Architectural Porn

Chateau in the Sky - New York Times

Now just how incredible would it be to have that view? Knowing what a philistine I am, I'd probably set up a basketball court in the ballroom.

"I've got a bad feeling about this"

While running spellcheck on my last post, "Pelosi" was highlighted. I clicked on the "learn" box and now I feel dirty inside.

Just a Reminder, the Taliban are Scum

The death of a criminal

The gunmen came at night to drag Mohammed Halim away from his home, in front of his crying children and his wife begging for mercy.

The 46-year-old schoolteacher tried to reassure his family that he would return safely. But his life was over, he was part-disemboweled and then torn apart with his arms and legs tied to motorbikes, the remains put on display as a warning to others against defying Taliban orders to stop educating girls.

His crime was teaching girls.


For those of us who need reminding of just who it is we are fighting in the Middle East, read this article. Students of recent history shouldn't be surprised. After the US forces left Vietnam to the tender mercies of their northern commie friends, the same thing happened there. While we haven't fled Afghanistan yet, our enemies know with the Democrats closer to power in America it may not be long before Pelosi and her ilk concede victory and leave Afghanistan high and dry. This is just a taste of what will happen in Afghanistan if the USA and NATO abandon them. Just imagine what you could get in Iraq if our new Democrat Overlords have their way.

No wonder nobody trusts America.

Leonard Nimoy sings the "Ballad of Bilbo Baggins"

For the best in truly bizarre 60s-70s nostalgia, watch this early music video by none other than Spock and his squad of adoring cheerleaders




truly odd

USAF TV commercial

I just heard that the USAF plans to shitcan their F-117 stealth fighters. Ah, Nighthawk, we hardly knew ya. The complaint has been a 1970's design made with 1980's technology flying in the 2000s was outclassed by new aircraft; namely the F-22 Raptor. I've seen this commercial around lately and thought it was most excellent.



During my soldier years, I kept a photo of my wife inside the top of my helmet so I perfectly understand the sentiment of the pilot's photo in his cockpit. Having a reminder close at hand of why we endure the long, lonely, hours of duty made them less tiresome. Many who have seen this video take the meaning of "guardian angel" to be the pilot in his stylin' F-117 flying overhead protecting his loved ones from harm.
I thought the wife and kids photo was his guardian angel acting as a spiritual shield. Military life can be deadly dangerous, especially for the Zipper Suit (pilots) crowd. Being reminded not only of what you swore to protect but what's at home can help prevent unnecessary risks that can keep you from becoming an expensive lawn dart.

"If it was up to the Democrats, we would still be living under Saddam's tyranny"

Sometimes it takes a parody news aggregator to get to the heart of the truth.

"If it was up to the Democrats, we would still be living under Saddam's tyranny"

Don't worry guys, the Democrats will soon put that to rights. FFS a former Democrat US attorney general is one of Saddam's defense team. That should tell you all you need to know.

CNNs 9-11-01 As It Happened

I'm watching "CNN's original TV coverage of 9/11/2001 in REAL TIME."
Seen through the prism of five years the uncertainty and panic of that day come through clear as a bell. I remember that morning too well, sitting at home that day glued to the television. At the time while I lived in Wisconsin we were getting the network feeds from NYC; my wife is a Yankees fan. The commentators dealing with the second airplane striking the WTC then shortly afterwards the Pentagon on fire, and the White House being evacuated. None of us knew it at the time but the people on United Airlines flight 93 were planning their desperate attempt to retake their plane.

We all kept waiting for the next shoe to drop, the next attack, more bad news. I told my wife then that someone was going to pay for this, more than they could bear. Its 8:55am, and Osama Bin Laden's name was mentioned for the first time. Few Americans that day knew who he was, now we all know his name, curse him.

Its 9:00 and the first (South) tower just collapsed. Scores of policemen, firemen, WTC workers fleeing down the stairs, and others, died at that moment. It was then that it became apparent to everyone that there would be great loss of life.

I sat in my living room all day, watching the news coverage knowing that this was a historic day. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor most Americans found out about it on radios or read it in the newspaper. That day, in real-time, we saw it happen ourselves. Though we didn't know it at the time, United Airlines flight 93 had already been flown into the ground by the terrorists after they had realized the passengers were going to retake the plane.

Just thinking about all of this and watching the five year old video while remembering the events of the years since, now the second WTC tower has collapsed.
Reading one of my favorite blogs today, a post by Laughing Wolf at Blackfive points me to this;

Breaths

"There are no words."

Nanny statism in the kitchen

Defying Law, a Foie Gras Feast in Chicago - New York Times

Lets be honest. Nanny statism breeds contempt, not compliance.

I don't recall ever having foie gras but I must say I'm tempted to go to Connie's Pizza myself to try one of their pizzas topped with the illicit organ. Is this what the Chicago aldermen worry about? Though the law went into effect yesterday (8-22-06) enforcement won't begin until today.

“The city gave them a day of fun, but tomorrow we’ll see what happens,” said Joe Moore, the alderman who proposed the ban, adding that the method by which foie gras is produced — force feeding ducks and geese through a pipe inserted into their throats — is clearly animal cruelty.

Sounds like the UN dealing with Iran. Talk tough while pretending not to notice the thumbed nose.

When personal and public responsibility collide

Reading the NYT today I find this article which alternately appalled, infuriated, and saddened me.

Over the last five years, Mysheda Autry has received welfare checks and food stamps, gone through a welfare-to-work program and briefly held several jobs. She has also given birth to her second and third children. (ed. with a fourth due now)

and

“They end up with lots of kids, no family support, no education, no coping skills, so they get a job and lose it and get another job and lose it.’s Its not like they are lying around not doing anything: their lives are constantly on the go as they run behind their kids. But they end up falling way behind. (Gloria M. Guard, president of the People’s Emergency Center)

Appalled by the state of Ms. Autry's life and her incredibly low potential to assume a productive place anywhere in our society. Infuriated that this woman has frittered away her life using only her uterus and poor judgement while being enabled by that portion of society which doesn't share those faults so central to her identity. Saddened to think that the three (soon four or more) children she has given birth to have very little chance of doing better in this world than their mother or grandmother have. Ms. Gard again;

A possibility, once Ms. Autry gets some training, may be work as a home health aide.

Another possibility is that she will continue to do the same things in the same ways with the same results. Earnest efforts to help her squandered.

While she may not beat or intentionally starve her children, this seems like a very clear-cut case of slow-motion child abuse. After eight or nine years of this life her children's potential will be wasted and their lives likely wrecked. Ten years from now you will likely see at least one of her children in prison and what a sorrow that is. What is the solution to the problem Mysheda Autry poses? I'm getting a headache thinking about it. Take the children away and foster them out? Place this unfit woman and children into an institution for the Perpetually Unable To Care For Oneself? Toss her and her children into the gutter to sink or swim? Continue to subsidize her pernicious lifestyle ad infinitum? This creature represents a bad problem without good solutions. What a tragedy. For us all.

Thats why they're called Cheese-Eating Surrender-Monkeys

The title says it all, France's contribution to the Lebanon-Hezbollah-Israel peacekeeping force.