Friday, June 11, 2004

WMDs, Scrap Metal and A Bugs Bunny Cartoon

Yesterday evening, while reading the paper, I noted a few articles referencing scrap metal, sold by Iraq, to various countries.  It appears, when you read the articles, that there are inklings this scrap metal may be the tonic to the where are the Iraq WMDs hiding conundrum.  Articles such as this one from Philly.com titled “Alarm is raised over scrap metal" and subtitled "Iraq’s sales were questioned after items that could lead to WMD were found in Jordan." I also read that the search includes potential WMD scrap metal being found in Rotterdam and Turkey.

This morning, while walking with Iz, as I thought about this, and all the brouhaha over the missing WMDs, and the fruitless, to date, search, I recalled what this reminded me of.  The Bugs Bunny cartoon Bugs and Thugs. Do you recall the cartoon?  Bugs jumps in a cab with a couple of bank robbers on the lam, Mugsy and Rocky, and in the hideout they scamper to, Bugs ends up hiding Mugsy and Rocky in the oven, and other various and sundry places, when the cops come searching and knocking at the door.  Sort of like this whole WMD search thing.

Posted by John Venlet on 06/11 at 06:12 AM
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Why Do They Hate Us?

Even before the second tower collapsed in New York, pundits, nail biters, and why can’t we all just get along folks, were asking why the Islamofascists hate us.  The question, was directed at Americans and America in general, of course, rather than the West as a whole.  Do the Islamofascists hate only Americans?  Of course not, they are equal opportunity haters, and in an effort to prove this, they will also willing kill individuals of any nationality, who may be in their country simply to assist in rebuilding.

“Eleven Chinese workers killed in attack."

Nothing like looking a gift horse in the mouth.

Posted by John Venlet on 06/11 at 04:41 AM
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No Jacket Required

Evidently, the Washington Post thinks those individuals who wish to pay their respects to Ronald Reagan, by passing by his coffin, lying in state, should be required to meet some kind of formal dress standard.  Is it really only about appearances?  How trite.

“Mourners’ Attire Not Quite Reaganesque."

Via Drudge.

Posted by John Venlet on 06/11 at 04:22 AM
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Thursday, June 10, 2004

No Wonder My Dog Iz Looks At Me Funny When I Talk to Myself

“Research Shows Dogs Understand Language."

"Like parents of toddlers, we learned long ago the importance of spelling key words like bath, pill or vet when speaking in front of our dogs,” Strand said. “Thanks to the researchers who’ve proven that people who talk to their dogs are cutting-edge communicators, not just a bunch of eccentrics."

Woof.

Via Drudge.

Posted by John Venlet on 06/10 at 09:43 AM
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Drive Aggressively, and as Fast as You Can

"Aggressive driving can ease traffic congestion, say researchers who have created a computer model of the mean streets of Colombia’s capital Bogotá."

When I read the above, taken from an article titled “Bold motorists clear roads," I immediately recalled my time in the Phillipines where I utilized the Jeepney mode of transportation, here’s some great photos and other historic info. Anway, the Jeepney drivers were quite agressive, both in derring do maneuvers and alacrity of point to point transport.  The rules of the road were lead, follow, or get out of the way, and it worked.

Via Tyler Cowen at Marginal Revolution.

Posted by John Venlet on 06/10 at 06:43 AM
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Think, Thank, Thunk

Godless, at Gene Expression, posts “A Thought Experiment," which seems to be in response to a Reason piece on why Hollywood doesn’t make anti-communist films.  The experiment.

"Imagine, if you will, an alternate reality in which two major changes are made. Imagine a reality in which our popular discourse is as far biased to the right as it is currently biased to the left. Such a reality would require only two changes:

1. Every mention of Hitler and Nazism is exchanged with a mention of Stalin, Mao, and Communism.
2. Every mention of racism, apartheid, or hate crimes is exchanged with a mention of IQ or the demographics of crime."

The remainder of Godless’ post posit’s what effects the experiment may result in.

Posted by John Venlet on 06/10 at 06:29 AM
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Pointed Comment of the Day

"My guess is the “band of brothers” is getting a bit sparse by now."

The above, was written by McQ, at Questions and Observations, as commentary to Jeffery M. Epstein’s, a member of VietNam Vets for Truth, comments regarding John Kerry’s VietNam protesting, and being “honored” by the Ho Chi Minh City museum.

"The Vietnamese communists clearly recognize John Kerry’s contributions to their victory,” he said. “This find can be compared to the discovery of a painting of Neville Chamberlain hanging in a place of honor in Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest in 1945."

The quote was taken from a World Net Daily article titled “Kerry honored at communist museum." The article’s subtitle is "Photograph hangs in section devoted to war protesters."

Posted by John Venlet on 06/10 at 06:14 AM
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Plot Line Ruined By Science?

Here’s the plot line from the movie The Day After Tomorrow.

"A climatologist tries to figure out a way to save the world from abrupt global warming. He must get to his young son in New York, which is being taken over by a new ice age.

Abrupt global warming, did ya catch that?  Here’s the latest from an Antarctic ice study.

"Earth’s current climate may last for at least another 15,000 years, barring any effects from human intervention, according to a new study of Antarctic ice published in the latest issue of the journal Nature."

“Human impact delaying ice age, study finds."

This fantasy and reality note brought to you courtesy of Google News.

Posted by John Venlet on 06/10 at 04:56 AM
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Is It The Reason For All The Fuss?

Ronald Reagan’s death, and the activities surrounding it, are the major news items, currently.  Why is that?  Dr. Hurd has an idea why.

"People know we’re not getting the leadership we need to defeat terrorism the way we defeated Communism. We’re not likely to ever get it from the current President and we will absolutely never get it from his pacifistic, appeasing opponent. People sense, but cannot articulate, that something is missing. Brute force alone will not do it, but neither will pacifism. What’s missing is moral conviction. President Reagan reminds us that such a thing is possible, though not visible in our current leaders."

“What’s Missing."

Via The Rule of Reason.

Posted by John Venlet on 06/10 at 04:50 AM
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Fireproof Fools

Not too long ago, when I needed to rebuild my garage, because the city got involved, I was required to install fireproof wallboard, manufactured with gypsum, on two interior walls of my garage.  The city required the fireproof wallboard because the garage did not set far enough away from the lot line of my property, which, according to building codes, means the garage is a potential fire hazard.  When I asked the city what the garage was hazarding, fire wise, the city couldn’t really say, but that wasn’t the point, the building “code” required fireproof wallboard because the garage sat to close to the lot line.  A fact I needed to have approved by the city, and all of my neighbors, also, who didn’t really care, because not one showed up at the city meeting where I was given the city’s blessing to rebuild my garage, as long as I installed the above mentioned fireproof wallboard.

Last night, I read in The Grand Rapids Press, that I am not the only individual who has, or is, having trouble with the fireproof fools.  The owners of an old gypsum mine here in Grand Rapids are having their own problems with the “code” enforcers.

The mine discussed in the story was converted into a storage facility with ideal conditions.  Constant humidity and temperature, underground, with limited access.  Perfect for storing old documents, photographs, and foods.  No problem right.  The mine is basically gypsum, dolemite, and shale, which will not burn.  But, since the mine owners added a high tech client, who stores electronic data on computer equipment, the city has decided a sprinkler system must be installed, at the cost of $250,00.0.00, because it’s a “safety issue,” rather than allowing the mine owners to simply utilize the chemical fire suppression system already installed, because it’s the “code.”

“CODE WORDS: Battle over sprinklers for old gypsum mine goes to appeals court."

You see, it says right here, in the code, that such and such must be done.  What if what it says must be done doesn’t really make sense?  That doesn’t matter, you have to follow the “code.”

Posted by John Venlet on 06/10 at 04:12 AM
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Wednesday, June 09, 2004

Historic Tiny Cross Too Heavy to Bear

"In the Soviet Union there was a joke,” said radio host Dennis Prager, who is Jewish, as he spoke before the board.

“A very powerful dissident joke—I’m sure that Zev remembers this. They used to say in the Soviet Union, `The future is known; it’s the past which is always changing.’

“Totalitarianism is not possible, unless you erase the past. That is what you did. That is why there are so many people here and thousands outside."

The other day, in a post titled “Couldn’t They Ward Off the Power of the Symbol by Wearing Garlic?," I noted the ACLU’s panties being in a knot over a small cross which is part of the Los Angeles County seal.  I guess the ACLU panties are no longer knotted, and residents of the county of Los Angeles are no longer being coerced into converting to Christianity.

“Board of Supervisors Affirms Decision to Remove Cross From County Seal."

Posted by John Venlet on 06/09 at 11:53 AM
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The Joker Forms an Advocacy Group

Recall, if you will, the 1989 movie Batman. Now, recall Jack Nicholson’s role as the Joker.  As the Joker was consolidating his power, in the movie, one of the scenes portrayed the Joker taking over the teevee airwaves with a warning about beauty products.  Though my recollection of the Joker’s exact warning is a bit hazy, its been awhile since I’ve viewed the movie, if I recall correctly, the Joker warned the populace about using beauty products, not any specific beauty product, but random combinations of beauty products.  The warning, of course, causes widespread lunacy to commence, with teevee news anchors looking unkepmt and disheveled, individuals shunning the shower, and other zaniness.  Well, reality seems to be imitating fantasy.

"Beauty may only be skin deep, but the products used to primp and polish your way to fabulous could be hazardous to your health, a Washington-based advocacy group said yesterday.

The nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG), released the results of a six-month computer investigation that found thousands of beauty products, including shampoos, nail polish and lotions, contained potentially harmful ingredients that have been linked to cancer or other health problems.

Naming brand names and products on its Web site (http://www.ewg.org), the group said yesterday it wasn’t aiming to scare but to educate people on the possible effects of slathering your skin with products that contain possibly dangerous chemicals."

From a Baltimore Sun article titled “Study uncovers makeup - Cosmetics may contain hazardous ingredients."

Posted by John Venlet on 06/09 at 04:54 AM
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Reminiscing

Billy Beck pens some thoughts about the death of his father, which occurred one year prior to the death of Reagan, hopes for the future, reality, and dignity in mourning.  The piece is titled “One Year On." And while you’re over there, read the rest of Billy’s recent posts, also.

Posted by John Venlet on 06/09 at 04:37 AM
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Tuesday, June 08, 2004

Your Children Are Not Your Own, Evidently

"When Chad Taylor noticed his son was apparently experiencing serious side effects from Ritalin prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, he decided to take the boy off the medication. Now, he says he may be accused of child abuse."

This could have happened to me.  I taught my son to simulate taking meds when the school he was attending determined, for their benefit and not my son’s, that he needed to be medicated for ADD.

“Pills vs. Talking"

This is a travesty, and must be stopped.  The state, and its octupus arms, do not belong in individuals’ homes.

Via Drudge.

Posted by John Venlet on 06/08 at 10:39 AM
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Windshield Time

When I’m on the road, traveling to here or there, I typically like to arrive at my destination in the shortest amount of time possible.  Most of the time I set my cruise control for 8 to 9 mph over the posted speed limit, and eat up the road.  Though from time to time I push that pedal to the metal and run my Burb down the road as fast as it will go.  But when my cruise control is set 8 or 9 mph over the posted limit, I have not once been stopped speeding.  Steve, at The Modulator, has a few notes on why this may be.

Posted by John Venlet on 06/08 at 05:07 AM
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