21, 2004
For SQ, A Little British Humor
Some may argue very little, but I liked it enough to steal it from an e-mail sent me by a friend.
howl on, brother! »Nashville Blast: Of Course It Is Not Terrorism
Why is it that even before the echoes of any blast or boom subside that the authorities are rushing – before they have any facts – to say that something is not terrorism or that terrorism is not suspected? This story is a good case in point. The police and others freely admit that they don’t know much at this point, except that all them are dancing around like five-year-olds needing to go potty to say that it is not terrorism. Quite frankly, I am getting very tired of this lie, and it is a lie, from the authorities anytime something happens. They don’t know what it is, but the rush to rule out terrorism at all costs does not inspire confidence in me about their objectivity, investigative skills, or basic competence. Yes, it may not be terrorism, but until you know what it is don’t try to tell me what it is not. Admit that you don’t know, that you are investigating ALL leads and not just headed towards politically correct and expedient conclusions, and I might have a tendency to believe you. To the government: Grow The Frell Up, start treating us as adults, and DO YOUR JOB. Your job is not to lie, it is not to give false assurance, it is not to do what is convenient. It is to investigate and go where the investigation leads you. Nuff said.
LW
Berger, Old Media, And More
The Old Media is responding about as I thought they might, with the Shady Lady burying the story almost in the obituaries, and the L.A. Times giving them a run for the title. Despicable is the most polite I will term most of the media coverage to date. For those wanting to keep up with the latest and greatest, go check Instapundit who is running some damn good links.
howl on, brother! »Thoughts and Prayers
While it is no longer a case of don’t know, Sgt. & Mrs. Hook – and Castaway Conner – can still use some good thoughts and prayers. They are in mine, and I hope they will be in yours too.
LW
July 20, 2004
Sandy Berger And The Magic Pants
This story is absolutely incredible. An innocent mistake my Aunt Sweet Sally. Certain critical materials are still missing and may have been “accidentally discarded”. Right. Unbelievable is a much better word, on several levels. His lawyer can spin it all he wants, and I really hope he tries the technical violation but not illegal defense. Un-Frelling-Believable. Watching the Old Media coverage of this is going to be very educational, and it is my hope that we get to watch it all the way through criminal trial and prison.
LW
Operation Valkyrie
Sixty years ago, a small group of conspirators acting on behalf of a larger and more extensive conservative conspiracy tried to assassinate the duly elected leader of a country. The conservatives felt that said leader was leading the country to ruin on many levels, including that of destroying the social and moral fabric. So, the small group planted an improvised explosive device in a meeting room being used by that leader. Fearing that the briefcase holding the IED was annoying the leader, a toady moved the bag – with the result that Adolph Hitler survived.
I have heard them described as bunglers, incompetent, and worse. I have heard a lot of such comments end with the fond wish that they had been successful. Whatever else may be said, 60 years ago a group of men tried to end one of the most brutal regimes the world has ever seen. I would also add that while not directly involved, General Rommel died as a result of his involvement (allowed to commit suicide rather than be executed) as did several other high-ranking members of the military. At least they tried, unlike so many other "good men" who did nothing. Thanks for reminding us of that, Sir George.
LW
Hey, California Assemblycritters
All the squealing, hissy fits, and attempts to make the comment into something it is not, simply show that Arnold is right. You are a bunch of girly men.
LW
Packing Away
My friends will know what this truly means: All major kitchen packing is complete. What they will not believe is how few boxes it took. Then again, the boxes are a bit heavy…
I had no idea that I had 6-8 two-cup measuring cups, or 6-8 one-cup measuring cups; I found some cookware I thought was long gone and will either be sold or given to charity; and, I found a few other items I had almost forgotten. The hard part has been to come down to a reasonable amount to take to the extended stay – I am taking my own cookware despite the fact that they provide some.
The hard part of yesterday was having, having I say, to cook up a whole fois gras that had been too long in the freezer. Not bad, the vacuum pack helped, but still needs a bit of help. Smoked paprika and some extra salt did the trick nicely… Today and tomorrow are the office – think kind thoughts for me.
LW
Decisions and Respect
Some conversations of late, along with some posts such as this one, remind me that I need to expand a point of order and philosophy. Each of us has the right to make decisions about and for ourselves, good or bad, just as each of us has a right to an opinion.
What is not guaranteed, just as it is not for opinions, is the acceptance and approval of that decision. Yes, you and you alone have the right to make decisions for yourself. You have the right to make good decisions, ones that will benefit you, your family, your friends, and the greater whole of civilizations. You also have the unqualified right to make stupid, bad, or even evil decisions. That is your right and no one and no thing should prevent you from so choosing.
This does not mean that the decision will have no consequences, for every decision does for good or ill. This does not mean that I have to approve of the decision you make nor support it or you. Respect for your right to choose does not grant an automatic acceptance, nor does it place any burden on me to respect the decision itself. No individual, no government, and no societal grouping is required to fund or promote – directly or indirectly – your choice, nor are they required to shield you from the consequences of that choice. I most especially do not incur any burden because of your choice – you made it, you pay the full and complete price for it, just as I must bear the price of my decisions.
As with free speech and as with opinions, the right does not mean freedom from consequences.
LW
July 19, 2004
More To Come
But it may be a bit delayed. The office got sort of trashed yesterday (more than it already was) when some people came to look at sale items, and left with two trailer loads of stuff including my desk. Rand Simburg’s posts from the Return To The Moon conference have sparked a post in my mind, that I hope to get up today or tomorrow. Meantime, I have to finish packing the kitchen and the bedroom today, and do some real work too. So, stay tuned and thanks for tuning in and being patient.
LW
Alice Cooper Staples Commercial
Speaking of Alice Cooper, I love the Staples commercial he is doing. Don’t know if that is his real daughter or not, but the looks she is giving him are great, and I equally love his comments about the lyrics being school is out for summer, not forever, and “Nice try though.” That is a good and effective commercial, and broke through the rule of three with me.
LW
A Good Post To Start The Day
Is up by Blogfather Joe Katzman. Go read it and think a bit, and enjoy watching the new Iraqi PM linked to Alice Cooper. Personally, I hope the guy did do it…
LW
July 18, 2004
Return To The Moon
The Return to the Moon conference is taking place, and I do wish I was there. Next best thing, however, is that Michael Mealling is there and Rand Simburg is LiveBlogging the event. Rand’s posts really, really, make me wish I was there.
This conference was the first one I went to where real, and realistic, business plans were floated and it impressed me. Up until that time, most plans I heard focused on elements of technology and were heavily dependent upon a technological deus ex machina to work. For example, a certain piece of technology would allow extraction of ores and material from asteroids for use in space structures and back on Earth. This technology was proceeding apace but needed funding to reach fruition. If the money were made available, the technology could be fully developed and the good fairy what sits in the sky would wave its magic wand and all the developments and infrastructure to use it and make money off of it would magically appear fully mature and ready for use.
Mr. Gump (LunaCorp) and others actually presented plans that had realistic costs and schedules, amortizations, how they would return the investment, and how they would make a profit. In short, everything a real business plan should include and no good fairy.
The reports Rand has posted are well worth reading, and my thanks to him for this outstanding service. I do wish I was there instead of packing…
LW
Ozzy
Sorry guys, I can’t get too worked up over this one. Yep, he joined the obligatory far left Bush=Hitler crowd to try and be a part of the “cool” group. From all reports, the effort was formulaic, derivative, and lacking any real talent or originality. In short, about what Ozzy himself has become musically and otherwise. Not going to throw out any of his music I may have, but sure will not be buying any new or watching any show or commercial of his – or supporting any products that use him. I really do pity him…
LW
July 17, 2004
Welcome To Food For Thought Saturday
Saturday at the Laughing Wolf is a day for good news and food for thought. This got started because of my Blogfather, Joe Katzman, and his good-news-only posts on Saturday. While we will post other news if it is needed, our hope is to keep Saturday’s a fun day, a philosophical day as much as we can. So, enjoy the food for thought, and while you are at it, go check out Sufi Wisdom at Winds of Change, food for thought at Who Tends The Fires and at Right Thoughts, and the Saturday question of the day at Road Warrior Rules for Survival. Enjoy your day.
LW
Playboy (And Naked Girls!)
The one question that almost invariably arises from my resume is some variant of “How did you get a photographic internship at Playboy?
The quick answer is that I took a dare. The longer answer makes this a good Saturday post. I had started out in engineering before discovering that I had a far better talent at explaining science and technology than in creating it. The process of discovery included assignments covering the first Shuttle launches and more, so by the time I formally changed my degree – and college – I already had a fair portfolio of articles and broadcasts to my name.
howl on, brother! »July 16, 2004
Airline Insecurity
Over at Instapundit, this story brings forward some items that give me great concern. While I have some reservations about the original story, the behavior cited that causes at least one person to question if it is true or not is one of the reasons I do believe it.
The fact is, as a frequent flyer and as someone who flew not too long after 9-11, I have seen flight attendants break the rules before when they felt that such was the best alternative. I have little doubt that a flight attendant might tell someone that there were air marshals aboard – even if they were not – in order to diffuse a situation. Besides, for someone with an office that is not half packed and who has a few hours to put into it, the story should be fairly easy to prove or disprove by calling agencies and people cited by name to see if they exist, if they said what is quoted, etc. That is journalism 101 and I hope someone will do it.
We face some serious problems. The PC anti-profiling rules are still in place, and they will cost us lives. When security has to spend time harassing a 90-something Scandinavian grandmother from Minnesota rather than taking on an Arab male – even when same is exhibiting suspicious behavior – so that they are not attacked by government and the media for being evil racists, there is a real problem. I don’t recall too many grandmothers flying planes into buildings or butchering flight attendants on 9-11.
It is acknowledged that terrorists are actively trying to recruit non-Arab males for use in attacks on airplanes and other targets. It is acknowledged that efforts are underway to find new ways to do things to and with airplanes. In the rush to be seen to be doing something, we have TSA and procedures that do something, but not necessarily the right thing. I and others have pointed out that the screenings are not necessarily effective, and I know that a number of proposals for solid security have not been implemented.
It is also important to remember that the security screeners used before 9-11 did exactly what they were told to do. One experience I had with TSA included getting to observe one of the new civil servants spend a lot of time bitching about how he was not being treated fair and how the rules would work in his favor, while he was doing a less than stellar job and being incredibly rude to passengers. Oh, yes, it made me feel real safe.
The time has come to set aside the pre-9-11 PC rules and to get real about airport and airplane security. There are a number of ways to improve such without a loss of individual liberty and without a massive government security force. As pointed out before, the rules have changed and we need to be sure that the government’s rules change as well so that they prevent incidents rather than foster them.
LW
UPDATE 1: The talented Michelle Malkin, as noted by Tammi in the comments, has made the calls. I agree that some caution is still warranted, it is always, but it still stands that We Have Our Warning. The only question is, will the bureaucrats heed it in time? Based on past experience and current operations, the answer is sadly no.
UPDATE 2: Courtesy of Instapundit, comes this story which looks at potential positives within the story. I wish I could buy fully into it, but can't. The alleged multiple air marshalls may or may not be normal out of that hub, for obvious reasons. The problem remains that they and all the LE at the other end are entirely reactive. The problem remains that the Government is preventing security through failure to provide proper screening, refusing to let the airlines take realistic measures, refusing to arm the pilots as they have agreed to do, working to discourage passenger involvement, and otherwise dragging their bureaucratic butts and failing to do what they are supposed to do. I really do hope that all the points raised in this article are true, and that they ARE doing the job, but I see too many failures of leadership to put any faith in it.
A Good Day
Yesterday, I gave myself something of a break. Did some packing, and may redo part of it yet again (meat slicer is difficult to fit in most standard boxes), but spent most of the day working on a book. Yep, Steve H. has inspired me and I am working on two books that I plan to offer. One is my take on cooking, including some recipes and various things from the site. The other, the one I got to work on yesterday, is more a philosophy book. What I am doing is taking my Way of the Wolf posts, combining them, and expanding them. If either of these are of interest, do let me know. I hope to have them both done as soon as moving and “real life” work allow.
LW
July 15, 2004
Whoopi
While I have some mixed emotions on her being dropped by Slim-Fast, let’s cut the bull and the lies and point out that her right to free speech has not been infringed upon. The Government imposed no prior restraint, nor has the Government taken any action against her. For all that we hear how much more civilized other countries are than we rustic bumpkins, I note with interest the fact that we have few, if any, of the lese majesty laws that are still on the books and still used in those so-called bastions of civilization. Indeed, the largest problem here is that Whoopi did not exercise some prior restraint (and taste, and …) on herself. What she faces now is not an abridgement of her rights or her ability to speak freely, but the fact that free speech has consequences. Whoopi exercised her right to free speech, and is paying a price for that. This site has cost me some work, it is the price I pay for free speech here.
Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that we are free from consequences. We are free to say what we like, but we must also bear the responsibility for our speech and our actions. Free speech is never free: that right is paid for by the blood of those who die or are wounded defending it, and it is a price we pay everytime we use that right. To demand that there be no consequences to free speech does not merely cheapen the price paid, it undermines the concept of free speech – and freedom – in its entirety.
LW
Still We Stand
The sun is shining, birds are singing, and I almost expect to hear some critter sing zippity-do-dah. Last night’s weather was interesting, but not nearly as bad as it could have been. There are still about 3,000 people in Huntsville without power this morning, loads of trees and limbs down, a few people in the hospital, some flooding, but not what could have so easily been. The Shoals caught it bad too, and from what little I have heard this morning they got it worse than we did. My thanks to all for well wishes public and private, they were and are appreciated! Had to laugh: a geek group I belong to that meets on Wednesdays met anyway and seem to have had a good time and the run of the restaurant. I stayed home both because I forgot about the get-together and because someone came by to buy stuff from the online yard sale during a lull in the storms. My new neighbors did fine, going to the clubhouse (the closest thing we have to a shelter) for the worst of it, and other than some unhappy plants, all is okay. Though, given this time of year, the emergency gear may be some of the last stuff out of here. Remember, Be Prepared!
LW
July 14, 2004
Storm Blog
Well, the weather just went to heck here. One rotation has been reported a half mile from me, and there are a number of weak rotations around the area, and the possibility that a real serious tornado could develop. I will post the following picture that does not do things justice -- it does not show the 2-3 layers of clouds all moving in different directions.
howl on, brother! »
Chiparus Bronze On eBay
I have not had good luck with eBay, but given all the people who recommended putting the Chiparus and Lefauguays up on it to sell, I have listed the Chiparus on eBay to see what happens. Hope I picked the right category, did all the right publicity, etc.
LW
Fighting Back Against The Big Lies
What happened in Bainbridge is but the tip of the iceberg, and the forces of anti-civilization demand a counter. Inspired by Citizen Smash, Da Goddess, Tammi, and others; motivated by stories such as Bainbridge; and, determined that the mistakes of the past not be repeated, for I did NOT fail history, I am doing something. I have joined Protest Warrior and plan to take part in its Atlanta chapter once I move. Take the time and get involved, for it is the right thing to do no matter your beliefs.
LW
July 13, 2004
Operation Shoe Fly
You know what you need to do, today. Go Do It Now!
Keep up the great work Top!
LW
HR 4323, A Good Start
If you still have not contacted your Senators about this bill, go back to the original story to see how some politicians think politics are more important than the lives of our soldiers, and contact them now! As for me, I have good news to report, with the following being sent to me from Virginia Davis, the Press Secretary for Senator Shelby:
"Senator Shelby supports rapid technology development, prototyping and fielding initiatives. In fact, an example of Alabama's involvement in this area is the prototype integration facility (PIF) at Redstone Arsenal, whose vision is to provide the Department of Defense and the Army 'a rapid acquisition, rapid response, and rapid prototyping capability.' While Senator Shelby is still reviewing the specifics of Rep. Hunter's legislation, he has historically supported such important concepts because he believes we must meet operational requirements quickly to not only win wars, but to save lives."
Not perfect, but a good start. Now, get in touch with your people and let’s see if we can’t break the logjam and get this legislation in place. Our soldiers are depending on us to fight this fight for them. They are not letting us down, are you letting them down?
LW
Welcome Home Cpt. Patti!
Go get the news here, and I hope we see nothing else posted for a week or two. They deserve a lot of time together, and need to take it for themselves. Glad you made it back safe and sound! Thanks to Tammi for the heads-up on this one.
LW
July 12, 2004
Welcome To The Ranks
This story was brought to my attention last week, and many other sites have covered it and covered it well. Yet, for all that Michelle, Blackfive, Tammi, Jennifer, Smash and others have said, there has been one point missed that needs be made.
To those that so bravely called out such things or showed him no respect, you are beneath contempt and consideration.
To those that stood by, and did nothing, welcome to the ranks. To those that defend what happened, applaud it, or otherwise fail to condemn it utterly, welcome to the ranks.
The ranks you have joined are legion, and ancient as man and sin. By failing to act, by failing to identify, and by failing to take those that did such a despicable act to task, you join the ranks.
The ranks of those in Germany and elsewhere who saw the murders, who saw the camps, who knew what was going on, and did nothing.
The ranks of those who supported and assisted the thugs and security apparatus of Mussolini.
The ranks of those who knew the identity and plans of the KKK and other similar groups, yet did nothing.
The ranks of those who saw the purges and other crimes, and did nothing against those who abused the people in the former Soviet Union
The ranks of those who kept silent and took no action, and built the killing fields.
The ranks of those in many countries, from England to Rome, who knew that citizens were being taken into slavery, but did nothing because it did not affect them directly.
The ranks of all those who stood by and let injustice be done to others, for whatever reason or cause, and did nothing. Those who let the murders, rapes, tortures take place. Those who let millions, and even civilizations, die.
History has judged those legions, and that judgment is harsh even in the watered down history of American public schools. Names and epithets are heaped upon them with scorn. “How could they have seen and not acted? We are better than that.”
Well, no, you are not. And you now have the answer to the first question as well, for you now know exactly why you said nothing and did nothing,
Welcome to the ranks. Your fellows await you.
LW
July 11, 2004
Forget Lunarpages Hosting
They have just dumped Sgt. Hook. Any suggestions or help for him would be most appreciated. I would think that some other hosting provider would jump all over this, as a chance to truly slam the competition by hosting the site for free while he is in the Stan.
LW
Saturday Wine Notes: Double Feature
Okay, I got busy with packing and work, and never posted last week’s notes. So, today I will post those and this Saturday’s notes as well. Be warned, this may be the last until after the move, but we shall see what can be done. Since I am leaving, if you want to have some fun and try some wine, get thee out to Pauli's on Saturday afternoons and take part. Without further ado, here they are:
howl on, brother! »Product Review: Father’s Country Bacon
On a recent trip, the English Werewolf, the Borzoi, and I were introduced to some truly wonderful bacon, produced on a farm in Kentucky. Now, it was pricy and I was a bit skeptical, but I am so glad I bought that first pack. It is the best bacon I have put in my mouth in quite some time, if not ever. While I was a bit disappointed in their smoked cheese (I thought I was buying a chunk, not slices), their bacons are great. To get the best price per pound, I bought an entire slab and you can easily store it and slice it by hand. Go check them out, and I think you will be glad you did.
LW
Left Vs. Right, Govt. Vs. Civilization
Ironbear has an interesting post up as his food for thought entry yesterday. Some very good points there, including that governments are not civilizations. Go check it out, and take some time to think about what is being said.
LW
July 10, 2004
Welcome To Food For Thought Saturday
Saturday at the Laughing Wolf is a day for good news and food for thought. This got started because of my Blogfather, Joe Katzman, and his good-news-only posts on Saturday. While we will post other news if it is needed, our hope is to keep Saturday’s a fun day, a philosophical day as much as we can. So, enjoy the food for thought, and while you are at it, go check out Sufi Wisdom at Winds of Change, food for thought at Who Tends The Fires and at Right Thoughts, and the Saturday question of the day at Road Warrior Rules for Survival. Enjoy your day.
LW
Thought For The Day: Rest and Sleep
One of the things most often missed by many in regards Sabbath days of varying types is that it is to be a day of rest. You take time away from labor to sit, to rest, to recharge, and perhaps to think. The human mind and body need this, just as they need a good night’s sleep each night.
To that end, I would also recommend you go read this post on sleep and put it to practice in your life. Then, take a look at your daily life: do you have a day of rest, a day for fun, a day to step back so that you can recharge, refresh, and see things in a new light? If not, why not?
LW
July 09, 2004
The Spammers Had Me Hopeful
Meant to blog about this a while back, but I got a spam that really had my hopes up for a bit. It was one that honestly identified what it was, and it did get me to check it out because apparently someone must not have had their coffee before they sent it out and the header was a bit off:
howl on, brother! »It’s Frank’s Blogday!
So get on over to IMAO and get in line for the paddle! Blackfive asks everyone to list their favorite post, but I am unable to comply. The problem is, there have been so many good posts I can’t possibly choose one favorite. I will admit a strong liking for any post featuring Chomps, Buck, or the Rumsfeld Strangler. There, it is done. Frank, call back the ninja monkeys now…
LW
July 08, 2004
France Supports Yet Another Tyranny, It’s All About Oil!
Why does this story (even though it comes from the Baghdad Broadcasting Corporation) not surprise me at all? Yes, it always has been about the oil, and profits, and even the skim – for France. What’s a little murder, rape, torture or ethnic cleansing so long as the right pockets get lined? For that matter, I wonder if France is still listed at the top of countries for industrial espionage? Feh. Thanks to Instapundit for the link.
LW
who really needs to quit procrastinating and get back to work…