A must read, a response by LTC Russell to Joel Stein's limp Los Angeles Times column. The Colonel has fought in Kosovo, Afganistan, and Iraq and very maturely counters Mr. Stein's snide and personally irresponsible diatribe... here!

An excerpt...."But what separates him from me is certainly not education. Nor is it conviction of purpose. It is indeed morality. But of a nobler kind. No greater love has a man, than he lay down his life for his friends—even when they act and write unfriendly."


Mr. Stein, if he read this would not understand. I can picture him with his friends demeaning the Colonel's purpose and smug in his characterization. Fact is, he'll never understand the Colonel's sense of duty to Joel and everyone else here in the US, in Kosovo, Afganistan, and Iraq.

If you're not reading Hugh Hewitt daily then you are missing some important information and sources. Hugh has a wide range of skills and has a finger in a number of pies; Radio show, blogging, teaches constitutional law. Read Hugh's inclusion of Carl Rove's speech at the RNC Winter meeting.

Also, you must follow Hugh's piece on the Colombia School of Journalism and the Los Angeles Times. You'll find that it's impossible to tell the "truth" if you are totally prejudiced against even the possibility of that truth.

The New York Times, are they wholly subversive? Good read to add to what you may need to know... read here. From William Tate at the American Thinker.

Ted, isn't there anything you can do of consequence for America and Mary Jo? Write me and I'll give you some ideas. It is time to face your crimes against our way of life and against innocents like Mary Jo, 1,500,000 Vietnamese and 2,000,000 Cambodians.

Captain's Quarters has a good look at Osama's message to the world today. Check it out here.

Keep The Captain and his first mate in your prayers concerning her health issues.

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Oops, why can't people listen?



Morongo Valley, California
Office of Strategic Monster Control

All participating agencies be aware of the carnage taking place in downtown Morongo Valley. The perp appears to be an amalgam of the infamous Japanese urban legend Godzilla and what appears to be a small canine. It has been reported that all of the downtown high rise buildings have been leveled and that responding military personnel and equipment have been melted like wax.

Also, reportedly an individual from BobMail Inc. has been running around yelling , "We told them not to overheat the Bob-Ups! Now look what they've done! Oh, the humanity!" Be advised, this is chaotic... Wait, what is that sound? Sounds like Uncle Vinnie blowing through a vacuum hose doing a cheap imitation of a Ricola ad. Uh oh, we're in trouble here. There is something big outside the door and it's blowing flames from its mouth and destroying everything in sight. I hope I have enough time to send this email....to send the only image we have and to warn you all... DONT OVERHEAT THE BOB-UPS!

San Bernardino National Forest Alert
re: Bear warning
We have received word that there is a grizzly bear loose in the Mount San Gorgonio area, more notedly on the eastern slope in Morongo Valley. As you know the last native grizzlies were hunted out early in the 20th century. Please note accompanying photo taken by a surprised resident. If you have heard the rumor being spread by some local nut that says that the bear is really his dog Bob in a rented bear-suit, please disregard. Consider the "bear" to be dangerous and take all precautions.

Department of the Interior Bulletin

Interdepartmental Memo from the desk of Hubert Doubledorf, Rapid City
Mount Rushmore National Park, South Dakota
May 31, 2005

As you know the heavy snows in the Black Hills of the Dakotas have caused a lot of problems this year. We appreciate each agency's effort to keep the parks open and accidents to a minimum.

There are unexpected problems and the main area of concern is with Rushmore. It wasn't until mid-April that the snows had melted enough from the mantle of the mountain to expose what appears to be the image of a small canine to the right of Lincoln. I have questioned all of the field teams and local law enforcement only to receive rather unsatisfactory answers as to how someone could have carved a 150 foot high image without anyone questioning or even noticing the equipment necessary to complete the task.

A local park road crew remembered that a private contractor from southern California had told them that he had a contract to remove embarrassing "nose hairs" from three of the presidents. The nose hairs reportedly were Flamagina Nostricium a vine that grows on the ceilings of caves, which the nostrils certainly are. It is true that we hired the contractor to remove the ever noticeable "hairs." What is disturbing is that a former field manager did not send a ranger to view the "hairs" initially but took the word of this contractor relying instead on what could be seen from the viewing deck through binoculars. There was never any follow up inspections of the site. The growth turns out to be plastic Boston Ivy purchased from the Michaels in Rapid City from July to October of 2004. The ivy was pinned to the roofs of the nostril caves. It appears that the contractor applied layers of plastic Flamagina over the course of some months which is why the "hairs" seamed to grow. Later the material was simply pulled out and allowed to fall to the talus and snow at the base. Apparently the real time spent on this project was not to burn the hairs out but to carve the canine head.

Agents are being sent to two Southern California sites to question individuals and to three retail outlets to identify who might have purchased a half dozen small squishable rubber pet toys that were found at the base of the mountain. The agency is asking that all department heads and managers review the situation and report any unusual events occurring from July, 2004 to April of 2005.

BOB ina BOX tm
Southwest Marketing Division

It has come to our attention that a number of our Bob ina Box units have become a problem. When the product was first brought to market we anticipated possible problems connected with end users not opening the crate in a timely manner. The graphics department created printed as well as digital media throughly explaining the need to release the Bob as soon as possible. Without going into horrific and gruesome details, some scenarios were initially outlined. What we feared has occurred. Buyers have not always released the Bob in a timely manner and have suffered the consequences. Contact your sales personnel, store managers, and delivery companies and explain in detail what their obligation entails. You might have heard the rumors circulating about the "forgotten" Bob ina Box in a storeroom at the Amboy, California, Bob R Us. We do not want a repeat of that carnage. Also, be sure to provide a "Bob waiver" to anyone who comes in contact with a Bob ina Box crate as well. Bruce Hamilton

Day two of "truancy"... I submit two related pieces of information that is worth pursuing...

First, from Mary Katherine Ham @ Hugh Hewitt... "They Tell Me It's a Nice Idea"... or, conversations with socialists... here...

Then, read The Heritage Foundation's 2006 Index of Economic Freedom, which... "measures 161 countries against a list of 50 independent variables divided into 10 broad factors of economic freedom." You can download a PDF or order the report in book form.

Over the years teaching
at a California high school I have met some very interesting foreign exchange students. It is interesting to discuss cultural issues and differences which harks back to my other degree area which was Applied Anthropology... Two years ago I enjoyed such an exchange with a talented artist from Sweden. I had mentioned that I had heard that in Sweden there is a saying, "Just enough" that covers pretty much their everyday activities. I had taken it as a societal guide in determining personal effort or direction. She told me that it determines much more and causes angst among the less indoctrinated younger set.

She said that because of the pervasive socialist/collective mentality the term "just enough" is really a controller. She said that if someone was to announce an interest in becoming a famed musician or visual artist that the first reaction in any social circumstance would be to question, "Why?" The implication is that the person is trying to elevate themselves above their family, friends, or community. The controller would make everyone trully the same. Reassuring to the cronically jealous recalcitrants but stilting to the visionaries. Bruce Hamilton

Mark Steyn's far reaching look at not just 2006 but forward through the entire century... here...

Well, I stayed home today on this the first school day of 2006. My "truancy" involved a dentist, pain, cosmetics, and pride. Not the best day of this holiday season. But, I had a chance to read some interesting blogs today and I'd like to share some of those... btw, GO TROJANS!

We've all heard the rantings of the "Daily Kos" like moonbats who portray their anti-war stance to morality and patriotism. Well, they just don't get it. They have either taken too much acid or Mom just never said, "NO!"

If a person witnessed an attack on an elderly person and didn't attempt to thwart or throttle the attacker then that would be immoral. If a family member is overtly menaced and a person seeing this does nothing they are immoral. If your country is attacked and there are clear indications of continuing attack and you do nothing then you are immoral, and if you give aid to that attacker then you are not only immoral but an attacker.

Bill Roggio has an interesting peek at a world-wide movement... here. What is it about this information that isn't clear? Why are there those that just don't get it? They are a clear danger themselves.
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Michael Barone's "Hard America, soft America"... here... by way of Power Line. Who is the enemy?
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Paul Mirengoff at Power Line and a closer look at The Daily Kos... Again, who is the enemy? ...here

Happy New Year!
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A look forward...
The Anchoress gives a great look forward, here...

So what...
Carol Liebau's take on the NYT's tag-team of Risen and Lichtblau and their latest offering. Just in time for Risen's book release, how convenient, here..

Obstruction...
Read Patterico's LA Times review for the year. Decide for yourself if the Times is reporting news events or trying to shape the news, here...

A Look back, at Apple...
Another phenomenal year for the original "Silicon Valley" guys, here...