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.
What Christmas Song Are You?
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” |
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You never forget that Christmas is about the birth of Christ. |
“Now, this is gonna hurt me more than it does you…”
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.
Friday Featured Blogger/Open Post
[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.
If it walks like a duck…
“For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil…” Luke 6: 44-45
The American Communist Lawyers Union at least has a shred of integrity. It has stayed true to its communist birth* (though it llacks the degree of integrity that would compel it to admit such).
“I am for socialism, disarmament, and ultimately for abolishing the State itself as an instrument of property, the abolition of the properted class and sole control by those who produce wealth. Communism is the goal. It sums up into one single purpose — the abolition of the system of dog-eat-dog under which we live, and the substitution by the most effective non-violence possible of a system of cooperative ownership and use of all wealth.“
You know who said that, of course. Roger Nash Baldwin… architect of the ACLU’s current tactics of twisting the legal system to tear down our society.
ACLU? Tear down our society? Yes, exactly as Baldwin desired. What elese can you call assaults using faux First Amendment arguments on freedom of religious practice assured by the First Amendment? What else can you call support of NAMBLA openly recruiting boys for sex as “robust free spech”? What else can you call attacks on a private organization such as the Boy Scouts on grounds that violate freedom of association?
And what else can you call giving aid and comfort to an enemy in time of war by hindering our military in any way possible? (1, 2, 3 …) Oh, yeh, “treason”.
But it fits nicely with the never-forgotten fountainhead of the American Communist Lawyers Unions:
“I am for socialism, disarmament, and ultimately for abolishing the State itself as an instrument of property, the abolition of the properted class and sole control by those who produce wealth. Communism is the goal… “
Note to the American Communist Lawyers Union: If you don’t want to be taken for a duck, stop walking and quacking like one. The feathers we can deal with. (Useful, once tar is obtained, in dealing with congresscritters… )
*See here, here and here for just three of many, many available references. Yeh, the ACLU has “formally” barred admitted communists from staff positions. Just words.
This has been a post for the Stop the ACLU Blogburst. See here for a current post at Stop the ACLU, and consider joining in.
Linked at Liberal Common Sense, TMH’s Bacon Bits’ “Stealth Open Post” (Stop it, man! You’re making my head spin!)
Over 600 lbs of Weapons-Grade Plutonium Missing
Los Alamos National Laboratory says it cannot find over 600 lbs of plutonium. 600 lbs! The quotes are from their press conference, via Homeland Stupidity (thanks IO Error!):
There is no evidence that the weapons-grade plutonium has been stolen or diverted for illegal purposes, the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research said. However, the amount of unaccounted-for plutonium — more than 600 pounds, and possibly several times that — is so great that it raises “a vast security issue,†the group said in a report to be made public today.
Rigggghhhhhttt. But, you also have no evidence that it won’t either. I mean there aren’t many things that weapons-grade plutonium can be used for … “Possibly” several times more than that?! Possibly?! Do they not teach nuclear physicists to add any more?
The institute, which is based in Takoma Park, Md., says it compared data from five publicly available reports and documents issued by the U.S. Energy Department and Los Alamos from 1996 to 2004 and found inconsistencies in them. It says the records aren’t clear on what the lab did with the plutonium, a byproduct of nuclear bomb research at Los Alamos.
A “byproduct” of nuclear bomb research? That’s like saying TNT is a “byproduct” of explosives research. Plutonium is only used for two things. And since it’s weapons-grade, it’s only used for ONE thing. Wake up.
A spokesman for UC, which manages the national laboratories at Los Alamos and Livermore for the Energy Department, did not address the report’s specifics but said the New Mexico lab tracks nuclear material “to a minute quantity.â€
Except for the 600+ lbs of weapons-grade plutonium, obviously.
The report says there are several possible explanations for what happened to the plutonium. They include:
- It was discarded in unsafe amounts in landfills at the Los Alamos lab (PDF). It is legal to discard weapons-grade plutonium in landfills, one of which is 40 feet deep, as long as the substance is sufficiently diluted. However, if a landfill holds too much plutonium, the material can eventually contaminate the environment — for example by leeching into groundwater or being absorbed by the roots of plants — study co-author Arjun Makhijani said in an interview.
- It was shipped to an Energy Department burial site in a New Mexico salt mine, without accurate records of such shipments being kept.
- It was stolen or otherwise shipped off site for unknown reasons.
Uh huh.
- Sufficiently diluted? 600 lbs of weapons-grade plutonium is quite heavy for one, and radioactive for another. Diluted is an understatement… And if it is there, you’d notice the contamination pretty quickly I’d think.
- Hehe. I love that, “without accurate records”. Yet earlier they said they track nuclear material to a “minute quantity”. Who’s doing the paperwork, Enron accountants?
- Stolen? No way! From a secure government lab? Shipped off for unknown reasons? You mean for example, to make new mini-nuclear missiles?
“If it has left the site, then it obviously has the most grievous security implications,†Makhijani said. “I cannot say that it has left the site, but the government has the responsibility to ensure that it has not.
This guy needs an Understatement of the Year award. Most grievous? I’d say bloody apocalyptic if you’ve lost 600+ lbs of weapons-grade material! Someone needs to strung up for this!
The report concludes that at least 661 pounds of plutonium generated at the lab over the last half-century is not accounted for. The atomic bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, in 1945 contained about 13 pounds of plutonium.
So let me see if I have this right. In 50 years, 661 lbs of plutonium is unaccounted for. Yet between 1996 and 2004 600+ lbs are unaccounted for. In 8 years there has been 600+ lbs missing, but in 50 there is the other oooh, 50 lbs. Given the thoroughness of some federal agencies they should start at 1996 and track everyone, interview, throw up a dragnet until they find it, no expense spared.
“The security implications . . . are extremely serious, since less than 2 percent of the lowest unaccounted-for plutonium is enough to make one nuclear bomb,†the report said.
So what that tells me is that if someone nefarious in nature has their hands on this, there is the possibility of 50 nuclear weapons on the lose. Why aren’t there legions of federal agents at Los Alamos and surrounding areas? Why isn’t this been taken seriously? This is FAR worse than a few milligrams of sarin being found in artillery shells in Iraq, this is in the United States. It just seems to me you should secure your own backyard before you go locking up someone’s elses.
The original article appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle. This article cross-posted at The English Guy.
STACLU Placeholder
Gotta run. RW Stuff. Expect a Stop the ACLU post later today. Meanwhile,
“I am not here; this is not me
No Matter what you think you see.
I am not here; this is not me.”
“These are not the droids you are seeking… ”
etc.
The 16th Minute
Time’s up!
Mother Sheehan at a book signing in Crawford, Texas last week.
That’s the way it looks when one’s fame is built on a foundation of quicksand… And she thought the crowd of handlers and looky-lous were her friends/fans. Sad, really.
Quick mid-afternoon roundup
Just a kinda “drive-by” roundup. RW duties call… Already noted Adam’s blogs Call for Submissions: The Carnival of Christmas. Oh, did it again. 🙂
Note these below. Good reads.
Stuck On Stupid: Wednesday Politically Correct Linkfest Party
“Some of the most politically correct words of 2005: Deferred Success rather than Failure- so as not to embarrass those that do not succeed. Misguided Criminals: One of the Phrases used by the BBC instead of the word terrorists
Oh, and he even mentions my favorite assinine PC term: CE (Common Era) to replace AD (Latin for Year of The Lord)
Another from Adam’s Blog:
The Priest of the Abortion God: The LA Times has an article that makes my blood boil. Its about an abortionist, William F. Harrison(the man is not worthy to be called a doctor) who has done more 20,000 abortion and had 6,000 live births. He stopped doing Obstetrics in 1991…
Peakah’s Provocations weighs in with:
You are Going to hear a Sucking Sound: The non-shalant [sic] attitude and twisted perspective consistently fed to us despite the clear and present tragedy of abortions is nothing short of devious.
Has Choose Life! started an anti-abortion blogburst or something? That’s three today…
Liberal Common Sense: Fair Taxation? The above linked post gives you all of the numbers per state from 1981 to 2003. While Ohio is finally in a situation since 2000 where it is receiving more Federal Tax money than is collected, $1.02 for 2003, I still take issue with this. Here’s why:…
Do yourself a favor: Click on the link to The Fair Tax Book in my left sidebar. Really.
The Florida Masochist: Time to boycott Birmingham Alabama? That would seem to be the fair response after Morgan Quitno Press released a report saying Birmingham was the 10th most dangerous city in America. Governor Bob Riley called for a boycott of Aruba based on one murder…
Sounds good to me. All I had to hear was “Birmingham Alabama…” Spent a long week there one night…
Bloggin’ Outloud is begging for comments. Go leave him a “Hey!” wouldja?
Search, People, Search: Recent search strings from Google reveal the inner thoughts of lurkers. I don’t mind the hits, but please leave a nice comment! 🙂
IRIS Blog: More Evidence that the Rafah Deal was Another Fraud Here is more evidence of yesterday’s post about the fraudulent Rafah deal.
Well, duh, ya think?
The Florida Masochist is a glutton for punishment, fer sure.
No you don’t! Some news out of Texas. If Ms. Rector has no influence over her planned husband’s work directly or indirectly, I don’t see a conflict. However Texas laws on this could be strict, and I’m aware there are good reasons to not allow nepotism.
Not in my family.
Customerservant.com pays me a compliment. Better watch out! That kinda talk’ll get you blogrolled, bubba. heh
Living Poetry David opines that there is no poetry more beautiful than the Psalms, and references Psalm 89. Personally, I have to agree with him. The Psalms (Tehillim) contain something for just about every occasion imaginable, and are an excellent source of inspiration…
From Freedom Folks: Paying The Bill This article discusses the role of personal change in regards to the death penalty. Governors Schwarzenneger of California and Warner of Virginia must decide whether to grant clemency in two current cases.
Fry ’em sez I.
Proving his name once again, the The Florida Masochist writes:
Tear down the Orange Bowl? I was to Miami Dolphin or Miami Hurricane games about a dozen times in the late 70’s to mid-eighties but not since. The stadium was on the antiquated side back then. Seats had no backs etc. There’s been alot of history at the OB but all stadiums even…
Is It Just Me? notes Rummy talk:
Rumsfeld's Epipheny – Insurgents No More? More hyperbole as to what to call “those that wish to kill infidels”. According to Defense Secretary Rumsfeld during an epipheny(?) he realized that insurgents shouldn’t be called insurgents anymore. When asked what “those that wish to kill infidel…
Read on…
Freedom Folks is on a roll:
The Left: Demoralizing The troops Dragon Master Gunner provides today’s high blood pressure post.
Yeh, well, Ted Rall *spit* earned his place in at least the ninth circle of hell the other day… (h.t. Cathouse Chat)
The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns aint… so crazy, that is…
How The Politicians Stole Christmas: Thanks be to Macstansbury.org for inspiring me to write this article when he sent me this link, Cox and Forkum. It is rather pitiful what Canadians are going to have to deal with for the next 55 days…
From Choose Life: The War on Christmas: Part Deux: Right on schedule and just as predicted, the war on Christmas has begun. It seems the American Family Association did a survey in which they gathered advertising inserts (totaling 280 pages) from 11 different companies placed in two newspapers…
Sing along, now: “Oh, ‘holiday tree’ we’ll chop up thee into the tiniest pieces…” Scrooges, one and all…
All for now. More later? Maybe. Gotta fly.
Interesting…
As I noted in Filtering my readers, folks who view this blog in IE (especially at 800X600) may find it an unpleasant experience, given IE’s non-compliance with web standards, particularly CSS.
Well, surprise, surprise! My IE readership is filtering down a bit…without appreciably affecting my ratio of return readership or overall “unique visitors”. And no wonder: the percentage of “other” browser users is now approaching the 50% range. Given that about half the IE users are now viewing my blog at 1024X768 resolution, the still high IE using visitor number is about right. That means only a little over a quarter of visitors see the layout as really, really wonky. That leaves just really wonky, wonky and hunky dory for almost all Firefox and all Opera users.
I’m happy with that. At about the level of June (floated a bit on a Hugh Hewitt link for a while) averages and rising steadily, if Statcounter is any good as an assessment tool, and smarter people are visiting (that is, fewer IE users. *LOL* Apologies to all the smart but stubborn, cantankerous IE users out there trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. I have a bit of that in me. After all, I’ve stuck it out with Blogger, haven’t I? :-).
Back to regular programming.