I wanted to wish each and everyone a blessed and prosperous New Year!!
And may 2008 bring some peace and stability to the world.. at least one can hope and pray.
Happy 2008!!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
Violence Begets Violence- The Aftermath of Benazir Bhutto's Assassination
Pakistan is a mess. It's been a mess for a long, long time, but with Benazir Bhutto's recent assassination, the country has been plunged into even greater depths of chaos and darkness, which is not a very comforting thought given Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.
Since Bhutto's death, violence has erupted across the nation, with riots and the usual riot-inspired activities taking center stage- like robbing banks and setting train stations ablaze. And the customary angry finger-pointing and blaming- mostly President Pervez Musharaf, of course, for what people claim was lax security. Even Bhutto (from the other side) has come back to blame Musharraf. CNN's Wolf Blitzer revealed an email he received that Bhutto had asked to be sent to the media were anything to happen to her. In that email she states that if she were to be harmed "I wld (would) hold Musharaf (sic) responsible."
Then you have the contradictions and the bickering over the exact manner of death - the official version: she died from a head fracture not bullet wounds. The other side disagrees. But, frankly, what does it matter whether she died from a skull fracture or bullet wounds- the point being is she died- from wounds she sustained after a suicide bomber tried to gun her down and then blew himself , and others, to bits. And, whether Musharaf was remiss in not providing enough security or not, is irrelevant. Shouldn't the Pakistani people be channelling all that anger, and placing blame where it rightfully belongs- those responsible for all the suicide bombings- the radicals and extremists that seem intent on taking over nuclear-equipped Pakistan (and the rest of that region)?
Al Qaida, the Taliban and all the rest of their ilk are doing their best to ensure that the seeds of democracy fail to take root in fragile, fledgling democratic nations, like Pakistan and Iraq. They seem to be succeeding, and will continue to do do so if the people of those nations fail to take action and root out those who want to send them back to the dark ages. Unless, of course, that's where they'd prefer to be.
Since Bhutto's death, violence has erupted across the nation, with riots and the usual riot-inspired activities taking center stage- like robbing banks and setting train stations ablaze. And the customary angry finger-pointing and blaming- mostly President Pervez Musharaf, of course, for what people claim was lax security. Even Bhutto (from the other side) has come back to blame Musharraf. CNN's Wolf Blitzer revealed an email he received that Bhutto had asked to be sent to the media were anything to happen to her. In that email she states that if she were to be harmed "I wld (would) hold Musharaf (sic) responsible."
Then you have the contradictions and the bickering over the exact manner of death - the official version: she died from a head fracture not bullet wounds. The other side disagrees. But, frankly, what does it matter whether she died from a skull fracture or bullet wounds- the point being is she died- from wounds she sustained after a suicide bomber tried to gun her down and then blew himself , and others, to bits. And, whether Musharaf was remiss in not providing enough security or not, is irrelevant. Shouldn't the Pakistani people be channelling all that anger, and placing blame where it rightfully belongs- those responsible for all the suicide bombings- the radicals and extremists that seem intent on taking over nuclear-equipped Pakistan (and the rest of that region)?
Al Qaida, the Taliban and all the rest of their ilk are doing their best to ensure that the seeds of democracy fail to take root in fragile, fledgling democratic nations, like Pakistan and Iraq. They seem to be succeeding, and will continue to do do so if the people of those nations fail to take action and root out those who want to send them back to the dark ages. Unless, of course, that's where they'd prefer to be.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Happy Holidays To All!
Wishing you all, very Happy Holidays!!
"May you have warmth in your igloo, oil in your lamp and peace in your heart."
Eskimo Proverb
Saturday, December 22, 2007
HO HO Holiday (And Every Other Day) Shopping Safety Tips
With just 2 more shopping days until Christmas to buy that special gift for Aunt Mary or cousin Jimmy, shopping malls, strip malls (and anywhere else that happens to sell anything of interest) will be packed full of last-minute shoppers. Some full of holiday cheer, others testy from all the aggravation trying to find a parking space at the mall, or having someone steal the last space that was rightfully theirs. But it's not just the bah humbugness of certain scroogy types that can ruin the holiday spirit. Certain other individuals, full of malicious intent, found lurking amongst the joyful and harried shoppers can cause tremendous amounts of grief. I'm talking about those miscreants that want what's yours and will do whatever it takes to get it. They take advantage of the holidays when people are distracted and out in larger numbers- more targets to choose from.
On December 12, at an upscale mall in Boca Raton, Florida, one of those evildoers killed a mother and her 7 year-old daughter. They were found by a security guard, a little after midnight, in their idling SUV. They had been bound and shot in the head, and goggles had been placed over the mother's eyes. Apparently, at some point during the robbery, they had been forced to take out money from an ATM. There was a similar occurrence, at the same mall, this past August. A young mother and her toddler were also abducted and forced to withdraw money from an ATM. When they were returned to the parking lot at the mall, the mother too was bound and goggled, although they were fortunate enough to have their lives spared. Authorities believe the similarities point to the same perp, and he's still at large.
Not that one should live in fear, but one should definitely be vigilant when shopping, and not just during the holiday season. There is more crime that occurs at shopping centers than mall owners are willing to admit. However, there are some things one can do to make one's shopping experience safer. Besides leaving all your expensive jewelry at home:
1. Lock the doors when you leave your car to go shopping.
2. Park in well-lit areas and close to busy entrances. Note: most abductions, rapes etc. (even during daylight hours) usually occur in covered parking areas.
3. Leave all packages and valuables in the trunk of your car. Visible packages can tempt thieves.
4. Be aware of your surroundings. Walk confidently, and briskly. If you notice someone suspicious-looking, take note of what they look like and what they are wearing. They will less likely harm you if they know you noticed them.
5. Avoid distractions, like talking on a cell phone or trying to calm down your children.
6. Hang on tightly to your purse. If it has a strap, place it over your head and position it so the strap is on one shoulder and the purse on the other side of your body.
7. Keep prying eyes from your credit card number, and place the receipt in your purse.
8. If it's late and you feel unsafe, ask mall security to accompany you to your car.
9. Keep your car keys in your hand and ready to open the door. Check around and under the car before you enter, to make sure no-one is lurking. If there is, run don't walk back to the mall. When inside your car, immediately lock the doors.
Not all crimes occur at the place of purchase. Many times, criminals will follow you back to your house and rob you there, so make sure you're vigilant when driving home.
10. If you think someone is following you, drive to the nearest police station, or stop somewhere there's a crowd, like a gas station or convenience store, where you can get help.
With just a few precautions you can make your shopping outings safe.
Happy holidays to all.
On December 12, at an upscale mall in Boca Raton, Florida, one of those evildoers killed a mother and her 7 year-old daughter. They were found by a security guard, a little after midnight, in their idling SUV. They had been bound and shot in the head, and goggles had been placed over the mother's eyes. Apparently, at some point during the robbery, they had been forced to take out money from an ATM. There was a similar occurrence, at the same mall, this past August. A young mother and her toddler were also abducted and forced to withdraw money from an ATM. When they were returned to the parking lot at the mall, the mother too was bound and goggled, although they were fortunate enough to have their lives spared. Authorities believe the similarities point to the same perp, and he's still at large.
Not that one should live in fear, but one should definitely be vigilant when shopping, and not just during the holiday season. There is more crime that occurs at shopping centers than mall owners are willing to admit. However, there are some things one can do to make one's shopping experience safer. Besides leaving all your expensive jewelry at home:
1. Lock the doors when you leave your car to go shopping.
2. Park in well-lit areas and close to busy entrances. Note: most abductions, rapes etc. (even during daylight hours) usually occur in covered parking areas.
3. Leave all packages and valuables in the trunk of your car. Visible packages can tempt thieves.
4. Be aware of your surroundings. Walk confidently, and briskly. If you notice someone suspicious-looking, take note of what they look like and what they are wearing. They will less likely harm you if they know you noticed them.
5. Avoid distractions, like talking on a cell phone or trying to calm down your children.
6. Hang on tightly to your purse. If it has a strap, place it over your head and position it so the strap is on one shoulder and the purse on the other side of your body.
7. Keep prying eyes from your credit card number, and place the receipt in your purse.
8. If it's late and you feel unsafe, ask mall security to accompany you to your car.
9. Keep your car keys in your hand and ready to open the door. Check around and under the car before you enter, to make sure no-one is lurking. If there is, run don't walk back to the mall. When inside your car, immediately lock the doors.
Not all crimes occur at the place of purchase. Many times, criminals will follow you back to your house and rob you there, so make sure you're vigilant when driving home.
10. If you think someone is following you, drive to the nearest police station, or stop somewhere there's a crowd, like a gas station or convenience store, where you can get help.
With just a few precautions you can make your shopping outings safe.
Happy holidays to all.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Palestinian Authority Rebroadcasts "Virgins of Paradise" Music Video
According to Palestinian Media Watch (PMW), PA TV (the official TV station) has started re-airing the following video after approximately a year's absence from the airwaves. Why now, is a very interesting question, given the recent Annapolis Summit.
This abbreviated version of a charming little - let's glorify death 'cos you'll get your virgins now- music video, shows a beautiful, young woman waving at her boyfriend from behind a barbed wire fence. As she wriggles through and runs towards him, she is suddenly shot by the evil Israelis (or martyred as they like to call it), and is immediately transported to heaven where we see her joyously cavorting with all the other beautiful, dark-eyed virgins. (I guess they don't like blue-eyed.) The video then cuts to the grief-stricken man visiting the grave of his lover, and as he runs away, he too is 'martyred' by the Israelis. Then, like a Hallmark card advert of old, we see our beautiful young maiden opening her arms to greet her young, handsome stud-of-a-shahid (martyr). And all's well that ends well, in Muslim heaven. The Shahada (Death for Allah) propaganda video has been around since 2000, when it was constantly broadcast during the terror war years between 2000 and 2005, and then in September 2006. During those times it was used to inspire the young to martyr themselves, so if they are truly looking towards peace, why re-air this video? Their actions always seem to contradict their words, which just continues to prove them untrustworthy.
But I have some questions that I've been wondering about regarding all this virgin business:
1. If a married man martyrs himself does he also get the 72 virgins?
2. And if each man gets 72 virgins, where do all those virgins come from? Are they recycled? Do they get to share the same ones?
3. If a female martyrs herself, does she get 72 female virgins as well, or does she become one of those virgins?
4. And lastly, if female martyrs become one of the 72 virgins, what happens to the married martyrs, do they automatically revert to virgin-hood by the power of Allah?
Hmmmm. Just wondering.
For the slightly longer version (with all the emoting) click here.
This abbreviated version of a charming little - let's glorify death 'cos you'll get your virgins now- music video, shows a beautiful, young woman waving at her boyfriend from behind a barbed wire fence. As she wriggles through and runs towards him, she is suddenly shot by the evil Israelis (or martyred as they like to call it), and is immediately transported to heaven where we see her joyously cavorting with all the other beautiful, dark-eyed virgins. (I guess they don't like blue-eyed.) The video then cuts to the grief-stricken man visiting the grave of his lover, and as he runs away, he too is 'martyred' by the Israelis. Then, like a Hallmark card advert of old, we see our beautiful young maiden opening her arms to greet her young, handsome stud-of-a-shahid (martyr). And all's well that ends well, in Muslim heaven. The Shahada (Death for Allah) propaganda video has been around since 2000, when it was constantly broadcast during the terror war years between 2000 and 2005, and then in September 2006. During those times it was used to inspire the young to martyr themselves, so if they are truly looking towards peace, why re-air this video? Their actions always seem to contradict their words, which just continues to prove them untrustworthy.
But I have some questions that I've been wondering about regarding all this virgin business:
1. If a married man martyrs himself does he also get the 72 virgins?
2. And if each man gets 72 virgins, where do all those virgins come from? Are they recycled? Do they get to share the same ones?
3. If a female martyrs herself, does she get 72 female virgins as well, or does she become one of those virgins?
4. And lastly, if female martyrs become one of the 72 virgins, what happens to the married martyrs, do they automatically revert to virgin-hood by the power of Allah?
Hmmmm. Just wondering.
For the slightly longer version (with all the emoting) click here.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Hillary Sprouting Leaves With All Her Planting
Madame Hillary is trying her damnedest to change perceptions about her character- harsh, shrill, cold. Can't be easy, considering she's spent a lifetime perfecting that persona. So her handlers are trying to soften up her image- make her warm and fuzzy, which just makes her look like the big old fake that she really is.
To help her seem more palatable to a larger number of people, she's apparently taken to arranging for "plants" to show up on her campaign trail. No, not the garden-type variety, but rather the "people" kind. At least so claims Andrew Malcolm on his blog at the L.A. Times.
She's done it in the past, but this time it gets darn right icky. Apparently, she's solicited a gaggle of friends, family, her doting hubby and Magic Johnson to canvas Iowa, sharing stories with potential voters, in an effort to humanize her.
So here's the warm and fuzzy:
On December 18, when asked about her faith at a campaign stop at a fire station in Donnellson, Iowa, Madame Hillary judicially responded- practicing Methodist. And miracle upon miracle, it turns out her Sunday School teacher just so happened to be in the audience. When Hillary was made aware of this fact, she immediately rushed over to Rosalie Bentzinger to give her a big ol' fat hug. And Rosalie, just so happened to be carrying a picture of Mrs. Clinton's confirmation class. Hillary gushed: "She has a picture of my confirmation class -- March 27, 1959."
The old priest lay dying in the hospital. For years, he had faithfully served the people of the nation's capital in Washington D.C. He motioned for his nurse to come near.
"Yes, Father?" said the nurse.
"I would really like to see former President Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Clinton before I die," whispered the priest.
"I'll see what I can do, Father" replied the nurse.
The nurse sent the request to the Senate and waited for a response. Soon the word arrived; the Clintons would be delighted to visit the priest. On their way to the hospital, Hillary commented to Bill, "I don't know why the old priest wants to see us, but it certainly will help our images and might even get me elected President. After all, I'm IN IT TO WIN IT! " Bill agreed---it would be a very good thing for her campaign once they put out a press release about their visit to honor the old priest's last request. When they arrived at the priest's room, the old priest took Bill's hand in his right hand and Hillary's hand in his left. There was a dead silence and a look of serenity on the old priest's face.
Finally, Bill Clinton spoke. "Father, of all the people you could have chosen, why did you choose us to be with you as you near the end?"
The old priest slowly replied, "I have always tried to pattern my life after our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
"Amen" said Bill.
"Amen" said Hillary.
The old priest continued..."He died between two lying thieves. I would like to do the same."
To help her seem more palatable to a larger number of people, she's apparently taken to arranging for "plants" to show up on her campaign trail. No, not the garden-type variety, but rather the "people" kind. At least so claims Andrew Malcolm on his blog at the L.A. Times.
She's done it in the past, but this time it gets darn right icky. Apparently, she's solicited a gaggle of friends, family, her doting hubby and Magic Johnson to canvas Iowa, sharing stories with potential voters, in an effort to humanize her.
So here's the warm and fuzzy:
On December 18, when asked about her faith at a campaign stop at a fire station in Donnellson, Iowa, Madame Hillary judicially responded- practicing Methodist. And miracle upon miracle, it turns out her Sunday School teacher just so happened to be in the audience. When Hillary was made aware of this fact, she immediately rushed over to Rosalie Bentzinger to give her a big ol' fat hug. And Rosalie, just so happened to be carrying a picture of Mrs. Clinton's confirmation class. Hillary gushed: "She has a picture of my confirmation class -- March 27, 1959."
Clinton aides claim they were totally unaware that Bentzinger was there with a one of Hillary's friends. Uhuh!
Okay, so it could be a total coincidence, but in light of all her other shenanigans, it seems very coincidental that she would be asked about her faith, and suddenly Sunday school teacher is there, picture in hand ready to be embraced by Hillary-warmth. I don't buy it. It's a great staged photo op. Although, given some of the comments on Andrew's blog, there are some people gullible enough to fall for it!
And for a little more Hillary Humour on the same theme:The old priest lay dying in the hospital. For years, he had faithfully served the people of the nation's capital in Washington D.C. He motioned for his nurse to come near.
"Yes, Father?" said the nurse.
"I would really like to see former President Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Clinton before I die," whispered the priest.
"I'll see what I can do, Father" replied the nurse.
The nurse sent the request to the Senate and waited for a response. Soon the word arrived; the Clintons would be delighted to visit the priest. On their way to the hospital, Hillary commented to Bill, "I don't know why the old priest wants to see us, but it certainly will help our images and might even get me elected President. After all, I'm IN IT TO WIN IT! " Bill agreed---it would be a very good thing for her campaign once they put out a press release about their visit to honor the old priest's last request. When they arrived at the priest's room, the old priest took Bill's hand in his right hand and Hillary's hand in his left. There was a dead silence and a look of serenity on the old priest's face.
Finally, Bill Clinton spoke. "Father, of all the people you could have chosen, why did you choose us to be with you as you near the end?"
The old priest slowly replied, "I have always tried to pattern my life after our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
"Amen" said Bill.
"Amen" said Hillary.
The old priest continued..."He died between two lying thieves. I would like to do the same."
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Argentine-Venezuela Campaign Scandal Coverup: 4 arrested in Miami
In light of all the vicious name-calling and accusations heaped upon the U.S. by Hugo "Commie" Chavez and his Chavista cronies, I find the following absolutely hilarious;
Get this, on August 4th a Venezuelan-American, Guido Alejandro Antonini Wilson, flies from Venezuela to Argentina in a private jet. On that same chartered Cessna are 7 other passengers, including one Claudio Uberti, who just so happens to be a senior Argentine government official. When they arrive in Buenos Aires, customs officials find a bag full 'o money, (about 800,000 U.S. dollars worth, no less) belonging to Antonini! The money is duly confiscated and Antonini, luckily, is allowed to fly back to South Florida, where he resides.
So, why was Antonini in possession of such a large sum of cold, hard U.S. cash? Drug money? Nope. How about attempting to influence an upcoming presidential election in Argentina! A donation courtesy of the Chavez government to the campaign coffers of Argentine candidate Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who happened to win the election on October 28, 2007. In other words, a gift from one lefty to another.
What transpires, thereafter, is straight out of some John Le Carré spy novel:
Soon after the seizure of monies in Buenos Aires, 4 Venezuelans and 1 Uruguayan national set out to convince Antonini to keep his mouth shut regarding the source (and destination) of said cash. Incidentally, 2 of those- Franklin Duran and Carlos Kauffmann- were friends and business partners of Antonini. The pressure to cover up the potential scandal, including threats to both Antonini and his children, continued up until December 11th. Those threats ended that same evening with the arrest of Duran, 40, Kauffmann, 35, Moises Maionica, 37, and Rodolfo Edgardo Wanseele Paciello, 40. Antonio Jose Canchica Gomez, 37, remains at large. According to the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ), on December 12th they were formally charged with being illegal agents of a foreign government.
All the information leading up to their arrests was gathered by the feds. Federal prosecutors had taped various conversations between Antonini (who was wired) and Duran and Kauffmann, including one session at a Fort Lauderdale eatery.
Interesting Side Notes:
1. Duran and Kauffman are very wealthy Venezuelans who own houses in Key Biscayne and Coconut Grove (exclusive areas of Miami). Duran owns a private jet. Nice socialists.
2. For all of Hugo's complaints about the U.S. dollar, what currency did he use? 800,000.00 greenbacks.
3. Chavez is forever accusing others of interfering with his country: just prior to the recent defeat on constitutional changes , when he noticed public support was waning,
And yet, he himself is guilty of doing just that: During the Peruvian elections in 2006, Chavez threatened to break ties with Peru if Alan Garcia won. He was backing Ollanta Humala. Garcia won, but not by a huge margin. 52.6% to 47.4% of the votes.
Chavez is the personification of hypocrisy.
Further Reading:
USDOJ Press Release
Miami Herald Article
Criminal Complaint
Hat Tip: Citizen Feathers
Get this, on August 4th a Venezuelan-American, Guido Alejandro Antonini Wilson, flies from Venezuela to Argentina in a private jet. On that same chartered Cessna are 7 other passengers, including one Claudio Uberti, who just so happens to be a senior Argentine government official. When they arrive in Buenos Aires, customs officials find a bag full 'o money, (about 800,000 U.S. dollars worth, no less) belonging to Antonini! The money is duly confiscated and Antonini, luckily, is allowed to fly back to South Florida, where he resides.
So, why was Antonini in possession of such a large sum of cold, hard U.S. cash? Drug money? Nope. How about attempting to influence an upcoming presidential election in Argentina! A donation courtesy of the Chavez government to the campaign coffers of Argentine candidate Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who happened to win the election on October 28, 2007. In other words, a gift from one lefty to another.
What transpires, thereafter, is straight out of some John Le Carré spy novel:
Soon after the seizure of monies in Buenos Aires, 4 Venezuelans and 1 Uruguayan national set out to convince Antonini to keep his mouth shut regarding the source (and destination) of said cash. Incidentally, 2 of those- Franklin Duran and Carlos Kauffmann- were friends and business partners of Antonini. The pressure to cover up the potential scandal, including threats to both Antonini and his children, continued up until December 11th. Those threats ended that same evening with the arrest of Duran, 40, Kauffmann, 35, Moises Maionica, 37, and Rodolfo Edgardo Wanseele Paciello, 40. Antonio Jose Canchica Gomez, 37, remains at large. According to the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ), on December 12th they were formally charged with being illegal agents of a foreign government.
Three Venezuelans and an Uruguayan national were arrested last night and appeared in federal court in Miami today on charges of acting and conspiring to act as agents of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela within the United States, without prior notification to the Attorney General of the United States, as required by law, announced Kenneth L. Wainstein, Assistant Attorney General for Justice Department’s National Security Division, R. Alexander Acosta, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jonathan I. Solomon, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office.
All the information leading up to their arrests was gathered by the feds. Federal prosecutors had taped various conversations between Antonini (who was wired) and Duran and Kauffmann, including one session at a Fort Lauderdale eatery.
The last meeting took place on Dec. 11, 2007, when defendants Maionica, Duran, and another individual met with Antonini to discussOf course, Venezuelan officials are denying any culpability, and claiming this is some nefarious U.S. plot to discredit Venezuela and all the other left-leaning countries in Latin America:
the creation of false documents in furtherance of the cover-up.
Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro, speaking live on Dando y Dando, a national television program, accused the U.S. government of engaging in a ``political, psychological and media war against the progressive governments of the hemisphere.''
Madame Fernández de Kirchner concurs. Well sure, who wants to get caught with their pants around their ankles. Kirchner did win by a landslide, but that's not the point. The point is Chavez, once again, was attempting to interfere in the internal affairs of another country.
Interesting Side Notes:
1. Duran and Kauffman are very wealthy Venezuelans who own houses in Key Biscayne and Coconut Grove (exclusive areas of Miami). Duran owns a private jet. Nice socialists.
2. For all of Hugo's complaints about the U.S. dollar, what currency did he use? 800,000.00 greenbacks.
"Soon we will not talk about dollars because the dollar is falling in value and the empire of the dollar is crashing," Chavez said in comments translated into Farsi from Spanish. "Naturally, by the crash of the dollar, America's empire will crash," Chavez said at a joint news conference with Ahmadinejad.
3. Chavez is forever accusing others of interfering with his country: just prior to the recent defeat on constitutional changes , when he noticed public support was waning,
Mr. Chavez raised the possibility last week that the United States could interfere with the election. Officials in Washington repudiated his comments, but Mr. Chavez followed up by threatening to cut off oil shipments to the United States if he saw evidence of any interference.
And yet, he himself is guilty of doing just that: During the Peruvian elections in 2006, Chavez threatened to break ties with Peru if Alan Garcia won. He was backing Ollanta Humala. Garcia won, but not by a huge margin. 52.6% to 47.4% of the votes.
Chavez is the personification of hypocrisy.
Further Reading:
USDOJ Press Release
Miami Herald Article
Criminal Complaint
Hat Tip: Citizen Feathers
Monday, December 17, 2007
Joke Of The Day: The Joker and The King
Apparently popular in Spain. I will be posting something about Chavez later, which made me laugh. Until then, for your enjoyment!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Askari and Adler- A Muslim Aids Jews on NYC Subway
It started on the Q train in N.Y. with a shout of "Merry Christmas"! Walter Adler responded with a "Happy Chanukah"! Why not? He was Jewish, it was Chanukah, it's a free world. Why can't we share the cheer? However, that was obviously the wrong response for a group of 10, Jew-hating young punks (including some females) who immediately proceeded to shout anti-semitic epithets at Adler's 3 companions, telling them they had killed Jesus on Chanukah and calling them "dirty Jews" and "Jew bitches". Adler stepping in to intercede, was physically attacked by one of the male punks. And this is where the story gets good: Assan Askari, a Bangladeshi fellow passenger on the subway, who also happens to be a Muslim American, jumped in to help Adler. The group then turned on him. While Askari was being beaten up, Adler was able to pull the emergency brake and the police arrested the 10 at the next stop.
What amazed Adler the most was that in spite of all the blood, and the ensuing attack on Askari no-one else did a thing to help. They both have black eyes, cuts and bruises but they have forged a bond as a result of this experience. They broke bread together the night after the attack. Askari is Adler's hero:
Askari, begs to differ,
Every once in a while something happens that warms the cockles of one's heart- that affirms, for the most part, man is essentially good, and that in a civilized world he/she will do the right thing. And although no-one else bothered to help out, and it took a Muslim to come to the aid of Jews, that in itself is truly heartening.
This gives me hope.
What amazed Adler the most was that in spite of all the blood, and the ensuing attack on Askari no-one else did a thing to help. They both have black eyes, cuts and bruises but they have forged a bond as a result of this experience. They broke bread together the night after the attack. Askari is Adler's hero:
"A random Muslim guy jumped in and helped a Jewish guy on Hanukkah - that's a miracle," [snip] "He's basically a hero. Hassan jumped in to help us."
Askari, begs to differ,
"I just did what I had to do." "My parents raised me that way."
Every once in a while something happens that warms the cockles of one's heart- that affirms, for the most part, man is essentially good, and that in a civilized world he/she will do the right thing. And although no-one else bothered to help out, and it took a Muslim to come to the aid of Jews, that in itself is truly heartening.
This gives me hope.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
"14 Questions I'd Ask Hillary After I Hooked Her Up to a Lie Detector"
Heard about this article on a local radio talk show, and thought I would share. Written by John Hawkins and posted at Townhall, it's entitled:
I'll post the 1st 4 questions, but I would highly recommend reading them all.
I'd like to hear a plain "yes" or "no" out of Madame Clinton's mouth, but that will never happen!
14 Questions I'd Ask Hillary After I Hooked Her Up to a Lie Detector
I'll post the 1st 4 questions, but I would highly recommend reading them all.
Few politicians in America have as much scandal, sleaze, and controversy surrounding them as Hillary Clinton and perhaps none of them, with the exception of her husband, has been given a bigger free pass.
As Peggy Noonan once said, "People have pointed out (Hillary's) ethical lapses for so long that they seem boring, or impossible to believe. ‘That couldn't be true or she wouldn't be running for president.’ This thought collides with ‘And we already know all this anyway.’ Her campaign uses the latter to squash the latest: ‘old news,’ ‘cash or rehash.’
That is indeed how it works with Hillary Clinton's campaign, but nobody who is running for the presidency in the era of the blogosphere and YouTube should be allowed to skate on the controversial issues.
With that in mind, here are 14 yes or no questions I'd like to ask Hillary after I hooked her up to a polygraph machine, assuming that she hasn't gotten so good at lying that she could beat the machine.
A Culture Of Corruption
1) Your former friend and business partner, James McDougal, claimed that "he and a longtime businessman at McDougal's S&L, Henry Hamilton, 'developed a system to pass money to Clinton.' Did you or your husband ever take payoffs from your friend James McDougal?
2) While you were with the Rose Law Firm, you personally worked on a document that was used to "obfuscate and hide the fraudulent nature" of a piece of the Whitewater land swindle. Did you know that the document you were working on was going to be used for illegal purposes?
3) Your Rose Law Firm billing records were removed from Vince Foster's office after his death. Those records were "(m)issing and under subpoena for two years (and) they turned up in January 1996 in the Clintons' private quarters at the White House." Whoever took those records committed a crime by obstructing justice. Despite the fact that your records were taken and eventually turned up in your private quarters, you have denied taking the records or having anyone take them for you. Is that true?
4) Clinton supporter David Hale claimed that your husband pressured him into making a "fraudulent $300,000 federally backed loan to Susan McDougal, some of which went into Whitewater Development Corp." Did your husband pressure David Hale into making that fraudulent loan?
I'd like to hear a plain "yes" or "no" out of Madame Clinton's mouth, but that will never happen!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Serial Killing In The Name Of Religion- 40 women mutilated in Basra
Women are being killed in Iraq for the way they dress. More than 40 women have been found murdered this past year in Basra, their bodies badly mutilated- decapitated, shot and then dumped in the garbage with notes attached saying:
A woman and her 6-year-old son were discovered, back in September, with their heads chopped off.
In the western world, this would be considered the work of serial killers- targeting a certain sector of the population, notes attached to the bodies; but here, in the Middle East, it's being blamed on religious fanatics, and those serial killers are being called religious "vigilantes".
Although only 40 women have officially been reported as murdered, police chief Maj. Gen. Jalil Khalaf says
Although westernized males have also been attacked for how they dress, there is no mention of whether they've ended up with their heads separated from the bodies. I would assume not, considering men have a far greater worth than women in that religious culture.
Of course, everyone is pointing fingers- the police chief is blaming it on sectarian violence:
And one of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's henchmen blamed
In some areas of Basra red graffiti splatters the walls with warnings to women who choose to wear makeup and dare to show their locks :
"She was killed for violating Islamic teachings." "She was killed for adultery."
A woman and her 6-year-old son were discovered, back in September, with their heads chopped off.
In the western world, this would be considered the work of serial killers- targeting a certain sector of the population, notes attached to the bodies; but here, in the Middle East, it's being blamed on religious fanatics, and those serial killers are being called religious "vigilantes".
Although only 40 women have officially been reported as murdered, police chief Maj. Gen. Jalil Khalaf says
"We believe the number of murdered women is much higher, as cases go unreported by their families who fear reprisal from extremists."
Although westernized males have also been attacked for how they dress, there is no mention of whether they've ended up with their heads separated from the bodies. I would assume not, considering men have a far greater worth than women in that religious culture.
Of course, everyone is pointing fingers- the police chief is blaming it on sectarian violence:
"Those who are behind these atrocities are organized gangs who work under cover of religion, pretending to spread the instructions of Islam, but they are far from this religion,"
And one of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's henchmen blamed
"gangs with foreign support to destabilize the city."In denial, as usual, no-one seems to want to acknowledge that whether the perpetrators are foreign or home-grown the root of the problem is the religion itself.
In some areas of Basra red graffiti splatters the walls with warnings to women who choose to wear makeup and dare to show their locks :
"Your makeup and your decision to forgo the headscarf will bring you death."No make-up and hair or death. How civilized.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Death To The Convert: Daughter of Brit Imam Threatened With Death
Imagine being on the run for more than ten long years. Being forced to move 45 times because you feared for your life; not from strangers, but from your very own family. And simply for choosing to convert to a different religion. That is exactly what happened, a decade ago, to a young British-born Pakistani woman after her father showed up at her doorstep accompanied by her uncle and 40 other men in tow, all "clutching axes, hammers, knives and bits of wood", threatening to kill her because she chose to convert from Islam to Christianity.
Calling herself "Hannah" now, for her own protection, the 31-year-old says that she ran away at the age of 16 to avoid an arranged marriage. She was
Although she has managed to keep her head intact for that amount of time, she recently asked for police protection after her brother sent a text message to her indicating that
Now, I could understand if they were recent immigrants from some Sharia-run country like Iran. They might be ignorant of local laws. But if Hannah was born in Lancashire, that means they've been living in the U.K. for at least 31 years, and there is absolutely no excuse for that kind of barbaric behaviour. If you refuse to adhere to the laws of your host country, then move.
That's what Hannah seems to believe:
She goes on to say that
And one would expect a parent to love and care for their children regardless of the choices they make in life, obviously not if you're Muslim.
"My dad was shouting through the letter box, "I'm going to kill you", while the others smashed on the window and beat the door. "They were shouting, 'We're going to kill you' and 'Traitor'
Calling herself "Hannah" now, for her own protection, the 31-year-old says that she ran away at the age of 16 to avoid an arranged marriage. She was
taken in by a religious education teacher and decided to convert to the Christian faith.Her parents seemed to tolerate her decision, assuming she would grow out of it eventually. However, the death threats started after they discovered that Hannah, while a student at Manchester University, had been baptized. She's been on the run ever since.
Although she has managed to keep her head intact for that amount of time, she recently asked for police protection after her brother sent a text message to her indicating that
he would not be held responsible for his actions if she failed to return to Islam.Hmm. It seems that Muslim men have an extremely challenging time taking responsibility for their actions.
Now, I could understand if they were recent immigrants from some Sharia-run country like Iran. They might be ignorant of local laws. But if Hannah was born in Lancashire, that means they've been living in the U.K. for at least 31 years, and there is absolutely no excuse for that kind of barbaric behaviour. If you refuse to adhere to the laws of your host country, then move.
That's what Hannah seems to believe:
"If you make the choice to come to this country, as my parents did from Pakistan, you have to abide by the laws of this country and that means respecting the freedoms of other people."
She goes on to say that
"I know the Koran says anyone who goes away from Islam should be killed as an apostate, so in some ways my family are following the Koran. They are following Islam to the word. But I do not think every Muslim would act on that."Maybe not all, but even one is one too many. It's ironic that a religion that purports to be a religion of peace obsesses so much on death.
And one would expect a parent to love and care for their children regardless of the choices they make in life, obviously not if you're Muslim.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
ACTION ALERT: S.771 Support School Nutrition
Although I have no children, I think we can all agree that good, nutritious food is an integral part in helping our kids grow into healthy young adults. We all know that childhood obesity is a major problem in this country, and the unhealthy food served in schools these days simply exacerbates that problem. We also know that for most poor families school breakfasts and lunches are sometimes the only balanced meals those children get, so making those meals as healthful as possible would seem a no-brainer. Children need wholesome food for brain power, doesn't it make sense to ensure that they get all they need to grow up to be productive members of society?
So, step in S.771, the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act, a bi-partisan bill which would change the definition of "food of minimal nutritional value", and update nutritional standards in U.S. Schools. The last time it was updated was in 1979! Almost 30 years ago, when we were far less aware of the importance of good nutrition on health.
The Natural Products Association has sent out the following information regarding the bill:
The association is asking its members (and others) to help by taking Action! The link has much information on how to contact your senators and whether they have signed on or not.
Remember the youth of today will be the leaders of tomorrow.
Crossposted at Mind Bodyand Spirit.
So, step in S.771, the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act, a bi-partisan bill which would change the definition of "food of minimal nutritional value", and update nutritional standards in U.S. Schools. The last time it was updated was in 1979! Almost 30 years ago, when we were far less aware of the importance of good nutrition on health.
The Natural Products Association has sent out the following information regarding the bill:
Child Nutrition Act Added to 2007 Farm Bill
The Natural Products Association has been a strong supporter of S. 771, the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act. Introduced by Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), this act would update
out-of-date nutritional standards in U.S. schools, and re-define "food of minimal nutritional value." The definition was last updated in 1979. Since then, Americans' food options and knowledge about nutrition has changed dramatically. It's time that change was reflected in the definition.
Recently, Senator Harkin and Senator Murkowski (R-Alaska) worked together to add an amendment similar in language to S.771 to the 2007 Farm Bill under a series of provisions aimed at improving nutrition in the United States. Unfortunately, the Farm Bill is currently stalled in the Senate under the threat of filibuster. While Senators Harkin and Murkowski are doing everything they can to get this legislation off the ground, they need the support of their fellow senators to get this important amendment back on track.
If a senator has already sponsored S. 771, that is an indication that they would be supportive of the amendment in the Farm Bill. If they are not sponsors, that is all the more reason to ask for their support for this important amendment.
The association is asking its members (and others) to help by taking Action! The link has much information on how to contact your senators and whether they have signed on or not.
Remember the youth of today will be the leaders of tomorrow.
Crossposted at Mind Bodyand Spirit.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
More Hillary Humour
I've laid off for a while, so thought it was time for some more Hillary Humour. Below the video is a joke:
Hillary Clinton and her driver were cruising along a country road one evening when an ancient cow loomed in front of the car. The driver tried to avoid it but couldn't. The aged cow was struck and killed. Hillary told her driver to go up to the farm house and explain to the owners what had happened. She stayed in the car making phone calls. About an hour later the driver staggered back to the car with his clothes in disarray. He was holding a half-empty bottle of expensive wine in one hand, a rare, huge Cuban cigar in the other, and was smiling happily, smeared with lipstick."What happened to you," asked Hillary? "Well," the driver replied, "the Farmer gave me the cigar, his wife gave me the wine, and their beautiful twin daughters made passionate love to me." "My God, what did you tell them?" asked Hillary. The driver replied, "I just stepped inside the door and said, "I'm Hillary Clinton's driver and I've just killed the old cow. The rest happened so fast I couldn't stop it."
Joke H/T Georgia Girl
Hillary Clinton and her driver were cruising along a country road one evening when an ancient cow loomed in front of the car. The driver tried to avoid it but couldn't. The aged cow was struck and killed. Hillary told her driver to go up to the farm house and explain to the owners what had happened. She stayed in the car making phone calls. About an hour later the driver staggered back to the car with his clothes in disarray. He was holding a half-empty bottle of expensive wine in one hand, a rare, huge Cuban cigar in the other, and was smiling happily, smeared with lipstick."What happened to you," asked Hillary? "Well," the driver replied, "the Farmer gave me the cigar, his wife gave me the wine, and their beautiful twin daughters made passionate love to me." "My God, what did you tell them?" asked Hillary. The driver replied, "I just stepped inside the door and said, "I'm Hillary Clinton's driver and I've just killed the old cow. The rest happened so fast I couldn't stop it."
Joke H/T Georgia Girl
Monday, December 03, 2007
Putin and Chavez: Election Fraud and Election Defeat
We had 2 elections on opposite ends of the world this past Sunday. Similar in kind. 2 countries with leaders who engage in anti-democratic activities. Both imperialists at heart. Each, in his own inimitable and infamous fashion, trying to bully his way to the top of the global hierarchy of power. Both countries with elections which would have allowed them to remain in power indefinitely.
Putin and Chavez, comrades of sorts, one a winner, the other a loser.
Not surprisingly, there have been widespread allegations of voter fraud, intimidation and coercion in the Russian elections. Elections which will effectively allow ex-KGB Vladimir (old habits die hard) Putin to remain as "national leader" even after his term limit as President ends next spring. Gary Gasparov, former chess champion and opposition leader, claimed the election was
Little wonder his party won in a landslide victory. Ironically, even the Communist Party called it
On December 17 the presidential candidate is due to be named, although everyone knows whoever Congress happens to choose will merely serve as a puppet figure, with Putin handily pulling the strings. Which is why there was such a concerted effort to forcibly get out the vote, illegal or not.
Then we have Hugo (look at me) Chavez who lost, by a very slim margin, the constitutional vote which would have granted him, among other things, the power to be re-elected in perpetuity. I thought there would have been rampant voter fraud in that election, but Chavez was surprisingly level-headed and gracious when he conceded that the Venezuelan people are obviously not ready for a full blown socialist state, and that he learned from these elections that
No dictatorship? Perhaps not in the near future, but we shall see what transpires over the next few years. Frankly, I don't trust him. The man is far too devious to suddenly change his way of being. I'm convinced there were ulterior motives for this concession, and that it's not some miraculous, sudden change of heart.
First and foremost, he (or his advisors) probably realized his recent, bizarre demeanour on the global front has been alienating rather endearing him to other leaders. He's been shunned and told to shut up by leaders of Spain, Colombia, Saudi Arabia. I'm sure he's aware that he needs allies other than his pal Ahmadinejad, so showing a little good sense might might curry favour amongst those who have lost their patience with his bluster and bully tactics. He shows some tolerance, a little good will - world opinion favours him once again- and he's back to being King Chavez, loved by all.
Furthermore, this sudden acceptance of defeat doesn't necessarily mean that things won't change down the line. As far as Chavez is concerned, anything could happen come 2012. And probably will.
Putin and Chavez, comrades of sorts, one a winner, the other a loser.
Not surprisingly, there have been widespread allegations of voter fraud, intimidation and coercion in the Russian elections. Elections which will effectively allow ex-KGB Vladimir (old habits die hard) Putin to remain as "national leader" even after his term limit as President ends next spring. Gary Gasparov, former chess champion and opposition leader, claimed the election was
“the most unfair and dirtiest in the whole history of modern Russia.”
Russia’s opposition groups and European observers criticized the vote as unfair, citing reports of pressure exerted by election authorities and workplace managers for Russians to vote for Putin’s party.
Little wonder his party won in a landslide victory. Ironically, even the Communist Party called it
“the most irresponsible and dirty” in the post-Soviet era and party officials vowed to challenge the results,
after they only won about 50 seats in the 450 seat Russian State Duma. Putin's United Russia party landed a whopping 315 seats.
On December 17 the presidential candidate is due to be named, although everyone knows whoever Congress happens to choose will merely serve as a puppet figure, with Putin handily pulling the strings. Which is why there was such a concerted effort to forcibly get out the vote, illegal or not.
Then we have Hugo (look at me) Chavez who lost, by a very slim margin, the constitutional vote which would have granted him, among other things, the power to be re-elected in perpetuity. I thought there would have been rampant voter fraud in that election, but Chavez was surprisingly level-headed and gracious when he conceded that the Venezuelan people are obviously not ready for a full blown socialist state, and that he learned from these elections that
"Venezuelan democracy is maturing."
He also called for no more violence:
"From this moment on, let's be calm," [snip] "There is no dictatorship here."
No dictatorship? Perhaps not in the near future, but we shall see what transpires over the next few years. Frankly, I don't trust him. The man is far too devious to suddenly change his way of being. I'm convinced there were ulterior motives for this concession, and that it's not some miraculous, sudden change of heart.
First and foremost, he (or his advisors) probably realized his recent, bizarre demeanour on the global front has been alienating rather endearing him to other leaders. He's been shunned and told to shut up by leaders of Spain, Colombia, Saudi Arabia. I'm sure he's aware that he needs allies other than his pal Ahmadinejad, so showing a little good sense might might curry favour amongst those who have lost their patience with his bluster and bully tactics. He shows some tolerance, a little good will - world opinion favours him once again- and he's back to being King Chavez, loved by all.
Furthermore, this sudden acceptance of defeat doesn't necessarily mean that things won't change down the line. As far as Chavez is concerned, anything could happen come 2012. And probably will.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Paypal Phishing Scams
With the holidays rapidly approaching, the scammers, phishers and other scrooge-types are stepping up their cons in the hopes that with all the holiday hubub people won't be so vigilant when it comes to emails. I already posted about the Zapchast trojan hidden in Hallmark (and other) E-Cards, now Paypal phishers are stepping up their efforts to steal your info and, in turn, your hard earned cash.
For those of you who use Paypal to shop on-line, be aware that the scammers are sending out the following types of email:
Dear PayPal Member
This email confirms that you have sent an eBay payment of $47.75 USD to
mailto: johnsput81@ xoxo
for an eBay item.
-----------------------------------
Payment Details
-----------------------------------
Amount: $47.75 USD
Transaction ID: 2LC956713J776333Y
Subject: Digimax 138
Note:
If you haven't authorized this charge ,click the link below to dispute transaction
and get full refund
Dispute transaction (Encrypted Link )
*SSL connection:
PayPal automatically encrypts your confidential information
in transit from your computer to ours using the Secure
Sockets Layer protocol (SSL) with an encryption key length
of 128-bits (the highest level commercially available)
-----------------------------------
Item Information
-----------------------------------
eBay User ID: scrchandgnaw22
----------------------------------------------------------------
Edward Harrell's UNCONFIRMED Address
----------------------------------------------------------------
Edward Harrell
211 David St.
Springtown, TX 76082
United States
Important Note: Edward Harrell has provided an Unconfirmed Address. If
you are planning on shipping items to Edward Harrell, please check the
Transaction Details page of this payment to find out whether you will
be covered by the PayPal Seller Protection Policy.
----------------------------------------------------------------
This payment was sent using your bank account.
By using your bank account to send money, you just:
- Paid easily and securely
- Sent money faster than writing and mailing paper checks
- Paid instantly -- your purchase won't show up on bills at the end of
the month.
Thanks for using your bank account!
----------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for using PayPal!
The PayPal Team
PayPal Email ID PP118
I have received quite a few over the past few weeks, and if I happened to use Paypal frequently this might go unnoticed, particularly during this busy time of year. It certainly looks legit, however Paypal will never ask for any personal information like:
full name
password
social security number
driver's license number
credit or debit card numbers
pin or bank account numbers
They will also always address the email in your name.
They will never send an attachment or update software.
Never click on the link in an email, it might look legit, but it will take you to a fraudulent website.
Check out Paypal's Security site for more info and take their Anti-Phishing challenge.
If you receive one of these emails, help bring them down by reporting them to Paypal. Forward the emails to:
spoof@paypal.com
They keep perpetrating this kind of fraud, so someone is falling for it!!
For those of you who use Paypal to shop on-line, be aware that the scammers are sending out the following types of email:
Dear PayPal Member
This email confirms that you have sent an eBay payment of $47.75 USD to
mailto: johnsput81@ xoxo
for an eBay item.
-----------------------------------
Payment Details
-----------------------------------
Amount: $47.75 USD
Transaction ID: 2LC956713J776333Y
Subject: Digimax 138
Note:
If you haven't authorized this charge ,click the link below to dispute transaction
and get full refund
Dispute transaction (Encrypted Link )
*SSL connection:
PayPal automatically encrypts your confidential information
in transit from your computer to ours using the Secure
Sockets Layer protocol (SSL) with an encryption key length
of 128-bits (the highest level commercially available)
-----------------------------------
Item Information
-----------------------------------
eBay User ID: scrchandgnaw22
----------------------------------------------------------------
Edward Harrell's UNCONFIRMED Address
----------------------------------------------------------------
Edward Harrell
211 David St.
Springtown, TX 76082
United States
Important Note: Edward Harrell has provided an Unconfirmed Address. If
you are planning on shipping items to Edward Harrell, please check the
Transaction Details page of this payment to find out whether you will
be covered by the PayPal Seller Protection Policy.
----------------------------------------------------------------
This payment was sent using your bank account.
By using your bank account to send money, you just:
- Paid easily and securely
- Sent money faster than writing and mailing paper checks
- Paid instantly -- your purchase won't show up on bills at the end of
the month.
Thanks for using your bank account!
----------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for using PayPal!
The PayPal Team
PayPal Email ID PP118
I have received quite a few over the past few weeks, and if I happened to use Paypal frequently this might go unnoticed, particularly during this busy time of year. It certainly looks legit, however Paypal will never ask for any personal information like:
full name
password
social security number
driver's license number
credit or debit card numbers
pin or bank account numbers
They will also always address the email in your name.
They will never send an attachment or update software.
Never click on the link in an email, it might look legit, but it will take you to a fraudulent website.
Check out Paypal's Security site for more info and take their Anti-Phishing challenge.
If you receive one of these emails, help bring them down by reporting them to Paypal. Forward the emails to:
spoof@paypal.com
They keep perpetrating this kind of fraud, so someone is falling for it!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)