Surprise Windstorm Causes Christmas Tragedy

While on duty yesterday, the National Weather Service issued a Gale Warning and Wind Advisory for the Puget Sound area.  Winds were predicted to gust up to 35 knots.  Due to a convergence of low pressure, yesterday's wind gusts were 45-56 mph.  After the 3-hour storm, thousands were left without power.  Before my Christmas Dayshift ended we heard about the tragedy on Whidbey Island. 

Since I was on duty yesterday, the story of this girl's death hits me harder, than it would if I merely saw it on the news at home.  My thoughts and prayers go out to her family.



The Best Holiday Cheer

I haven't posted a Health and Fitness article in a while.  Too much bad news going on in the world, I guess.  But on this Christmas Day, I came across this article in The Daily Meal rating the best and worst of my favorite holiday drink:  Eggnog.

There's also this article by some eggnog-haters in New York Magazine.  The taste-testers actually liked a couple samples.  Being lactose intolerant, I end up settling for Silknog.  Although I did get a kick out of the "pretty darn awful" rating the NY Mag folks gave it.  I find Silk products to be very watery and only buy their special flavors.  It's better than no eggnog at all, right?

No matter what brand of Holiday Cheer you chose, I hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas.



Merry Christmas!

May there truly be Peace on Earth and Goodwill towards All.

Santa Not Welcome in MA School District

The PC Grinch Superintendent of Schools in Saugus, MA tried banning Santa from visiting the elementary schools according to this commentary by Todd Starnes.

The reason of course, is to make the kiddies aware about the secular progressives' twist on the seperation of church and state.

Behind Every "Great President"...

In a Newsweek interview, Joe Biden declared the Taliban are not our enemy.  On Monday, the White House spokesmoron claimed the VP's comments are being viewed "out of context," according to this story on FOX Nation.

Chaulk this up as another "great accomplishment" for this presidency.  (See yesterday's post).

So if the Taliban isn't the enemy, I wonder who Joe thinks is the real enemy of America...

A Legend in His Own Mind

Apparently, 60 Minutes did some selective editing of their interview with Obama during the prime-time show this past Sunday (18 Dec 11).  They posted the edited footage to their on-line Overtime show, maybe thinking no one would pay attention to our Dear Leader's outrageous claims to fame.  Fortunately several blogger watchdogs did, according to this article in Politico.

The biggest jaw-dropping comment:

I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president — with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln — just in terms of what we’ve gotten done in modern history...

Really?

With North Korea building nukes and Iran following suit, along with China and Russia's belligerency, not to mention being $15 trillion in debt, I wonder what Obama's opinion of failure is.

I rate this presidency as:  Epic Fail.

And if Obama gets re-elected, I'll move it up to:  Catastrophic Fail.

At least one person is happy about the Obama Presidency...

Leaving Iraq/Leaving Things Undone

Well at least there wasn't any images of helicopters plucking desperate refugees off roof-tops, a-la the fall of Saigon 1975.  However, our departure from Iraq, may spawn repercussions similar to what Southeast Asia experienced in the wake of the Vietnam War.  Already, the sectarian faultline is shaking things up in the Iraqi government, according to this Yahoo News/Reuters article.

And Comrade Karla sent us this Black Five article with the following recommendation:

an excellent summary of what we’ve done in Iraq and left undone, thanks to the self-fulfilling politics of hopey-changey foreign policy.

Breaking News: So Long So Rohnery!

(Image from Team America)

Minutes ago, news agencies began reporting the demise of Kim Jong Ill, aka "So Rohnery," to fans of Team America.  The most complete story at this time, comes from CNN.

I doubt anyone south of the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) and outside the Korean Peninsula will mourn him.

Appeasment--Inside and Out

("Obamerlain"  I've used this image before, but I thought it was appropriate)

A few days ago, in the wake of our downed surveillance drone, Charles Krauthammer wrote this scathing piece for the WaPo.

Unfortunately it's not just external adversaries our president specifically and Americans in general, are appeasing.  Yesterday Mark Steyn rolled-in on an undisclosed Catholic university giving in to political correctness over it's annual Christmas card. He ties this together with a number of other subjects, in a way only Mark Steyn could do on the Hugh Hewitt Show.

And despite America's plethora of in-your-face slogans, Mark points out that even Americans are as compliant as any Canadian or European in this Sign of the Times article.

Gun and Grenade Attack--Liege, Belgium

(Image:  Wounded being evacuated from Saint Lambert Square)

This story broke earlier today:  A gunman opened fire and tossed grenades at Saint Lambert Square.  Additional stories can be found on:  The BBC and the Daily Record. 

Occupy Seattle's Not-So Peaceful Protest

I found the Seattle PD Blotter reporting on the latest Occupy Seattle demonstration at Pier-18.

Not quite the peaceful darlings the media portrays them to be are they?

Too Much of a Good Thing?

Scotland was battered by a windstorm, with gusts up to 165 mph.  In addition to the damage and lives disrupted, the high wind proved too much even for windmills. 

Remember:  There's always uninted costs and consequences.

Comrade Karla Senior, made this observation:

I didn’t think they were supposed to heat themselves . . .

Iranian Scimitar Rattling

Iran plans on conducting an exercise to close the Straits of Hormuz. 

Two of my friends exchanged a point/counterpoint discussion:

Presumably these idiots are aware of the international legal implications of blocking a waterway like the Straits of Hormuz? Egypt found out the hard way in 1967 how that works.

I don't think Iran is really concerned about the legal implications.

Kicking the Can to Oblivion

(Image by Gorrell)

Mark Steyn, once again, sounds the warning about the disapearance of billions of dollars to ever-increasing government control, in this OC Register article.

Pulling Punches on Sanctions

(Image by Gary Varvel)

In a rare moment of bipartisanship, the US Senate voted 100-0 for sanctions against Iran's central bank, or anyone doing business with it.  With such unanimous support, you'd think Our Dear Leader would follow through with this whole Will-of-the-People thing.

Think again.

Obama, however, wants to soften the blow, such as it is, against the mullahocracy, according to Roger Simon writing for PJ Media.

This tidbit of "leading from behind," brought out the following comments:

Not that it hasn’t been obvious for some time that this administration is terminally stupid on this topic, but still.

Based on my simple understanding of math and my simple understanding of politics, I would think that anytime the Senate votes 100-0 on anything, that pretty much defines what people often refer to as bi-partisanship.


I thought it was the little people unfairly hindering the Greatest President Ever™ in his wondrous, brilliant genius.

Circling the Gunrunner Wagons

Thing got hot under the Capital Dome during yesterday's committee hearing over Operation Fast and Furious.  Eric Holder is refusing Republican calls for firing any "top men" in the Justice Department (DOJ)over this scandal.

This makes me think back to Watergate, where the Nixon presidency imploded over the mere break-in of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Headquarters.  Unlike Fast & Furious, which is responsible for the death of one Border Patrol Agent and hundreds of weapons in Mexico still unaccounted for.

More than a handful of DOJ lackeys should loose their jobs.

Resetting the Reset Button?

The results of the parliamentary elections in Russia are in and a lot of Russians aren't happy.  Protests broke out in several cities this week as the United Russia party eked out a bare majority.  Many are therefore suspicious of election fraud.  The Once And Future President, Vladir Putin is not amused.  In fact, he "knows" exactly who to blame for all the unrest in Mother Russia--America.

Yup.  According to the ex-KGB operative, we're spending "hundreds of millions of dollars" to rain on his coronation parade. 

Looks like the warranty on that infamous Reset Button, just got voided.  Or as Comrade Karla put it:

The glorious success of the reset button is now bearing fruit…

Ft Hood Massacre Merely "Workplace Violence"

The Department of Defense declared the Ft. Hood massacre, caused by Major Nidal Hasan, to be a case of "workplace violence."  Congressional lawmakers rolled-in on the whitewash.

This is similar to how honor killings are merely chalked-up as "domestic violence." 

This story garnered a couple comments:

Because we never, ever want to call it “terrorism.”  Just like the shootings at the Little Rock Army recruiting station—I’m sure that was “gang violence” or something. 

...9/11 was merely a combination of workplace violence (most of the victims were at work) and air safety issues (since planes crashed).

My response was:  Of course this is workplace violence.  Everyone who goes postal shouts "Allahu Akhbar!" while they're reloading.

Remembering Pearl Harbor

Breaking News: Iranians Claim They Shot Down a US Drone

(Image:  Predator drone firing a Hellfire Missile)

I caught the news headline as I woke up this morning, that Iran claims it downed a US drone. 

Here's another breaking headline, this time from the WaPo.

While this incident is being investigated, I'm inclined to believe it was the drone we lost contact with (mechanical failure?) and the Iranians are merely nabbing the credit. 

One thing is certain:  The Iranians will continue to make a public scene over this.  Even if we prove they didn't shoot it down, they'll respond by saying this is another of the Great Satan's lies.

Connecting the Dots With Mark Steyn

Julius Caesar once said:  In war, events of importance are the result of trivial causes. 

My favorite commentator, Mark Steyn has a gift of being able to connect-the-dots of seemingly unrelated issues, and yet see a disturbing pattern in these "trivial causes."

Take for instance, this story about a 7 year-old boy being investigated for committing a sexual assault for kicking a school mate in the crotch.  This isn't merely overreaction, but a slavish devotion to regulations that erodes common sense decision making.

If you don't believe this, keep in mind 7 year-olds become adults (eventually) and may end up working for some agency like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), for instance.  Three days ago, a teenage girl was stopped at the airport because her purse had a handgun design on it.  While the girl can be criticized for her fashion sense, it shouldn't have warranted her being detained. 

Of course, TSA isn't budging on the issue, which means it's a Federal offense to be carrying or wearing an image of a weapon on board an airplane.  Who knew?

In his typical glib style, Mark declared this is a case of society being too stupid to survive. 

Our spiral into bureaucratic stupidity is already having global repercussions. 

Remember how most of the news media thought Egypt's "Facebook Revolution" was the next best thing to our own?  Well the Coptic Christians probably don't think so, while the Jews fled Egypt years ago and have no intention of going back.  Mark points out that our leaders refuse to push our national interest on the world stage and we're on the verge of loosing the middle east--long before the final curtain is drawn.

Recession's Impact on Western WA State

Today's Seattle Times features a series of charts & graphs illustrating the effect the Recession has had on the Puget Sound area. 

The Once and Future President

As if Islamic jihadists and China's "Underground Great Wall" isn't enough to worry about, it looks like Imperial Russia's about to make a comeback.  My friends saw that Medvedev was merely keeping the throne warm for Putin's return.  This article in The Guardian spells out what the world, Europe and the US in particular, may be in store for.

However, even at it's greatest height, Russia/Soviet Union was always something of a ramshackle empire.  Living conditions have been deplorable throughout it's long and tortured history--and in many areas they still are.  So there's no telling how far any future imperial resurgence will go.

Or as one friend put it:

I'm hoping (and sort of expecting) this Putin sequel to go the way of the Star Wars prequels -- full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.  Of course, it will lay bare the utterly impoverished leadership and foreign policy of our very own dear leader.

I've always said a bear can't change its fur--no matter how many times you hit the "Reset Button."

OWS Encampments = Hazmat Sites

(Image from:  The Christian Science Monitor)

The other day, Los Angeles joined the ranks of cities in evicting the Occupy Wallstreet squatters.  In the wake of the eviction, the "99%" left behind tons of garbage--literally--30 tons to be exact. 

Some commentators, for both the right and left, have stated that the Occupy Wallstreet and Tea Party movements share common issues, goals, themes, etc.  While this may be true regarding some facets of the respective movement, there is one glaring difference between the two:  Tea Partiers pick up after themselves.

The United Kingdom, Great Britain, England--Whatever

Once again, Obama has demonstrated:

a. Contempt for our closest allies,  and

b. He is in dire need of a basic Western Civ lesson.

The other day, the British Embassy was stormed by an Iranian mob, most likely with the blessing of the Iranian government.  The BBC has the story.

So what's Obama's response?

Condemn the attack on the "English Embassy."  Nile Gardiner, of The Foundry, delves into what's wrong with this clinker.

Our good friend, Comrade Karla, had this to say:

I wonder if our President understands about that whole Act of Union thingy in 1706 or the other one in 1801?  Sounds like a game of Kingmaker.

The Underground Great Wall

(Image:  Chinese ICBMs on parade)

Apparently, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) hasn't been all that forthcoming about their nuclear capability.  According to today's Washington Post article, a bunch of Georgetown U student's managed to uncover evidence of an extensive underground network China is using to shelter it's larger-than-previously-assumed nuke arsenal.  The Chinese even have a nickname for it:  The Underground Great Wall.

In addition to this disturbing news, a number of points irk me about this article.

First, is this quote:

But the strongest condemnation has come from nonproliferation experts who worry that the study could fuel arguments for maintaining nuclear weapons in an era when efforts are being made to reduce the world’s post-Cold War stockpiles.

I grew up during the Cold War and I've never been able to understand the nuclear disarmament activists.  On paper, their cause sounds like a noble endeavour.  However, it's always America--a free, democratic nation--that always draw the ire of No Nuke crowd, never the totalitarian regimes that posses them.  Or in the case of Iran, are hell-bent on possessing them.

Even now, these "experts" appear to be more worried about the US and it's allies deciding to maintain--or Heaven forbid!--increase their nuclear arsenal.

I guess they want to shrug it off as the PRC "not getting the memo."

Then there's this comment:

It’s not quite a bombshell, but those thoughts and estimates are being checked against what people think they know based on classified information...

Not quite a bombshell?  Really?  I guess it's not bombshell-worthy, because the media can't tie this to Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, Herman Cain or Newt Gingrich.

The Collateral Damage of an Exit Strategy

While appalling, it's come as no surprise that there's been a spike in assassinations against anyone suspected of helping the US or coalition troops in Afghanistan. 

When you put military operations on a time clock, all the enemy has to do is wait us out--and exact revenge on our abandoned allies.

This story came to our attention via the NY Times. 

What also drove my friends and I nuts reading this, is how "The Fishwrap of Record" continues to call the savages we're fighting "militants," "insurgents," or some other white-washed term.

Global Warming Dogma

(Image from:  Carbon Confessions)

Brett Stephens wrote an excellent article in the Wall Street Journal comparing Global Warming to dogmatic religion. 

I found the above picture via Google, which led me to the Carbon Confessions blog.  Initially, I thought the site poked fun at "warmists." But after scrolling through it for 30 minutes, I realized it was serious about it's global warming beliefs--treating the topic in a humorous manner.

I get the impression the folks on the Carbon Confession YouTube Video, don't attend church (or synagoge, mosque, etc) services on a regular basis, if at all.  They've merely substituted one religion for another.

Black Friday Mayhem

Several incidents of crime and violence across the nation, marked this year's Black Friday sale day.  Yahoo News takes a glimpse of the shopping feeding-frenzy.

Myself and just about everyone I know personally, stays away from the malls and department stores on Black Friday.  My time is more precious to me than my money and I'd rather not spend my Thanksgiving weekend in an emergency room.

Happy Thanksgiving!

New Website

A friend of mine started a website a few months ago, called Bootstrap America.  I've provided a link to the Station under the Commentator tab. 

Last week she asked me to be a guest-blogger, so now I've been scrounging the internet for material to add to her site.

I don't have any OWS stories, I just hijacked the latest photo she posted on Facebook.

A Boy and His BB Gun

(Image from the movie:  A Christmas Story)

An 11 year-old boy became a hero to his mom and to everyone who read his story on KOMO News. 

The Inevitable Result of the Super Committee

No one should be surprised about the deadlock of the Super Committee, as this NY Post article explains.

Besides, if this Super Committee succeeded in coming to an agreement, what would they accomplish?

Not much.

Out of Favor With His Base?

MSNBC's Chris Matthews--he of the tingly leg--rants about Obama's lack of drive and direction in this video posted by Breitbart TV



Is this an indicator, Obama's loosing support of his base?

Probably not.

As one friend commented:

The comPost had an article today explaining how his base still loves him and remains very loyal no matter what... 

The "comPost" refers to the Washington Post, and this article in particular.

Well, the die-harder lumpenproletariat/limousine libs aren't going to turn on him. But Matthews is smart enough to know better--and it'll be interesting to see if he maintains his skepticism or if this is a momentary lapse, as they say.

Another friend made this observation:
 
If the base is going to really turn on him (as opposed to just being unhappy with him) there needs to be an alternative however impractical that alternative may be. At this time, no such alternative exits. In 1992, Pat Buchanan ran against GHW Bush and while he was never really a threat, he did make noise rally a segment of the base to his banner. You also had the whole Perot wild card as well.



Unless somebody emerges to make some noise and at least give voice to the Democrats who are not thrilled with Obama, he should sail to the nomination without any trouble and he'll enter the general election with his party more or less behind him.

So, the cult of personality will continue...

The Ultimate Bureaucratic Decree

The EU-rocrats issued another decree that made them the laughing stock of the international community--again.

Earlier, they tried to outlaw "bendy" bannanas and cucumbers.  Now Brussels wants claims that water can help prevent dehydration removed from the labels of bottled water.

Why?

Because, according to the enlightened despots, there's no scientific evidence in making such a claim. 

Here's the story of bureaucracy running amok this UK Telegraph article.

Biting the Hand that Feeds Them

Rex Murphy rolls-in on the OWS crowd in this National Post article.

I love his non-politically correct assessment of the OWS rank & file.

Meanwhile, one of John Stewart's reporters uncovers the social divide within the Peoples Democratic Republic of Zuccotti Park, for an episode of The Daily Show.

Penn State Scandal: The Tip of the Society-Sinking Iceburg

On 5 November 2011, Jerry Sandusky was charged and arrested for sexually assaulting boys over a 15 year period.  Within days, Penn State elders quickly found themselves in the midst of a firestorm, when it was discovered head coach Joe Paterno knew about it.  Three days later, Joe Paterno was fired. 

But the flames continue to rage, inexplicably, in support of Penn State's now-former head coach. On 10 November, the students rose up in revolt. 

A thumbnail sketch of this shameful and disgusting chain of events is available on Wikipedia.

So how is an image of the RMS Titanic tied to a long-running case of child sex abuse?

Leave it to Mark Steyn, to spot the symptoms of societal decline in the eye of this storm.  He connects the dots-of-doom in his latest article in the OC Register.

OWS Disrupts the Working 99%'s Commute

(Image: From the Seattle Times)

Yesterday evening, at the height of rush-hour, Seattle's OWS Franchise decided to occupy University Bridge.

I noticed, the reporter(s) didn't interview any irate commuters, who had their lives disrupted because of these moonbats.  While there are some supporting comments after the article, the majority I saw were negative.  This is something I've noticed in a lot of politically-charged stories in the Seattle Times, which could be an indicator on just how small the liberal minority truly is.

So not too many of us feel sorry for any of the protestors getting a dose of pepper spray, like the gal shown above at yesterday's Occupy Portland vs PPD skirmish.

Nigel Farage: EU's Nemesis

Nigel Farage, rips into the non-elected EU-rocrats in this YouTube video.

While in this episode, he warns Iceland to "save themselves."

After watching Mr. Farage lay into the EU's "supercommitte," someone came up with the great idea of making him a US citizen--so he could run for Congress.

Comrade Karla had this to say about Mr. Farage:

He rocks.  He's been the bane of the EU for some years now.  He's dead on...and as usual, the EU-weenies are impervious to logic. The stuff he's talking about was clear as early as the 80s where things were going.

And for the EU in general:

At its very heart, the EU has always been Soviet Union 2.0. In the 80s, all the unelected Eurocrats set this edifice in place--and publicity was almost nil. Nobody heard about it; nobody knew about it. Then, in the early 90s when they began to implement some of this stuff, some member states pushed back (the Danes rejected the open borders stuff in 94).



But like any good dictatorship, they just kept holding refernda until they got the result they wanted. The public in Europe (which in the broad scheme of history is a mixed bag on actual, functioning democracy) have been seemingly unable to do anything about it.


The ruling classes are for the most part very much conditioned to worship at the altar of the EU. Unfortunately for Europe (and by extention, the rest of the west), Farage is a minority. This might change. Hard to see how, at this point.

While another friend made this observation:

It's going to change (for better or worse) if the EU collapses or starts to dump members.

Which led me to the cartoon I used in this post.

Today's OWS Laugh Break

Taking Out the Trash at OWS Sites

(Image:  From the movie Soylent Green)

Police--and sanitation crews--moved-in on several OWS (Occupy Wallstreet) sites across the country.  "Flea Partiers" are now squawking about having their First Amendment rights squashed.  However, on this side of reality, city officials throughout the nation, are concerned about the health hazard these "People's Democratic Republic enclaves," pose for the citizenry going about their daily lives.  Not to mention the burgeoning crime rate. 

Michelle Malkin posted several live shots of the "storming" of Zuccotti Park, two days ago.  Yahoo News, via AP, reported 70 arrests were made during the clean sweep. 

Meanwhile, here on the west coast, Seattle's mayor apologized to an 84 year-old activist.  She managed to get herself pepper sprayed, when police rolled-in on the Occupy Seattle site.  The Seattle Times has this sympathetic article. 

In Portland, OR, protestors decided blocking traffic would endear them to morning commuters.  Oregon Live has the story, along with a timeline update.

Most of the lamestream media thinks this is all-so grand.  Phillip Kennicott writes glowingly about this "vibrant brand of urbanism," in this WaPo article.

Comrade Karla called this article and video on Power Line, "a great antidote to the stupid WaPo article," and "how it didn't really activate the urban core."

One of comments that irk me, is when people compare OWS to the Tea Party. 

Yes, I admit I'm a Tea Party fan, so I have a biased opinion.  However, I feel my feelings are grounded within the realm of reality.  I can't recall a single Tea Party rally causing property damage, or disrupting the lives of ordinary folks going about their business.

That being said, SE Cupp, does point out some emotional commonalities between the two opposing grass-roots movements. 

Despite my feelings about the Tea Party, I haven't felt the need to "take to the streets."  Now if Janine Turner, is scheduled to make an appearance, you can count me there!

Miller Goes Spartan on OWS

(Image from:  300, the graphic novel by Frank Miller)

Frank Miller unloaded on the Occupy Wallstreeters over the weekend and the fallout has finally been detected by the Lamestream Media, to include: The Atlantic Wire, the The Washington Post, Forbes and Comic Book Resources. 

In case you want to skip the media blather, here's what Mr. Miller had to say on his website, titled Anarchy. 

While I own a copy of 300, I've never heard of Miller's politics--until now.  Although, now that I think of it, anyone who draws the Immortals as Uruk hai isn't likely to be your typical, hippy-dippy, multi-culti, graphic artist.

Just about everyone in the comic book industry has gone rabid against Miller's latest work:  Holy Terror.

Woo-hoo! It's less than $16 on Amazon.com! Gotta go folks and place my order!

Superficial Decisions from the Supercommittee

(Image: DC Comics' The Superfriends)

Mark Steyn rolls-in on the creative accounting, the so-called Supercommittee is concocting to lower the deficit.  You'll understand the Superfriends reference when you read Mark's Veterans Day column in the OC Register.

As you would expect, Congress's grandiose scheme will boil down to business-as-usual...

(Image:  Family Guy T-Shirt)