Author: David

Responding to an email from someone very obviously on the left end of the bell curve, Jerry Pournelle said,

“I presume that just about all of my readership is on the right hand side of the bell curve, although I sometimes get messages indicating that is not an absolutely justifiable assumption.”

I have justifiable reason to assume much the same, at least based on comments and the growing number of visitors who are non-Internet Exploder users. *s*

But, yeh, I’ve had to deal with one or two folks dropping in here from the left (sometimes called the “low”) end of the bell curve. Gotta love ’em. Cos they aren’t smart enough to know when they’re stupid, of course.

😉

(Of course, I’m somewhere toward the left end of Chaos Manor readers, but given the quality of his usual correspondents, that’s quite a good group to be in.)

Do pop on over and read the whole thing. You’ll have to page down a ways to get to the commentary and the e- that inspired it. Worth the time and effort, though.

Just so this isn’t just another reminder to head over to Romeocat’s Cathouse Chat for her daily Advent post, here’s a little instrumental accompaniment to go along with the lyrics to the song she quotes today. Feel free to sing along. The music’s already started below (just CLICk to stop/restart if you want), and the words are here.

Do consider submitting something to Adam’s Carnival of Christmas, too.

Note, for quicker loading, this time I chose a midi file. The quality of the reproduction will depend entirely—apart from your speakers :-)—on your synth/patches. This midi file was originally written as a demo of Roland’s Soundcanvas products.

Adverts at Bloggin’ Outloud and NIF

OK, what a mishmash. 🙂

Open Post. If you know what to do, do it, and I’ll try to do a roundup later. If you don’t know aht I’m talking about, see here.

Featured blog? I mentioned over the weekend that All Things Beautiful had a significant (and very long, detailed) post “The Jihad Apocalypse” that is more than simply worth reading; it is an important read. But All Things Beautiful is also more than just one or two great posts. It is one very good post after another with exceptional posts liberally distributed among other worthwhile reads. Going in my Regular Reads section as soon as I get A Round Toit. DO drop over and spend some time. You’ll be very glad you did. But plan on spending time. It’s a very content-rich blog. Fluff? Need not apply at All Things Beautiful.

Playing catchup: I missed this exchange between Jerry Pournelle and a Marine Colonel who served as Governor of Wasit Province, Iraq. It makes a good complement to “The Jihad Apocalypse“. My very minor observation: It’s sad that they both seem to agree that exporting America’s “slacker” culture is probably one of the best long-term methods of defeating Islamic jihadism… since by the time that’s accomplished, slacker culture may have allowed the Chinese to overcome us…

Stuck on Stupid found an interesting story: WW2 Vet Awarded Medals 60 Years Later. Man! That’s worse than the line at the DMV!

Freedom Folks has a chuckle in A Jury Of Thier Peers. heh

Ar Cathouse Chat, Romeocat continues her daily Advent posts. Seasonal must-reads, IMO. Today’s post will have me searching for an appropriate mp3, again.

Guard the Borders later today will feature a tip I got in email. Gotta love sharp readers.

Oh, and have you visited iHillary recently? Lotsa good Photoshop snark. Check out the “Dr. Soros” book. *snirk* And “Donkeysaurus”? heh

Outside the blogosphere, two very different pieces of news: Seven League Boots? And Kimchi defeats asian bird flu? Finally, a use for kimchi. Wonders never cease.

🙂

Link to this post and trackback.

Plugged at NIF_2_ (heh), Bloggin’ Outloud and maybe others later, if I make the time.

If you want the Advent post, go visit CatHouse Chat’s Sunday post “The King of Heaven, born on Earth”. Well said, Romeocat!

But before you click the link, fire up this Excerpt of a CD by The American Bach Soloists Choir. (Good stuff Maynard.) Then listen along and read Romeocat’s “The King of Heaven, born on Earth”.

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And don’t forget R’Cat’s encouragement to participate in the Carnival of Christmas,

Don’t forget to think of submitting something to Adam’s Carnival of Christmas. I hope and pray he has a huge Carnival, full of all the joy and light and wonder of this blessed season!

Well, I didn’t advertise it as a “free linkpost” as I did with the “real” Open Post on Friday, but there were some interesting links pinged in anyway, so I’ll cut some slack for folks who have trouble with directions. Lord knows, I have enough trouble following directions myself sometimes…

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This came in while I was piecing this together (in raw html, since WYSIWYG editors seem to all be playing “gotcha” today): All Things Beautiful has a powerful, powerful piece up in “Jihad Apocalypse: I asked the Professor for views on the pressing subject of Jihadists, and how we as Christians can hope to feel safe in the ever growing aggressive Jihad environment which seems to be viewed by some on the left side of the political spectrum as unsubstantiated conservative hype, verging on warmongering hysteria… The short answer is that we can’t, and here is why.”

[Just go read it. Read it all.]

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*sigh* Tel-Chai Nation reports: “More terrorist attacks took place this week. As Ariel Sharon puts together his new party called Kadima, he simultaneously neglects security requirements.”

[Sharon just ain’t sharin’ all the best, is he?]

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Peakah’s Provocations wants everyone to party on, dudes (and dudettes) “Open Bar All Weekend! I usually do an Open Post on Sunday but this weekend is full of fun and activities.”

[Have a most excellent adventure, folks!]

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A rhetorical question from freedom folks in: “Mehlman Blasts When did being an idiot with a reality disconnect become a prized quality in party leadership? Never mind. Don’t answer that.”

[Darn it. And I had my hand in the air already… ]

AND

Finding blogbuddies, freedom folks: “Shut Up & Sing We made a new friend in the blogosphere!”

[Now that really is special!]

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Don Surber waxes polysci-philosoph-solon all over: “Prosecuting the Culture of Corruption President Bush’s legacy will be forged in the sandbox of Iraq. His vision of a democratic oasis in the cradle of civilization overshadows the other accomplishments of his administration.“

[But let’s not forget that his legacy here at home may have an even farther reach.]

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Tidings of comfort and joy from Adam’s Blog *sigh* “ACLU Names New Chairman Washington-The ACLU named a new chairman today as it enter into its annual “war on small towns with limited budgets” season… The new chairman, former Congressman “The Grinch” (D-Mount Crumpit) pledged to continue the ACLU’s attack on Christmas with renewed vigor…”

[Two words: coal, stocking.]

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More doom and gloom from Don Surber: “Global Earthquaking “Yesterday, the Guardian of London told us Global warming is causing an Ice Age! IF the Gulf Stream became a Gulf Trickle, in 20 years, Europe would be 4C or 6C colder, which translates into normal temperatures as 10 degrees or so.”

[Not quite so bad as the LIA/Maunder Minimum temps. What’s to worry about? Earthquakes? That’s what feet are for: move to places they’re not as likely. Gee. Of course, coulda told the doofs caught in N’Awlins the same thing about hurricanes, but do people think about these things? Nah. The gummint (somewhere) will handle it, handle it… ]

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The Right Nation has another place to advertise your blog AND some other good news: “(Open Trackback) Weekend Round-Up Good news from Pakistan: the No. 3 official of al-Qaida, Hamza Rabia, was killed early Thursday morning by a CIA missile attack on a safehouse.”

[For these and many other blessings, Lord, we give You thanks…]

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Let’s all go to the party! Stop The ACLU “Weekend Party for the Politically Incorrect Political correctness is one of America’s worst enemies. It is opposite of freedom… What Is Political Correctness? Political Correctness (PC) is the communal tyranny that erupted in the 1980s.”

[Party! Party!]

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Belaboring the obvious, Clark Mountain Musings: “Wanted terrorists returning to Gaza through Rafah……..DUH!“

[Be nice if this were a ploy to sucker them into position for the kill… ]

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Committees of Correspondencehands out a grammar lesson… and more: “I Took, You Took, He Tookie Which Is Out of Place? If you choose Tookie as the word out of place, you would be correct as far as the grammatical rules of English Verb Conjugation are concerned. As to the individual (I don’t call rabid dogs that brutally murder innocent people a…“

[I’m making hopeful bookie that Tookie shuffles his cookie off this mortal coil soon. Hopeful.]

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S’all for now. Freely advertised at Oblogatory Anecdotes, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, Point Five, NIF, Macstansbury.

A few posts that’ve caught my eye around and about:

Put down the coffee/hot cocoa. Woody’s News and Views brings us You Might Be A Liberal If…

[Nah. No quote READ THE WHOLE THING!]

Praise be! Bloggin’ Outloud reveals “How to Shave the Yetis”
Shave the Yeti Open Post & Link Party on one condition: If you leave a trackback, you have to use the clippers!

[Lyn asks, “Once shaved always shaved?” I suppose he’s going all Jn 10:19-30 and all that, NTV (New Truckers’ Version) ]

The Florida Masochist tries to stay up with the workload:The Knucklehead of the Day award Today’s winner is Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan from North Dakota.

[Need a Knucklehead of the Hour Award. Anybody wanna help TFM out with that one? It’d keep you in blogposts from now through 2010 just working through the Loony Left Moonbats and Mass Media Pospeople… One an hour for the next four+ years, 24/7/365… Then, for a change of pace, Republican’t politicians…]

Here TFM notes what happens when Academia Nuts are allowed to stay in the shell too long: Academia gone overboard….again All three students in this affair are wrong. The Univ. of PA though has a warped Politically correct view of the world. Or do warped and PC go together? As my wife often says- The World has gone insane.

[Nah. They’re not crazy. Nah. Not much.]

Hey, Dude! Leave some for the fish! TFM: I scooped the MSM! The Florida Masochist did just that. It wasn’t till yesterday that any of the local media outlets finally acknowledged the massive screwup concerning hurricane foodstamps here in South Florida.

[It’s a “beat” man. 🙂 ]

Freedom Folks wants to get something off the ground-without a “W” or whatnot: Conservative Songmeisters Unite! The Right Brothers are trying to get thier video on MTV.

[Yeh, well I type that way alla time.]

Freedom Folks being oh, so gently snarky: Arabs: We (heart) France
Oh no, they don’t like us. I’m crushed, really

[Hmmm… Ayrabs and Frogs. Who’da thunk it?]

More from Freedom Folks: Hawaii Crosses Dangerous Line The Hawaii Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of a woman whose drug abuse led to the death of her 2-day-old son.

[Yeh, overturned on the grounds that the baby wasn’t human until it was born. Demonstrating that the members of the Hawaii Supreme Court still need pre-natal care… upside the head.]

Showing quite a bit of her cognomen’s sense, Liberal Common Sense: Scissor and Screwdriver Carriers Rejoice! No more having to leave that favorite pair of cuticle scissors or that handy dandy screwdriver out of your carry on bag. Alas those of you who have Swiss Army type knives will still be forced to either check your bag or leave your implement of choice…

[Never last. This is a Thousands Standing Around operation, after all. Remember, they need no excuse for stupidity. “When a stupid man does something he knows is wrong, he always claims it is his duty.”]

IRIS Blog: Hard-hitting-Prediction Confirmed: Israel Admits Rafah Security Deal was “Worthless” I have been detailing how the vaunted deal to protect Israel’s security regarding the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza was a “charade” rushed into because of pressure from Condaleeza Rice:The Rafah deal was a complete capitulation by Israel.

[Again, well, duh. ONLY Israel is held to account for its side of any “deal”-never the Palestinian thugs. This is news? *sigh*]

I followed every link in this story, and… I’m gonna do more horse tradin’! Stuck On Stupid From A Paperclip And Beyond Open Link Fest Kyle started with a paperclip and is trading up to his dream of acquiring a home. So far he is up to a snowmobile. Not a bad return since July. Getting a job might help him to reach his goal. But maybe that is asking too much……One Red Paper Clip is…

Sidebar: Whadda you think of this?

And last but FAR from least, Romeocat lends Cathouse Chat to Advent with The Promise For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Starting a slow process of changing TWC into its “Christmas Dressings” 🙂

The graphic background for posts is from a drawing, The Virgin and Child ca. 1510~1512 anno dommini, by Raphael.

Be warned, the Blogthing below says it determines what Christmas carol you “are” but includes songs that are NOT carols. (Just a mini-diatribe against the pejoration of “Christmas carol”.)

Found at Below the Beltway.

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You Are “Silent Night”

Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child Holy infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace You never forget that Christmas is about the birth of Christ. Santa and eggnog are just gravy

Last year, I finally-I think-solved the “Cats dragged the Christmas tree down on themselves again” problem. (Oh, come on. Don’t pretend it hasn’t happened to you.)

It’s simple. I hang the cat’s “ornaments” first.

See, I took some mouse traps-cheap lil four for a buck spring loaded jobs-and disabled half the spring (so a snap on my finger stung a lil but left no bruise), set ’em then hung ’em from the lower branches and set them out under the tree, changing their positions every now and then, re-setting the ones the cats had *snapped* as they started to climb. The sound alone was enough to discourage the climbing.

In short order, the cats were avoiding the area around the tree. And actually, quite contra to the subject line, no one was hurt, nothing damaged. And the cats were actually safer than in their “Lets drag the tree down on ourselves!” times.

Gonna hang some “cats’ ornaments” this weekend. Feel free to play along.

[For this Open Post, link here and t-r-a-c-k-b-a-c-k to this link. *heh*]

Somehow, Mediacrity‘s “notice” (that funny “tee-bee” word, ya know 🙂 of yet another insightful post about media hypocrisy went awry the other day and-poof!-did not appear anywhere I could see it. Fortunately, I stopped by Mediacrity‘s place and saw that I’d been linked with “More Double Standard on Fake Journalism“. A sample,

For example, CNBC runs a fake-news talk show called UN World Chronicle, without prominently describing it as produced by the UN propaganda ministry -- as journalistic standards demand.

Want some snark? Mediacrity’s got snark. Try, “Uncork the Champagne! It’s Palestine Day at the UN!“

Hurrah! Hurrah! Let the festivities begin! Yes, folks, today is Palestine Day, as officially proclaimed by the East River Debating and Terrorist Cheerleading Society.

*snirk*

Want more? Silly. Follow one of the links, of course!

If you’re wondering how to participate in what Is It Just Me aracnely describes as… oh, well, I’ll just lay the quote down again:

"Although there is no monetary outlay involved to participate, a donation through reciprocal recognition of this site on your site is greatly appreciated. To reciprocate - please do not use the "o" word in conjuction with the "tb" word, or the "tb" word by itself, or even the "l""l" words to give acknowledgement. If you feel really compelled to use these words any site recognition to those sites you are advertising at will probably not occur. Please practice these rules of self-censorship for continued success in traffic exchange.

What? You say that all this is clear as mud? Good. It was intended that way.”

Just check here for details and put a link to this post in one of yours before you t-r-a-c-k-b-a-c-k (*heh*) to this one. I’ll round up interesting posts later on in one of my Around and About posts.

Have fun!

Boldly Advertizing where everyone else has gone before at Don Surber After Hours (where ya have to link in BEFORE hours *heh*) Note: Don rags on Santa today. Go, Don! Also blatantly plugged at MacStansbury‘s (“The Absolutely Earliest In The Morningest…”), Bloggin’ Outloud (NOT “Blogging Outloud 🙂 as soon as I can, NIF (Bubba’s sick… send your flowery prose NIF’s way), Right Wing Nation, and whoever else strikes my fancy (lightly, boys!) as the day progresses.

Pleased-as-punch member of the Open Trackback Alliance.