Monday, April 3. 2006
Highly informative, with lots of links: Citizen Joe
 The British military announced today that they had air-dropped former hostages Norman Kembler, James Loony and Harmeet Singh Sooden into the Iraqi desert, just two weeks after their rescue from a house west of Baghdad. The men had been held by insurgents for four months.
Since their release, the three men, all from a Christian Peacemaker team, have spoken with deep admiration and respect for their captors, while not offering any degree of gratitude to the British commandos who risked their lives to save them.
"We realize now that we made a huge mistake," said Captain Ian Coates of the British Army, "and it was time to return these men to the people they love and respect."
Coates wistfully related the story of how the former hostages were told of the decision to reunite them with their brethren in Iraq.
"To keep it a surprise, we used our commandos to gather the men in the middle of the night," he said. "They were so surprised and excited that we needed to duct tape their mouths and tie them up. But there was no doubt that they were overjoyed to be returning to Iraq. Their eyes were as big as saucers, and Kembler even wet his jammies in excitement!"
The men were whisked by military jet back to a British Military base in Kuwait, and flown by helicopter into Iraq at dawn. Captain Coates struggled to keep his composure as he described the reunion.
"The air drop was a remarkable moment, something I was honored to see," he said. "The men were writhing around, screaming and crying with joy. There wasn't a dry eye in the helicopter as we rolled them out."
The British Military was concerned that the men would not be picked up quickly, leaving them to wander in the desert. So each man was given a bright red parachute emblazoned with one of the famed Danish Mohammed cartoons.
"The cartoons really did the trick," said Captain Coates. "As they drifted downward, you could see the insurgents gathering to welcome them. Some had even set fires to help guide them as they landed. We could hear the chants and gunfire of welcome even over the whir of the rotors. Did you ever see Born Free? It was like that, but better." Coates would not comment on reports that the three men were all wearing nice new T-Shirts with "Jesus Rules, Mohammed Drools" on the back.
Image: A Brit commando unit attacks a German-held port in Norway, 1942 PS: To Free Market readers - check out our blog. You will like it, if you like his. He is our Brit cousin and bother brother-in-arms.
If St. Patrick could control the snakes, and if the Isle of Skye can control its rats, why can't the USA control illegal immigration? Yale and the Taliban - the inside story from an ex-admissions officer. Read it. Merlot fights back, at The Prof. It's about time. It was turning into a one-dimensional, watery thing.
This hunt story from this past winter, in Florida, came in over the transom: Today, I had something very different happen to me at Burn's field. This morning saw me sitting in my tri-pod, suffering thru 30 deg. temps with a biting NW wind in my face. Sure, some of you have it colder, but, this is Florida!! Right about the time I started to begin a stalk hunt (to warm up), seven does filled the end of the field and I picked out the one safe shot and dropped her in her tracks. The other does ran off, then slowly returned to stay around another 45 min. or so. When the last one started leaving, I began to get down as no Bucks wanted to come out and play. Half-way down the ladder, I looked back into the field and saw my doe jerk!!! By the way, she was only about 120 yds. away, so, to see her move, something bad was going on. At first I thought she had only been stunned with a high spine shot and was starting to get up. Then, I saw another body along side of her and I thought the .270 has shot thru her and hit another deer that was bunched up after all. Then the object I couldn't make out, attacked the doe's head and was all balled up around it.
I quickly climbed back into the shooting chair, re-attached my steady stick, centered the mass outline on the doe's head and squeezed the trigger. Puff of hair, no movement. After getting down and easing over to the doe, attached you will see the huge male bobcat that was trying to kill my dead doe. He died instantly by my .270 injection, so quick in fact, he still had the death grip on the doe's neck. I've never seen or heard of something like this in my life. Even when I loaded the doe up on my carrier, the bobcat was still attached to her neck. While I didn't weigh the bobcat, the doe was in the 120 to 130 lb. range. You can see how the bobcat was almost as long as she is. 
 Excellent summary of a Colin Powell speech by Ankle Biting
Obama goes to CT to support Joe Lieberman, who is being challenged by a very fine guy, Ned Lamont, who (wrongly) opposes the war and has no chance of unseating Lieberman. Amazing juggling finale. You have to see this, with the Beatles music. It will make your Monday morning a delight. I saw it at NE Repub first. Baseball Glovology. And who was AG Spaulding? Embarassed to say that I did not know. How the Administration lost control of the illegal immigration debate. Very good piece in Reason Hamas' "I have a dream" speech. In short, Kill the Jews. These folks are not worthy of our attention, but they get it, by killing. Over time, the manipulative claim of victimhood will lose its luster as a pretext for murder and mayhem. The Newt Man is Back! Gingrich critiques the Repubs harshly, and rightfully. Newt-Man is the Repub's Moses: they need to follow him. The sustainable seafood movement picks up steam, with Walmart on board. CSM Observant. When Mrs. Clinton says "You know," she is lying. It is one of those revealing verbal tics. Sensible Mom PS: Read our April Fool's Day posts, if you haven't yet. We are proud of them.
If I have any belief about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very very few people. James Thurber
Sunday, April 2. 2006
A brand new Congregational Church in CT, consecrated last night. and celebrating the congregation's first Sunday worship in the new home today. A joyful day. And for once, everyone fit. It looks 200 years old, but built 2005-2006. Steel beams, and no pillars supporting the balcony. A church is just a building, but a congregation needs a home in which to worship, learn, and to pray together. Despite the fine building, the church is people - not steel and wood. This one is as plain as plain can be, but the spirit within is not plain. Interesting facts: The original church of this congregation burned down in 1920. They have been holing up in a tiny, abandoned, rickety but beloved Methodist meeting house since then, from which a generation has worshipped, been married, and been buried. This congregation of about 300 broke off from the politically-activist UCC last year, by unanimous vote, showing that the Yankee independent spirit continues. Evangelical? Yes, a bit. Part of the Congregational movement was/remains that each congregation determines its own path by prayerfully seeking the will of God - each as one small component of the body of Christ. 
 Psalm 51 (A penitential Psalm of David)
1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
4Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment.
5Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.
6You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
9Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
11Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.
13Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
14Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.
15O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.
17The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,
19then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar. Image: Rembrandt's picture of rock star David singing and playing the lyre for King Saul.
Saturday, April 1. 2006
 Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the noted drug addict, son of a once-famous left-wing politician, and amateur climatologist, predicts occasional bad weather until the next election, caused by Bush.
"We can expect hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, rain, and cloudy days, and hot, humid days this summer - all due to Bush's oil-friendly, anti-humanity, capitalist policies," he predicted. "Maybe even some windy days," he added. "How many of our summer weekends in Hyannisport will be ruined by Bush?" Kennedy, who has no employment but reports his status as "personal investor" on his tax form, pointed out that bad weather is a growing concern among Americans, who are entitled to nice weekends in the Constitution and in Federalist Paper 73, in which Madison wrote "Do not let Bush ruin your weekends." "Bush is the greatest threat to the environment since God in Noah's time," Kennedy said. "Just you watch. It will be getting warmer every day now. Soon everyone will be wearing shorts and bathing suits instead of skiing in Vail. The snow is melting, and every citizen in America is fleeing Vail. Where will all of those skiers of color go? Will they all end up in the New Orleans Superdome, starving and dying by the millions because of Bush, without their Valium and Prozac?" "It is all Bush's fault, but the reporting on bad weather will end if we win the next elections", he asserted, as he returned from Vail and stepped off his water and solar-powered private jet at the Westchester, NY airport and climbed into his solar-powered limousine to return to his gated Westchester estate. An assembly of illegal Mexican and Ethiopian slaves were seen loading skis and bags into the trunk of his solar stretch-limo, as a number of menacing-looking bodyguards stood around morosely smoking unfiltered Camels, with their other hand resting ominously inside their jackets. Image: Land's End global-warming swimwear, being modeled at the North Pole Four Seasons Resort and Spa.
I was very fortunate to have my camera handy yesterday when I came out of my house in North Attlebury, MA, and was amazed to see an extinct Passenger Pigeon passing by. The size and the prominent white marginal tail feathers mark it clearly as a PP and neither a Rock Dove nor a Mourning Dove. It's mid-photo, on the right. The picture is not the best because I tripped over a bag of peat moss in my excitement. 
As further proof of my sighting, here's a photo of the peat moss that I tripped over: 
And, as final, incontrovertible proof, here's my girlfriend with a hearty endorsement: "If he says he saw something, he probably maybe did, but I wouldn't swear to it. He is full of it, sometimes." 
 Al Quaida insiders have reportedly told CNN that Osama Bin Ladin has decided to convert to Christianity.
"Only Christ has the power to forgive all of my past sins," he told fellow terrorists yesterday. "From today forth, I will lay down my arms and take up the cross." A terrorist who was present at this dramatic meeting reports that Osama attempted to lead the group in "A Mighty Fortress is our God," but that they did not know all of the words. Pundits last night speculated about how this surprising change might have come about. John Fund of the WSJ speculated that former Taliban spokesman and now-Yale student "Wasabi" Hashimi (who had been a sushi chef in the West Village prior to joining the Taliban), who has found Christ at Yale along with a new faith in secular democracy, may have been evangelizing to his friends via telephone. Chris Matthews opined thus: "The Dems announced that they will "eliminate" Osama on Tuesday, and he converts on Thursday. No coincidence there. He's just scared, because the Dems are way scary when it comes to national defense." Said Pat Robertson on FOX news last night: "The Lord told me he was watching the 700 Club by satellite, so I knew this was coming. Halleluiah!" Robertson added "Brother Osama, if you are watching now, how about a generous check to the 700 Club? Your brother in Christ Pat is running out of cashmere socks." Further details as they emerge. Image: Bin Ladin taping a press conference for Al Jazeera twelve hours ago. The tape has not yet been aired, but an anonymous Al Jazeera cameraman told CNN that Osama vows to abandon his promiscuous bisexual life style, on the tape, and that he will start wearing normal clothes instead of dresses and skirts as soon as he can get to the J.C. Penney's at the mall in Dubai. "These schmatas don't fit me anyways," he supposedly said. "The tailor said he could take them in, but they are still too loose and do not do my lean, Lincolnesque shape justice." Translation of sign behind him: "Jesus Saves."
 President Bush's proposal to return California to Mexico, or possibly Spain, is being opposed by leading Dems. And Mexican President Fox had some comments on the issue.
"California is our bread and butter," noted the cheerfully rotund Kennedy, as he sat on two chairs and sipped on a triple scotch this morning at a popular college bar in Georgetown. "Give away California, and we drown. I didn't go to electoral college for nothing, and I can count...We won't let Bush pull a fish one a fasht one a flesh one a fash one on us. Hellooooo?" Said the perky but menopausal Californian Pelosi: "Giving California away as a gift is a moving, culturally-sensitive offer, but I wouldn't have a job anymore, would I?" She added "My sound bite for California is 'Mexican, but not Mexico.' By the way, "Pelosi" is a Mexican-sounding name, isn't it? How about Peliso?" The not-so-perky, post-menopausal Reid said "I love California. I went there once, to Disneyland. 1955, it was, I think. It was great, and Mickey gave me some career tips, too." Mrs. William Clinton offered this written comment: "We must be caring. We must be strong. We must be clear. We love Mexicans. We love Jesus. Love thy neighbor. We have a border. Yet we do not really have a border. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge." However, Mexican President Vincente Fox offered this statement, through a spokesperson "We will take California back with pleasure, but we must build a wall on the border to keep the Anglos in. Otherwise, California will turn into another dump like Mexico, with chickens and dead dogs on the roads, barefoot kids begging everywhere and selling their sisters and mothers, and burritos burros for transportation. California without your Anglos we do not want." Image: Ted Kennedy heroically volunteering to personally plug a levee breach in New Orleans last fall.
April 1. This is the day we are reminded of what we are the other three hundred and sixty four. Mark Twain
The Prof considers billable hours and pay for associates at law firms. Do they work like slaves? Yes, but so do associates in investment banking, and interns and residents in medical training. It's an apprenticeship - you pay your dues. Want things easy? Work for the govt., where there is no profit motive. Two good pieces by Rick Moran. First, a comment on how Jill Carroll was mistreated, (especially by bloggers!). And, right below that, a very discouraging piece about Baghdad, which further confirms my opinion that we are not dealing with civilized folks. I think most Iraquis want peace and prosperity, but the stone-age warlords just will not quit. Primitive morons. "I'm not gay, but thanks for asking." Joe at Evangelical Outpost. Like Joe, guys always wonder "What did I do to make that guy think I was gay...or am I just so damn good lookin', despite my beer gut?...or am I unknowingly sending out gay signals?" It's not so easy to be a guy. Hey, gay fellows: stop putting us straight guys in embarassing positions. Have a little tact. We might like ya, but that does not mean we want a date! Operation Steel Gazelle: Iowahawk considers the Dems' security plans. Colorado school district bans American flag. "First they came for my Confederate flag, then they came for my American flag..." The right to arm bears bear arms: George Mason at Volokh. The death of socialism, in France, at Tangled Web. We hope our loyal readers fully appreciated our April Fool's Day efforts. We wasted hours on it. Read 'em below, if you have not already done so.
|
