Washington State counted their votes three different times, with the Republican candidate winning the initial count and official recount, and the Democrat candidate winning the suplimental hand recount. When they got to the vote tally that said the Democrat had won, the counters stopped counting and the Dems declared victory. Where did they get the number three?* Then thou must count to three. Three shall be the number of the counting and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither shalt thou count two, excepting that thou then proceedeth to three. Five is right out.

But there is something more than a little fishy going on in Seattle and King County. First there were those 700 new ballots that just happened to show up at the last minute. And Stefan Sharkansky thinks it's just a little odd that King County has 3,539 more votes than participating voters.

What appears to be happening is that votes are disappearing and reappearing. These aren't ballots where the selection is changing, but several hundred actual slips of paper that are disappearing in some precincts and reappearing in others.

All is not right in Washington.

*A reading from the Book of Armaments, Chapter 4, Verses 16 to 20:

Then did he raise on high the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch, saying, "Bless this, O Lord, that with it thou mayst blow thine enemies to tiny bits, in thy mercy." And the people did rejoice and did feast upon the lambs and toads and tree-sloths and fruit-bats and orangutans and breakfast cereals ... Now did the Lord say, "First thou pullest the Holy Pin. Then thou must count to three. Three shall be the number of the counting and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither shalt thou count two, excepting that thou then proceedeth to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the number of the counting, be reached, then lobbest thou the Holy Hand Grenade in the direction of thine foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it."

With a new year comes new laws. After all, politicians have to justify those 6 figure salaries. In Illinois, they offered protection against frivolous lawsuits.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said: "Crime is a serious problem in Illinois. ... But blaming a gun dealer for criminal activity is not the answer."

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said: "Obesity is a serious problem in Illinois. ... But blaming a restaurant for weight gain is not the answer."

And in New York, legislators overrode Gov. George Pataki's veto to give minimum-wage workers a $2 raise -- lifting their pay to $7.15 an hour in phases over the next two years.

"It's ridiculous in one of the most expensive cities in the world to have to survive on $5.15," said Rafael Duran, a Manhattan restaurant worker. "Pataki doesn't know what it's like to live on that."

In their game against New Mexico, Naval Academy had a 14 minute drive that lasted almost the entire 4th quarter. In what has to be one of the most incredible football oddities I've ever heard of, Navy got the ball with 2 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, drove from their own 1 yard line all the way to the New Mexico 4 yard line, and kicked a field goal with 2 minutes 15 seconds left in the 4th.

CNN has the play by play:

3RD QUARTER
Time Qtr Team Situation Play
2:00 3rd Navy 1-10 at NM1 A.Polanco rush middle for 2 yards to the Navy3
1:30 3rd Navy 2-8 at Navy3 A.Polanco rush middle for 3 yards to the Navy6
0:30 3rd Navy 3-5 at Navy6 New Mexico penalized 5 yards
0:30 3rd Navy 1-10 at Navy11 A.Polanco rush middle for 8 yards to the Navy19

4TH QUARTER
Time Qtr Team Situation Play
15:00 4th Navy 2-2 at Navy19 A.Polanco rush right for 4 yards to the Navy23
14:30 4th Navy 1-10 at Navy23 Eckel rush middle for 4 yards to the Navy27
14:00 4th Navy 2-6 at Navy27 Eckel rush middle for 5 yards to the Navy32
13:30 4th Navy 3-1 at Navy32 A.Polanco rush middle for 2 yards to the Navy34
13:30 4th Navy 1-10 at Navy34 A.Polanco incomplete pass to the middle
13:30 4th Navy 2-10 at Navy34 Navy penalized -5 yards
13:00 4th Navy 2-15 at Navy29 A.Polanco rush middle for 9 yards to the Navy38
12:00 4th Navy 3-6 at Navy38 A.Polanco pass completion to the right to Nelson for 6 yards to the Navy44
11:30 4th Navy 1-10 at Navy44 Eckel rush middle for 7 yards to the NM49
11:00 4th Navy 2-3 at NM49 Eckel rush right for 2 yards to the NM47
10:30 4th Navy 3-1 at NM47 A.Polanco rush right for 5 yards to the NM42
9:30 4th Navy 2-6 at NM42 Eckel rush middle for 2 yards to the NM40
9:30 4th Navy 3-5 at NM40 A.Polanco rush middle for 5 yards to the NM35
9:00 4th Navy 1-10 at NM35 Eckel rush right for 1 yard to the NM34
8:30 4th Navy 2-9 at NM34 Roberts rush left for 5 yards to the NM29
7:30 4th Navy 3-4 at NM29 Eckel rush middle for 1 yard to the NM28
6:27 4th Navy 4-3 at NM28 Navy time out
6:27 4th Navy 4-3 at NM28 Divis pass completion to the left to A.Polanco for 6 yards to the NM22
6:00 4th Navy 1-10 at NM22 Eckel rush middle for 2 yards to the NM20
5:30 4th Navy 2-8 at NM20 Eckel rush middle for 4 yards to the NM16
4:26 4th Navy 3-4 at NM16 Navy time out
4:26 4th Navy 3-4 at NM16 Divis rush left for 8 yards to the NM8
4:00 4th Navy 1-8 at NM8 Eckel rush middle for 5 yards to the NM3
3:30 4th Navy 2-3 at NM3 Roberts rush right for -1 yards to the NM4
2:30 4th Navy 3-4 at NM4 Eckel rush middle for 0 yards to the NM4
2:18 4th Navy 4-4 at NM4 New Mexico time out
2:15 4th Navy 4-4 at NM4 Blumenfeld 22 yard FIELD GOAL
2:15 4th Navy -- Navy kicks off.

Another good one from KdT, who points out that when it comes to foreign aid, percentages don't mean much. It's gross dollars that count and the simple fact is that the United States gives more than anyone else, period. You can bitch and moan about percentages of gross domestic whatever, it doesn't mean diddly.

Of course, 0.14% of America's GDP is a bajillion dollars, give or take a billion or ten, and 10% of Norway's GDP is about $72.15...

And as Kim points out, they are only looking at money taken at gun point and shipped off to the U.N. This doesn't include tangibles like sending airplanes or ships, nor does it include private charities.

(all numbers via CIA fact book)

And like Spoons points out, America just can't win here. First they bitch at us for not doing enough, then they bitch because we're doing too much and "undermining the U.N."

UPDATE: We've upped our pledge to $350 Million

The threat of tsunamis isn't keeping some tourists away.

So if the BCS sucks, what should take it's place? A five-bowl system (set for introduction in 2006), a plus-one model, an eight-team playoff, or no system at all? Stewart Mandel takes a look.

KdT points out that while countries like Sri Lanka are crying for international aid, they are turning down offers of assistance from Israel out of hatred of the Joooos.

(He also has a photo over there that's very telling.)

Some people are really pissed about the anti-Christmas crusade. (Cartoon with very foul language.)

(Via Smallest Minority, Via Gut Rumbles)

If you have problems with a stray cat, what are you supposed to do? The government answer is to call animal control, and have an officer come out and try to capture the animal. The government official will take the animal to a shelter or the SPCA. The vets will feed and water the animal, give it a bath, treat any injury and make an assessment about whether or not it is possible to place it in a good home. In most cases, after 7 days the animal is destroyed through a series of lethal injections. The whole process probably costs several thousand dollars and involves reams of red tape and paperwork.

Or, you can take the quick and efficient way out and just shoot that darned cat yourself. Unfortunately, while the end result is basically the same, it could land you in jail charged with felony animal cruelty. Apparently shooting an animal is no longer an acceptable method of euthanasia.

I am reminded of a man I used to work with. He was an old farm boy at heart, who even managed to raise his children without television. (He still has no TV which just baffles me.) But I digress.

This old farm boy who I'll call Fred (not his real name) took his sick dog to the vet. The vet told Fred that the dog needed surgery that would cost nearly $500. Fred told the vet that it was too expensive and that he would rather euthanize the dog. Fred said that he would not spend more than $50 to treat the dog, and that if euthanasia cost more than that it would be done with a shotgun behind his barn.

The vet insisted that the dog could live a long and healthy life, if only he got the $500 surgery. Fred refused, but the vet performed the surgery anyway. Fred picked up his dog but refused to pay the $500 vet bill. The vet tried haggling him up to $250 than $100, but Fred steadfastly refused. In the end he paid the vet $50 and the dog lived a long and heathly life.

Now, you may think this story makes Fred sound cheap or heartless, but I disagree. Fred took a very practical view of the world. Although it was a good dog, aside from emotional attachments it was nothing more than a dumb animal. Forking over a mortgage payment to treat your pet just didn't make sense, especially if you can't really afford it. Also, taking the dog behind the barn and quickly and efficiently putting him out of his misery was a perfectly reasonable solution. It was certainly as reasonable as paying a vet $50 or $100 to do basically the same thing. Granted the vet was nice enough to perform the surgery, he did hassle Fred about the money for years.

If this happened today, I wonder if Fred would face felony animal cruelty charges.

Bob Dylan may not be the man you thought he was.

Walter Williams says that the anti-Christmas movement is not just anti-Christian, but pro-nanny state government tyranny.

The vision held by the framers is that our rights come not from government but from a "Creator" or "the laws of nature and of nature's God." That means the purpose and power of government is rightfully limited to protecting our natural God-given rights.

The idea that government doesn't grant rights is offensive to those who wish to control our lives. Therefore, to gain greater control, the idea of natural rights, God-given rights and Christian values must be suppressed. [...]

The attack on Christian ideas and Christian public displays is part and parcel of the leftist control agenda in another way. Certain components of the leftist agenda require that our primary allegiance be with government. As such, there must be an attack on allegiances to the teachings of the church and family.

Emboldened by their successes in the courts and intimidation of public officials, leftists will no doubt make other demands; there's no logical end point except complete Christian capitulation. There are Christian symbols and exhibits in many Washington, D.C., government buildings that will come down, such as: Moses with the Ten Commandments inside the U.S. Supreme Court, George Washington praying in the Capitol Building, Abraham Lincoln's speech mentioning God carved inside the Lincoln Memorial.

Religious programming on the radio and television will come under attack. After all, there's Federal Communications Commission permission to use the "public airwaves." If leftists say they have no such intention to go after television, radio and other public expressions of Christianity, what they really mean is that they haven't softened us up enough yet.

The latest TV ratings are out, and according to CNN they are getting their clock cleaned by the Fox News Channel.

...Fox News Channel celebrated a ratings milestone, with its average prime-time viewership topping that of CNN, MSNBC, CNBC and CNN Headline News combined for the first time...

Syracuse fired their head football coach, Paul Pasqualoni. The loss to Temple did keep them out of the Fiesta Bowl, but I still think his record speaks for itself. After all, Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer lost to Temple a few years back (at Homecoming no less).

In 14 years with Syracuse, Pasqualoni posted a record of 107-59-1 and had just one losing season -- a 4-8 mark in 2002. The Orange played in nine bowl games during his tenure, winning six.

Syracuse was a consistent top-25 program in six of Pasqualoni's first eight seasons, winning at least nine games five times. After a 10-3 mark in 2001, the Orange were just 16-20 the past three seasons.

Pasqualoni finished his tenure as the second-winningest coach in school history, behind only Ben Schwartzwalder, and had one of the top graduation rates in the country.

Hollywood is still dearth of ideas, but remakes seem to be more popular than sequels as of late.

Sequels:
Star Wars III
Batman
Harry Potter
Ring II
Punisher II

Remakes:
King Kong
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
War of the Worlds
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The Producers
The Pink Panther
Guess Who (is coming to dinner)
The Longest Yard
Herbie
All the King's Men

TV:
Dukes of Hazzard
Fantastic Four

All you non-smokers out there that are apathetic to smoker's rights take notice. The pleasure police are out to take away your soft drinks next.

A study in India claims that there is a correlation between esophageal cancer and drinking soft drinks.

In the study, researchers cited U.S. data that showed per capita consumption of carbonated drinks rose by more than 450 percent from 1974 to 2000, from 10.8 gallons on average to 49.2 gallons in 2000. During that same period, the incidence rates of esophageal cancer rose by more than 570 percent in white American men.

[Dr. Richard Adamson, vice president of scientific and technical affairs for the National Soft Drink Association] says that because study authors didn't dig further to see if those diagnosed with the cancer also drank the beverage, asserting that sodas may cause esophageal cancer is a considerable reach. According to Adamson, people also ate more pizzas over that time span; cell phone and computer use skyrocketed as well. And yet, he points out, researchers didn't correlate those behaviors with esophageal cancer.

(I wonder if I can sue my employer for not letting me drink beer instead of soda during the day.)

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, a Republican, is going to try to reinstate the death penalty. While he probably won't have much success, you can't blame the guy for trying. Romney is carefully wording the bill so that it will appeal more to Massachusetts liberals who are usually soft on criminals.

...the bill would limit capital punishment to the "worst of the worst" crimes including terrorism, the murder of police officers, murder involving torture and the killing of witnesses.

DaimlerChrysler plans to market a two-seater eurocar called the Smart Fortwo in the United States. One look at the thing and you can just tell it is doomed to fail.

But the little car is also exceedingly Euro-looking, with an egg-shaped cabin surrounded by plastic panels that can be swapped out for different colors. It is designed by Swatch Group Ltd., known for watches, and built in France.

"It's very, very, very small," said George Peterson, president of the California-based auto industry research firm AutoPacific Inc. "It's something that will appeal from a uniqueness standpoint because it looks very different. But generally, Americans opt for something bigger and more substantial. I have driven one in Los Angeles out on the freeways, and it's a real challenging thing to do." Peterson says the car rides so low in traffic that "you're making a study of the lug nuts of the truck sitting next to you."

A look at their UK website says that the version that sells over there comes with either 50 or 61 bhp. The car weighs 1500 pounds and will cost 8,000 pounds (currently about $11,000).

Actually, this car would probably be ideal for strictly inner city driving. You might even see some courier and delivery businesses buying them. But the problem in places like New York or Chicago is going to be parking. I don't think the liberal elites that can afford to drive and park a car in New York City aren't going to be caught dead in one of these.

You are welcome to zip around in this pregnant rollerskate if you want, but I think I'll stick to my SUV.

Enviroweenies are already beating their global warming drums in response to the Indian Ocean tsunamis. Reuters cites un-named 'experts' who claim that global warning has left "coastlines even more vulnerable to disasters like tsunamis or storms in future".

"Coasts are under threat in many countries," said Brad Smith at environmental group Greenpeace. "Development of roads, shrimp farms, ribbon development along coasts and tourism are eroding natural defenses in Asia."

And in case you don't quite make the logical connection between earthquakes, tsunamis, and global warming, CNN gives you a little subliminal help.

More often than not, government interference makes worse whatever problems it intends to fix. One example is the government's desire to ensure that EMT personnel get standardized training.

Doctors, EMTs and state emergency medical directors are working with federal regulators to make sure that EMTs that staff ambulances are trained to give the best help possible. It is a lofty goal, but not one that comes without a price. In rural expanses like North Dakota, hundreds of square miles are covered by a volunteer force of EMTs. Making them jump through additional hoops is likely to cause less people to volunteer. Fox(search)News reports:

The 17 members of the Center ambulance squad who serve nearly all of Oliver County are volunteers, much like most EMTs in the state.

And like many of their counterparts around the country, members of the Center squad are worried that proposed national standards could more than double the amount of training they must have and thin their ranks.

"A lot of people can't comprehend what it's like to drive 345 miles and not see a house, not see anything, and to have to cover that," said Mickie Eide, the squad's leader. "If you keep requiring us to do more, there's going to be less of us to do it."

Am I the only one who is infuriated over remarks from a U.N. official that the United States is stingy when it comes to foreign aid? Perhaps we should cancel our annual contribution to the United Nations, and sell off that prime Manhattan real estate they occupy so that we will have more to give.

I have often dreamed of booting the U.N. out of New York. We could kill two birds with one stone if we gave them the boot and used the savings to donate more to charity.

I'm sure that it would make a perfect Scrappleface parody, except that Scott Ott is too busy rounding up charitable donations.

UPDATE: More on U.N. humanitarian aid chief, Jan Egeland, who said the U.S. is stingy and would have more to give if we had higher taxes.

During Christmas Day services in Wales, the choir at Llandaff Cathedral was instructed to sing God Rest Ye Merry People instead of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

Festivus was not invented by Frank Costanza, and has been around since 1966. That's the same year Kwanzaa was invented.

A woman is suing Wal-Mart because she claims that the company should have known about her daughter's history of mental illness and refused to sell her a gun.

The case, filed earlier this month, has reignited a debate over the confidentiality of mental health records and the effectiveness of background checks on would-be buyers of guns.

"We know that if they had so much as said, `Why do you want this?' we would not be having this conversation because Shayla would have had a meltdown," said her stepfather, Garrett Bracy.

The Bracys said Wal-Mart's gun department could have checked Wal-Mart's own security files or the pharmacy department's prescription records before selling her the weapon.

Not only should this lawsuit be thrown out, Wal-Mart should be awarded legal fees.

I want to follow up on San Francisco's handgun ban proposal from earlier this month. First there was the voice of support from Supervisor-elect Ross Mirkarimi, who proudly proclaimed, "How many more Michael Moore films does it take to tell us that the Second Amendment is absolutely archaic, and other nations do it better than we do? We should absolutely go forward with it despite the constitutional challenges." Yeah, we know it's unconstitutional, but it's 'for the children' so lets go for it.

Then there was the use of statistics to try to muddy the issue, which is when Howard�Nemerov threw the bullshit flag.

Here is the statistic used to justify the ban (although even if it were true, I fail to see the logic).

"The homicide rate in Washington, D.C., in 2002 was 9.4 incidents per 100,000 people. In San Francisco that year, the rate was 5.2."

A key gambit of gun banners is the judicious use of misapplied statistical data. In the above quote, the writer referenced FBI crime data that covers metropolitan areas.

The mythical "9.4 incidents per 100,000 people" for "Washington, D.C." includes residents of five Maryland counties, 17 in Virginia, and two from West Virginia. This report is also the source of the stated rate for the SF metropolitan area, which includes only two additional counties: Marin and San Mateo.

The "D.C." homicide rate is understated because Virginia and West Virginia, which allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms for personal protection, had homicide rates of 5.3 and 3.2, respectively. Maryland, with gun control policies similar to California, had a rate of 9.4, two to three times higher than the pro-gun rights states, but still about 20% of the D.C. rate.

Since these three states' counties had a combined population of 14,553,552, over 25 times D.C.'s population of 570,898, the D.C. homicide rate was significantly diluted. Also, the author compares "apples to oranges," since the San Francisco metropolitan area is completely covered by similar gun control laws, while the D.C area is not.

In reality, while the SF metropolitan area experienced the 5.2 rate, Washington D.C. had a homicide rate of 46.2, nearly five times the article's assertion. . .

Earlier this month, Massachusetts implemented an instant fingerprint check computer system so that the state would be able to track all of their law abiding gun owners. It's already yielding gun confiscations.

On Wednesday, for example, moments after a court placed a woman's husband under a restraining order, a notice about the order popped up on a new computer terminal at the police station here. Given that information, the Woburn police went to the man's house and confiscated his guns, all 13 of them.

Now, I'm not one to stick up for wife beaters, but Salon.com definitely gives us food for thought.

While the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in 1990 that a simple claim of fear was not a sufficient basis for a restraining order -- and set a threshold of "reasonable" fear of "imminent serious physical harm" -- courts routinely ignore this standard.

Once a temporary order is granted, a hearing must be held within 10 days to determine whether it should be vacated or extended for a year. That's when the defendant gets a chance to defend himself -- in theory. The hearing, however, is usually limited to a he said/she said exchange in which, many lawyers say, the defendant is given little credit. . . The normal rules of evidence do not apply; hearsay is commonly allowed, while exculpatory evidence can be kept out.

A defendant who insists on a full evidentiary hearing can be forced to wait for months. In one case, the transcript shows, the judge denied an attorney's request to call witnesses who would dispute the complainant's story, saying, "I don't need a full-scale hearing ... I don't care about that." The judge also declared that the issue was not even "who's telling the truth," only whether he felt the woman was genuinely fearful.

In their crusade to keep 'weapons' out of school, administrators are starting to ban rubber bands. In today's zero tolerance world, the unauthorized possession of rubber bands may even result in suspension.

Packing.org has been an invaluable resource for information on the concealed carry of firearms. Now VCDL members have founded OpenCarry.org, a site for information on the open carry of firearms.

Notice that Virginia is a 'Gold Star' state.

Remember last week when it was widely reported that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said that the Republicans should move to the left? Well, it turns out that isn't what he said.

What was reported by the mainstream media:

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger suggested in a German newspaper interview published Saturday that the Republican Party should move "a little to the left," a shift that he said would allow it to pick up new voters.

"I think that right now the Republican Party is all the way from the right to the center, and the Democratic Party is all the way from the left to the center," he said.

"And I'd like the Republican Party to cross that center line. Keep it to the right, where it is. But I mean, cross over that center line a little bit, because they would take immediately away 5 percent from the Democrats and you're home free for good."

Recently pain relievers have been under fire for increasing the risk of heart attacks. First Vioxx was pulled from the market. Then Pfizer's Celebrex came under fire. Pfizer has since pulled advertising for the drug. A day or two later, over the counter pain medicine, Aleve, was said to carry an increased risk as well.

What is happening with these drugs is a good example of why drug companies charge so much. They spend millions of dollars on research to develop drugs that improve our lifestyle or delay the inevitable. Their reward for all that research and development is the sale of successful drugs. The enormous risk they face is producing drugs that are ineffective or even worse will expose the company to litigation.

One of the largests costs associated with bringing drugs to market is getting FDA approval. Government intervention is costly, and even the Bush Administration is saying that legalizing the importation of cheap drugs - which haven't yet received FDA approval - is likely to drive up the cost to prices at which domestic drugs are selling.

State and local governments that advocate the illegal importation of drugs from Canada (without FDA intervention) are likely to face lawsuits from complications and side effects of imported medicines. States that encourage folks to buy drugs from Canada cannot simply disclaim legal liability. By promoting behavior that is illegal, the state and local governments are setting up a hazardous condition. Because of the inherent negligence, the state has no protection from liability when someone is injured as a result.

UPDATE: Thomas Sowell provides excellent commentary about the cost of being too safe.

I'm enjoying my Christmas Vacation, and judging by the laughable amount of internet traffic, I would say that you are too.

Normally there are 1200-1400 visits on weekdays and about 1000 each on Saturday and Sunday. On December 24, there were 186 and on Christmas Day, only 22. (That's right 22) I'm glad to see that so many people are spending time presumably with their families, and away from the internet.

Posting should resume on Tuesday.

The AP has struck a blow to the BCS. A cease and desist letter dated December 21st was sent to the BCS asking them to stop using the AP rankings as part of the BCS formula.

"By stating that the AP poll is one of the three components used by BCS to establish its rankings, BCS conveys the impression that AP condones or otherwise participates in the BCS system," the letter said. "Furthermore, to the extent that the public does not fully understand the relationship between BCS and AP, any animosity toward BCS may get transferred to AP. And to the extent that the public has equated or comes to equate the AP poll with the BCS rankings, the independent reputation of the AP poll is lost." [...]

Where the BCS goes from here won't be determined for a while, but recently Weiberg and Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese have said the BCS would look into the possibility of using a selection committee to create the bowl matchups, much like the NCAA Division I basketball tournament.

How can anyone, from any party claim that recounting the votes until you get the result you want is a fair and democratic process? This just reeks of foul play, especially with the 'recent discovery' of new votes.

Democrats have claimed victory in the race for Washington governor by a razor-thin margin of eight votes, citing preliminary results of a hand recount they say puts Christine Gregoire in front for the first time. Republicans maintained the race was still too close to call. [...]

A Gregoire lead could widen if the state Supreme Court allows the 700-plus recently discovered ballots from the Democratic stronghold of King County to be added to the total. [...]

Out of 2.9 million ballots cast on Election Day, Rossi won by a mere 261 votes; his lead was whittled to 42 votes in a subsequent machine recount. Democrats paid for the hand recount, which got under way Dec. 8.

It's that time of year again. The holidays are upon us, and the internet will soon slow to a crawl as bloggers of all faiths spend more time with their families, take vacations, or just sit back and relax. But in this dearth of posts, the Carnival lives on. Through rain, snow, sleet, or postal strikes the Carnival is here for you providing some of the best that the Blogosphere has to offer.

With that said it brings me great pleasure to offer you, the 118th Edition of the Carnival of the Vanities. Our finest gifts we bring:

Join the buy nothing for Xmas campaign so that you can have more to spend on yourself.

Brian J. Noggle says screw those people who don't appreciate inclusive goodwill tiding like Happy Holidays. He's wishing it to them anyhow.

Josh Cohen asks what about those of us who aren't threatened by Christmas? What about those of us who get upset about commercials trying to respect the "holiday" spirit but still end up being Christmas-y? These advertisers should go all-Christmas or none at all.

Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus. But he was killed by rampant consumerism and corporate greed

With Christmas being the deadliest day of the year, Outside The Beltway takes a look at how Santa Claus is lucky to be alive.

Mentalogical wants to send us a Christmas Card, but his attorney won't let him: Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral, celebration of some sort of holiday. . .

Protomonkey is bringing in the Christmas Spirit.

In the spirit of Christmas, Wordlab presents an entertaining commercial message.

Banana Oil! brings us a new Christmas Carol: Rudolph in the Sky with Diamonds.

The Atheists had better make DARN SURE they cover all the bases if they want to ban Christmas (or for that matter, everything associated with Christ). SmarterCop has a small checklist for 'em.

Vik Rubenfeld's boots are made for walkin'. The Big Picture wants you to know that a 55 mile march is planned to help protect the right of American cities to show appreciation for religion.

How to take a generic sermon, adapt it, and make it a study on what salt really stands for, Biblically, and what we need to take away from the study of it.

The Electric Commentary looks at how closing the cultural gap between the U.S. and Europe would be beneficial to both parties.

point2point takes a look at our new Libyan friends and their shameless attempt to spring the mastermind of the Pan Am 103 bombing out of jail.

The Unrepentant Leftist explores the statements of CIA analysts who say that WMD evidence was deliberately manufactured to justify the war in Iraq.

Baboon Pirates takes a look at the importance of private property in a rebuttal to a friend claiming "private property/ownership is one of the all time worst ideas of mankind, ever."

The Battle of Trenton was fought on December 26, 1776, and is credited for turning the tide of the Revolutionary War. Douglas Bass wonders how it would've been reported if it was fought in 2004.

On the war in Iraq, Kevin Drum has questions, Pursuit of Happiness has the answers.

What famous periodical has a cover showing Castro "liberating" Havana; an editorial savaging the U.S.; and lead articles full of junk science and low-tech studies? How about one of the four leading medical journals in the world.

Bob Gronlund has some thoughts about who the real Minutemen are in Iraq -- and why it really is all the Republicans fault after all.

This week is the 60th Anniversary of the great escape of WWII POW's - in Phoenix, Arizona! I love this story, because many people today don't even know that German POW's were held all over the US. It has everything - Nazis, a long tunnel, cleverness, deception, one fatal mistake, and, best of all, a German U-boat commander.

According to the New York Times, publishing houses have started to regard the blogosphere as a potential source for promising, marketable writers. Interested-Participant takes a look.

You've heard of Neoconservatives. Well QandO Blog brings us Neolibertarians - those that are socially tolerant, fiscally conservative, strong on defense, and in favor of limited government. And of course, an introduction to the (beginning soon) Neolibertarian Network of Bloggers. Democracy! Whiskey! Sexy!

Charles Hill looks at what the unholy marriage of Fox News and Clear Channel Radio is likely to produce - not much of anything.

Bill Adams wants somebody to tell the media what "epicenter" means. And make them stop misusing it.

Watcher of Weasels takes a look at hose up-armored humvees. Find out what the mainstream media isn't telling you.

Rip & Read Blogger reads the blogosphere into an MP3 player, and includes clips from C-SPAN, CNBC, and other sources.

Bogie has gone off the deep end and is attributing emotions to houses that she passes on her daily commute. There are two houses that seem to be on opposite sides of the emotional spectrum . .

Kevin Baker notes that we have reached the point where people are being arrested and charged for thought crimes.

You may not have to wait until April to get your tax refund. Grab your phone bill and head on over to Scrivener.net to find out about the $6 billion of illegally collected telephone taxes.

Dean Esmay says that a lot of the concern over the national debt is misplaced.

Jack Cluth wants to know if anyone else as sick of Kobe Bryant as he is? And should we get his chief confidant Jim Gray a pair of kneepads for Christmas??

When Pedro Martinez jumped ship from the Red Sox to the Mets, who got the best deal? According to The Monk, it was the Yankees, and Big Stein was the man behind the curtain.

Shaking Spears translates the French Presidential Commission's report identifying the causes of the Concorde crash.

L&N Line explains why you get such poor service at the movie theater, and why a large Coke costs $5.

Cunctipotent Cunctator tells us why the concept of odd and even is a philosophical illusion.

Will the Republican majority be able to get things done? La Shawn Barber has her doubts because Bush and the conservatives in Congress don't seem to be on the same page.

GM's Corner takes a look at the hostile takeover of the DNC by Moveon.org.

Liberty Dad wants to know when the left will start opposing evil.

Wicked Thoughts shows that even colonoscopies can be funny.

The Flying Space Monkey offers a tale of getting his skull cracked while goofing off as a child. Bottom line: it hurt.

Mad House Madman writes about his future intern and how much she is learning. She brings new meaning to the term prodigy.

RoguePundit takes a look at his state's global warming figures and makes a startling discovery. Most of the greenhouse gases come from so-called Blue States.

Environmental Wackos... Green Bigots... Ecoloons... No matter what you call them they have little to do with saving the environment reports Revealed Truth.

Taken In Hand has a fascinating piece about consent, dominance and forcefulness, which challenges antiliberal Nanny State notions of consent and the way the word "violence" has come to mean something necessarily bad rather than just "forcefulness".

Over at Classical Values, Eric attempts to make sense of the "science" behind gun control. If statistics show that murders are 'caused' by guns, don't they also show that murders are 'caused' by race or gender?

"A young physician named Dr. Charles unearths a forgotten article written by Mark Twain, and finds himself transported through a worm hole back into the year 1740 to treat a headache."

They say that generating randomness is impossible. Apparently they've never read The World According to Pete.

Commentary on a blogger who takes liberties commenting on others. Turnabout is fairplay. The World According To Pete .. According To Me... has the headlines.

John Ray covers basic conservatism; politically correct attacks on Christmas; suppression of free speech concerning guns; problems with Canada's free health care; "white flight" among the Dutch; and of course Hispanic immigration. Whew.

nikita demosthenes says that for all of Thomas Barnett's yammering about "the Core" and "the Gap," he misses the big picture. The important thing for the average person is not living in a country that is part of "the Core." The important thing is living in a true free-market democracy.

The initials VAWA are the acronym for the Violence Against Women Act. Passed in 1994, VAWA is far more political, and ideological than any kind of social program. It's up for reauthorization next year, and the Desert Light Journal wants you to know why it should be allowed to expire.

Right Wingnuthouse says that Man's Best Friend is really the cat.

You probably already knew your body was made up of trillions of cells, but did you know that they make a sound. Business of Life examines Molecular Music.

You'll shoot your eye out kid. That's right, childhood can be hazardous to your health.

Wiccans are handing out diplomas. And Andrew Ian Dodge has been awarded one.

Well, that's it for this edition. There were 55 56 total entries submitted. If I left anything out or made a mistake with your entry, please contact me at carnival -at- ravnwood.com as soon as possible. I'm leaving town at 12 PM sharp, so you must submit any corrections before noon.

The next Carnival will be held December 29th at The Radical Centrist

by Scott Ott

(2004-12-20) -- Forensic DNA testing has revealed that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld did not personally lick postage stamps on letters to families of troops killed in Iraq.

"We're still looking for a positive DNA match on the stamp saliva," said an aide to Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-NE. "We've asked to swab the cheeks of dozens of Pentagon office staffers."

This new evidence of Mr. Rumsfeld's psychological detachment from the war in Iraq follows his admission that letters he wrote to families of soldiers and Marines included a facsimile of his signature, rather than a unique one done with his own hand each time.

Mr. Hagel could not be reached for comment, the aide said, because "the senator is busy handwriting a news release on the topic."

First the media creates a bogus story about Rumsfeld. Then some GOP opportunists use the chance to make Rumsfeld a scape goat for their years of failed military policy. Then the Democrats see the opportunity to bring down a member of Bush's cabinet. So, who's next?

How about the American public? Let's run a poll. That is a sure fire way to keep calls for Rummy's resignation on the front pages.

If you were writing a book on how to force someone out of office, this would be good material.

Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson sheds some light on what Kwanzaa really is.

While commonly viewed as an "African" holiday, observed from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, Kwanzaa actually was created in the U.S. in 1966 by Dr. Maulana "Ron" Karenga, the head of a violent black-power group, United Slaves Organization, which was a rival to the Black Panthers.

In the 1970s, Karenga served four years in prison for conspiracy and assault in the torture of two female followers. Karenga was convicted of whipping them with electrical cords and beating them with a karate baton after stripping them naked. He placed in the mouth of one of the victims a hot soldering iron, also scarring her face with the device. He put one of her big toes in a vise, and detergent and running water in both of their mouths.

In a 1978 interview quoted in the Washington Post, Karenga said, "People think it's African, but it's not. I came up with Kwanzaa because black people in this country wouldn't celebrate it if they knew it was American. Also, I put it around Christmas because I knew that's when a lot of bloods (blacks) would be partying."

Peterson points out Kwanzaa is taught in public schools, recognized by corporations and was saluted in a proclamation by President Bush in 2002.

"If black Christians don't stand up for Christmas and reject Kwanzaa, they are allowing evil to have its way," Peterson said. "They will regret using a fake holiday to stamp out the true meaning of Christmas."

With the Scott Peterson trial winding down, is Lisa Montgomery poised to take his place and fill the media void?

Note to self. Stay the hell away from Washington State.

I should also take the time to be thankful for living in a state where the open carry of firearms is not only legal but celebrated.

UPDATE: The original link is dead, so here is a Google cache link.

Robert Novak says the stage is set for the fight over judicial nominations.

A scenario for an unspecified day in 2005: One of President Bush's judicial nominations is brought to the Senate floor. Majority Leader Bill Frist makes a point of order that only a simple majority is needed for confirmation. The point is upheld by the presiding officer, Vice President Dick Cheney. Democratic Leader Harry Reid challenges the ruling. Frist moves to table Reid's motion, ending debate. The motion is tabled, and the Senate proceeds to confirm the judicial nominee -- all in about 10 minutes.

...Byrd "developed four precedents that allowed a simple majority to change Senate procedures governing debate without altering the text of any standing rule." In each case, Byrd successfully overcame dilatory tactics by the Republican minority.

If the Dems want to filibuster judicial nominees, that's fine. But the GOP should make them put their money where their mouth is. If they're going to be obstructionists, let them stand up there and show America what's really going on.

It's time for the days where politicians can filibuster without actually filibustering to end. Or perhaps Republicans consider that the real nuclear option.

What do you get when you combine a college student, a guinea pig, and a makeshift parachute? How about felony animal cruelty charges. An Indiana University student may face felony animal cruelty charges and a $500 fine for tossing his guinea pig out of an 8th floor dorm window. The guinea pig hit a wind shear and ended up landing in a tree on the way down. He was rescued and taken to an animal shelter to treat his injuries, and is doing fine.

Virginia is called the Mother of Presidents, and George Will thinks that Virginia Governor Mark Warner, has a fair shot to win the White House back for the Democrats in 2008.

In 2001, running a campaign that sponsored a stock car and stressed gun rights, Warner was elected governor by five points. But, on a recent visit to Washington, he impatiently insisted that his victory was about "more than bluegrass songs and NASCAR races."

Indeed, his success is evidence that Virginia, although it has not voted Democratic since 1964, might be the place for Democrats to start if they really are determined -- as they had better be -- to compete in the South, broadly defined. [...]

As the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington continue to grow and perhaps become more like Philadelphia's liberal-leaning suburbs, Virginia could become one of the states -- Arizona and Colorado are others -- that may soon be fully transformed from reliably Republican to more or less regularly competitive. [...]

Virginia is the last state to forbid governors to serve consecutive terms -- Warner has proposed changing that with a state constitutional amendment, under which he would remain ineligible for a second term -- so in 2006 he will be unemployed. That is a good condition for a presidential aspirant: Nixon was out of public office in 1968, as was Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Ronald Reagan in 1980.

In 2008 the man who should be Time magazine's 2004 Person of the Year, Karl Rove, will be gone, and Democrats will be trying to erase the Republicans' 2004 popular vote winning margin of 2.9 percentage points. That was the smallest margin ever for a president's reelection. Warner will be on the short list of those who might be "Kerry plus 2.9."

Warner called the idea of letting the voters decide on a tax increase (ala voter referendum) "extremely irresponsible". A month after his massive tax hike passed, it was revealed that Virginia actually had a budget surplus. But the damage was done, and Warner balked at the suggestion of rolling back the tax hike.

George Will mentions that Warner's push for an end to term limits would not benefit him. But he doesn't tell you that Warner has made it perfectly clear that he wants a successive term should the limit be lifted. This fall Warner said that his "effectiveness" was limited by his not being able to spend two years running for re-election.

If a pathological liar and a sleazy bastard is the candidate they want, then Warner fits the bill (and then some). But George Will shouldn't be so quick to assume that Warner could even carry his home state, much less the South.

If you haven't read Oliver North's latest offering, I highly recommend it.

"It's stuff you hear about in boot camp, about World War II and Tarawa Marines who won the Medal of Honor," Lance Cpl. Rob Rogers of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment told the Army Times. Rogers was describing the actions of his fellow Marine, Sgt. Rafael Peralta, a Mexican immigrant who enlisted in the Marine Corps the day he received his green card.

Spoons had problems, and Wizbang made them go away. Amazing.

Christians are being accused of not letting Christmas die a politically correct death. Some people seem to think that wishing someone "Merry Christmas" might as well be followed by "and the horse you rode in on". Moreso, they think that celebrating Christmas ought to be illegal if you're standing on public property.

But Christians are fighting back, and are refusing to let their holly jolly holiday be banned. Christmas opponents, meanwhile, are crying foul and say that Christians are on a holy roller crusade, led by Reverend Bush himself.

"This mixing of secular and religious symbols ought to be seen as a bad thing, not a good thing, for Christian believers," [Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State] said. "Unfortunately, some of the Christian pressure groups seem to have it backwards."

Added Lynn: "I think it's fair to say it's a mistaken notion that they have a mandate to put more nativity scenes up because George Bush was elected."

Much ado is being made about California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's suggestion that the GOP make a left turn to pick up more votes. Neal Boortz, for one, isn't buying it:

Take a look at the following legislation sign by George W. Bush, and ask yourself if moving to the left helped him:

* The No Child Left Behind Act, written with the help of Teddy Kennedy, who later accused him of cooking up the Iraq war down at this ranch in Texas

* The Medicare Prescription Drug benefit - Cost? Hundreds of billions of dollars. Increase in popularity: zippo.

* Government spending - George Bush has yet to veto a single spending bill, meaning the Democrats have basically gotten everything they've wanted.

The 118th Edition of Carnival of the Vanities will be hosted here on Wednesday.

Get your entries in now. Submit via the feedback form or email carnival -at- ravnwood.com. Include the URL and a brief exerpt or synopsis.

I don't often watch 60 Minutes, but I have to hand it to Mike Wallace, who had this to say to Miami Dolphin's running back Ricky Williams who walked away from the game at the beginning of the season:

You would have made five million bucks this year. And you said 'It's blood money as far as I'm concerned. The money is what made me miserable. I want to be free of that stress.' And forgive me, but that's bullshit.

Aside: In watching 60 Minutes for the first time in several years, I did notice something that creeped me out. Ed Bradley wears an earring.

Scott Norvell notes that a missing preposition has landed a news reporter in hot water.

A reporter for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune has been disciplined for using the term "colored officers" in an email to a black officer at the police department in that city, the Star-Tribune reports.

Police reporter David Chanen told editors that he meant to use the term "officers of color" but accidentally used the other phrase instead.

After a week of GOP Senators calling for his resignation, now the Dems are starting to pile on Rumsfeld. The kerfuffle has also expanded to include controversy over Rumsfeld using an electronic reproduction of his signature for letters to families of deceased servicemen, rather than signing each one personally. There was no mention of whether or not past Secretaries have personally signed the letters or used a stamp, but they do mention that Bush personally signs all of the condolences that he sends.

I think that whether or not Rummy is able to ride out the political storm will be a good indicator of just how much President Bush supports his people. A Rumsfeld departure would reflect negatively on President Bush (in my mind any way). Then again, the negative press is going to get much worse before it gets better. Rumsfeld needs to hope that the holiday break takes some of the wind out of this media frenzy.

And just think, all of this started because an embedded reporter from Chattanooga was afraid that his own Humvee didn't have enough armor. It's a classic case of reporters creating the news rather than reporting it.

Yet another man in South Florida has died after being shot by a Police TASER which delivers a 50,000 volt shock.

A 36-year-old man died Wednesday night after a Hollywood police officer shot him with a Taser gun, police said. [...]

The death followed several controversial incidents in South Florida involving Tasers, less-lethal weapons used by law enforcement to subdue violent suspects. Three other people have died in the region after being shot with Tasers since 2002; two of those deaths involved drug use and the third was ruled accidental. Miami-Dade County authorities have recently been criticized for using the weapons on juveniles.

The anti-capitalist Kyoto Protocol is dead. Despite what anti-Bush greens are sure to claim, it wasn't just President Bush that killed it. Aparently countries trying to claw their way out of the Third World weren't looking forward to having to having to rein in their economic output either.

The conventional wisdom that it's the United States against the rest of the world in climate change diplomacy has been turned on its head. Instead it turns out that it is the Europeans who are isolated. China, India, and most of the rest of the developing countries have joined forces with the United States to completely reject the idea of future binding GHG emission limits. At the conference here in Buenos Aires, Italy shocked its fellow European Union members when it called for an end to the Kyoto Protocol in 2012. These countries recognize that stringent emission limits would be huge barriers to their economic growth and future development.

How long before non-secular Christmas and religous displays are banned in public housing?

Here is something to think about the next time you buy stamps.

NW writes "According to FOIA documents obtained by EPIC new Postal Service self-service postage machines take portrait-style photographs of customers and retain them for 30 days." . . . Note that the kiosk is supposed to not complete the transaction if it determines the photograph has been compromised, so simply covering the camera is unlikely to work.

Last week it was widely reported that the Parents Television Council is behind nearly 100% of the indecency complaints filed with the FCC.

But they don't share all of the blame, as it also looks like the FCC is taking complaints far more seriously than before. The indecency scorecard says it all.

It looks like nearly all of the complaints from 1999 to 2002 were tossed out. (20,310 complaints, 19,380 tossed or 95.4% thrown out) There is no data for 2004 yet, but in 2003 not only did the number of complaints increase dramatically, but almost none of them were tossed out. (200,000 complaints, 370 tossed or 0.1% thrown out)

Thanks to reader Steve Scudder for sounding the alarm about this one. Apparently San Francisco is so impressed with how well the total gun ban in Washington D.C. has worked to prevent crime, that they are hoping to duplicate it on the Left Coast.

The proposed voter referendum (tyranny of the majority) to ban guns will be on the ballot for the next election, possibly as early as November 2005. Given San Francisco's liberal history, it will very likely pass.

San Francisco supervisors want voters to approve a sweeping handgun ban that would prohibit almost everyone except law enforcement officers, security guards and military members from possessing firearms in the city.

The measure, which will appear on the municipal ballot next year, would bar residents from keeping guns in their homes or businesses, Bill Barnes, an aide to Supervisor Chris Daly, said Wednesday. It would also prohibit the sale, manufacturing and distribution of handguns and ammunition in San Francisco, as well as the transfer of gun licenses. [...]

If approved by a majority of the city's voters, the law would take effect in January 2006. Residents would have 90 days after that to relinquish their handguns.

Bill Barnes, an aide to Supervisor Chris Daly had this to say about the gun ban:

"The hope is twofold, that officers will have an opportunity to interact with folks and if they have a handgun, that will be reason enough to confiscate it," he said. "Second, we know that for even law-abiding folks who own guns, the rates of suicide and mortality are substantially higher. So while just perceived to be a crime thing, we think there is a wide benefit to limiting the number of guns in the city."

UPDATE: Publicola has more.

UPDATE2: Taranto points out that the mortality rate is the same (100%) for gun owners and non-gun owners alike.

A Missouri woman who was 8 months pregnant was brutally murdered, and her unborn child was cut from her womb and stolen. The crime is horrific and Missouri has issued an Amber alert for the stolen baby. Does anyone else think the statements from the Nodaway County Sheriff's Department are pretty creepy?

"The victim was eight months pregnant at the time of her death and medical personnel indicate that the child may be viable."

The subject of the search is described as "an 8-month-old white female fetus."

The election has been certified and the electors have voted, but Kerry's hunt for hanging chads in Ohio continues. Meanwhile, the Ohio Supreme Court threw out an election challenge, on a technicality.

The complaint questioned how the actual results could show Bush winning when exit-poll interview findings on election night indicated that Kerry would win 52 percent of Ohio's presidential vote.

Without listing specific evidence, the complaint alleges that 130,656 votes for Kerry and John Edwards in 36 counties were somehow switched to count for the Bush-Cheney ticket.

Spineless GOP lawmakers are piling on Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Senators John McCain, Trent Lott, Chuck Hagel, and Susan Collins have all come out publicly against the Secretary for military shortfalls and lack of equipment. Of course, Rummy has only been there for four years, while the Senators are career politicians and have had a direct role in military appropriations.

That they are being very public about their criticism speaks volumes for their character. Knowing how politics works this could be the beginning of the end for Rumsfeld, should President Bush cave to Republican sacrificial demands.

In my humble opinion, Rummy is a good man and he shouldn't go down for this at the hand of hapless GOP opportunists.

Remember the woman at the center of the crack for votes scandal? Georgianne Pitts was working for the NAACP's National Voter Fund to get out the vote in Ohio. She was busted for allegedly paying Chad Staton crack cocaine to register voters.

Last week, she turned up dead.

(Hat tip to reader, Steve S.)

Sadly, Mary Ellis passed away this month. She was 105.

Nursing home staff paid tribute to a 105-year-old British woman who had smoked since the age of 15 by cremating her with a packet of cigarettes and laying a large floral cigarette on her coffin.

Marie Ellis died - of natural causes - at the Eaton Lodge Nursing Home in Kent, southeast England, in early December and was cremated on Tuesday, clutching a packet of her favorite Benson & Hedges cigarettes.

While the Virginia General Assembly is panning the idea of a gun ban at the State Capitol, a spokesman for the Capitol Police is busy embarrassing himself.

"We're not trying to prohibit the legal carrying of any legal weapon," Maj. Jones said. "We're trying to know where the weapons are in the Capitol and to prohibit anyone who doesn't have the authority or the legal basis from bringing one in into the crowd."

That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state, therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.

Maj. Jones said weapons can fire accidentally or can be left behind inadvertently. "We don't want a child finding one," he said. "That's kind of scary."

Since losing the election, Democrats have been whining about needing to find a way to connect with the average American. Peggy Noonan has an idea.

I know something the Democratic Party can do right now that will improve its standing and increase its popularity. It can be done this week. Its impact will be quick and measurable.

It is this: Stop the war on religious expression in America. Have Terry McAuliffe come forward and announce that the Democratic Party knows that a small group of radicals continue to try to "scrub" such holidays as Christmas from the public square. They do this while citing the Constitution, but the Constitution does not say it is wrong or impolite to say "Merry Christmas" or illegal to have a creche in the public square. The Constitution says we have freedom of religion, not from religion. Have Terry McAuliffe announce that from here on in the Democratic Party is on the side of those who want religion in the public square, and the Ten Commandments on the courthouse wall for that matter. Then he should put up a big sign that says "Merry Christmas" on the sidewalk in front of the Democratic National Committee Headquarters on South Capitol Street. The Democratic Party should put itself on the side of Christmas, and Hanukkah, and the fact of transcendent faith.

This would be taking a stand on an issue that roils a lot of people, and believe me those people don't think conservatives are scrubbing America of Christmas, they think it's liberals; and they don't think it's Republicans, they think it's Democrats. Confound them, Terry! Come forward with a stand. . .

Do this, Democrats. Announce you will apply pressure to antireligious zealots throughout the country. You have nothing to lose but a silly and culturally unhelpful reputation as the party that is hostile to religious expression. What you could gain is respect and gratitude. Pick up that Christmas tree, Terry, take it outside and put a star on top, stand next to it, yell Merry Christmas and ring a bell.

Airline stewardesses are picketing the White House. They blame President Bush for siding with airline managers, who they claim are conspiring to deny them a "decent living." Union officials say that the airlines are claiming financial hardship and using the federal bankruptcy courts to force concessions with union employees.

"Bankruptcy is not a license to steal," said Ed Wytkind, president of the AFL-CIO's Transportation Trades Department.

Donna Hansen, 48, for 18 years a flight attendant with United, said she is flying 15 more hours a month now than when she started and being paid less after inflation: $40.97 per flight hour now compared with $37 in 1986.

"They're using bankruptcy to get leverage with unions and enforce concessions on the employees," she said. "We work more hours to get less pay."

You know, if I was still making the same wage I made even 5 years ago, I'd probably quit and get another job; not ask the President to force my employer to pay me more.

Caesar's Atlantic City was fined $80,000 because their security personnel were caught using security cameras to look down women's blouses, reports CNN.

On three occasions in 2000 and 2001, Caesars surveillance camera operators "recorded footage of selected parts of the anatomy of several females," in violation of statutes governing the use of clandestine surveillance by casinos, authorities said. [...]

One tape from 2000 contained 16 minutes of footage focusing on the anatomy of several females, according to Deputy Attorney General Cyrus Pitre. Another tape made the same night, from a different camera, showed 80 minutes' worth of footage focusing on women's anatomy, he said.

The Japanese are rolling out some new concept cars and personal mobility devices. This souped up electric eight wheeler will supposedly give American/German/Italian musclecars a run for their money.

The eight-wheel Eliica from Japan's Keio University Electric Car Laboratory can scoot from 0 to 60 mph in four seconds. It hits maximum speeds of 230 mph.

Gizmodo reports that this ugly duckling has a 100-hp electric motor for each of it's eight wheels. (How's that for 8 wheel drive?) Unfortunately it cost a quarter of a million dollars and takes a full 10 hours to recharge. There is no telling how fast the batteries would discharge at 230 mph, and at 800-hp I can only imagine the pollution* this thing must generate.

Next up is a "personal mobility vehicle", which I presume is Japan's answer to the Segway.

Toyota's i-unit personal-mobility concept vehicle gets you from point A to point B in a reclining or upright position. It will be shown in Aichi, Japan, in 2005.

If you ever see me driving one of these kooky contraptions, just shoot me.

* Considering most of the World's electricity comes from nuclear or fossil fuels, I wouldn't exactly call them "clean".

A Cleveland area clinic hopes to have more control over their employee's and patient's diets. They are trying to evict a McDonalds restaurant, which has 10 years left on a 20 year lease, from their property. They claim that McDonalds and Pizza Hut (who they already kicked out) are major contributors to obesity.

Since the clinic makes their living off of obesity related illness, you would think they would be trying to add a Krispy Kreme instead of getting rid of McDonalds. But they say that having such unhealthy food choices at a temple of good health is hypocritical.

The Cleveland debate began two years ago when one of the clinic's most talented, most outspoken heart surgeons rose at a staff retreat to question how in good conscience they could tempt their patients with such unhealthful products.

"I can't tell you how many patients found this repulsive," said cardiology chairman Eric Topol. "How can the Cleveland Clinic, which prides itself on promoting health, have the audacity to have a McDonald's in the main lobby?"

Some days, the scent of cooking grease wafts up the one flight to Topol's domain, a heart center that has been ranked first in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 10 straight years. He has heard all the wisecracks and not-so-amused comments about serving up a side of fries with that angioplasty.

"If this was a strip mall or a food court in a public place, that would be a different matter," he said in an interview. "We're supposed to be the icons for promoting good health."

I got 9 out of 10 correct, on MSN's Merry Mythmas Quiz but they would only give me credit for 8.

Take the quiz yourself and see how good you are at spotting the Christmas myths. Then come back here and continue reading about the one's I missed.

Spoiler Alert! If you plan on taking the quiz, do it before you read any further.

I genuinely stumbled on Question 6. In today's politically correct world, it seemed all to credible that 'Merry Xmas' was intentionally devised to remove 'Christ' from the equation.

I chose 'False' for Question 9, which they incorrectly say is incorrect. MSN claims that it is true that Teddy Roosevelt did not allow Christmas trees in the White House. Then they continue to explain how Roosevelt believed that cutting down trees was wrong, but when convinced otherwise by a Forester, relented an allowed a Christmas Tree into the White House after all. I guess whether or not I got the answer right depends on what the meaning of 'allow' is.

It's beginning to look like baseball will not be coming to Washington D.C. after all. At least not on a permanent basis.

The Washington D.C. city council voted last night to fund a stadium, but they mandated that 50% of the funding must be privately financed. Major League Baseball has been insisting on 100% public financing, and is likely to spurn the deal and walk away. If the Expos play in D.C. it will probably only be for a year or two while they try to find another home.

The city council could revisit the issue, but next month 3 new councilmembers will take office and all of them disapprove of using public money to fund a baseball team. That's why Mayor Williams was so eager for a vote with the current session of outgoing lame duck councilmen. While I'm not surprised that the D.C. city council could screw this up so bad, I cannot help but think they did the right thing for the cash strapped District.

Dealing with baseball is like selling your soul to the devil. The reason they insist on 100% public financing is because they know that cost overruns won't be a problem. $400 Million, $500 Million, $1 Billion, what's the difference if it's all taxpayer money? Getting the government to seize more tax dollars is much easier than convincing private financiers. Tax money is collected down the barrel of a gun. Why bother trying to convince people to pony up more when you can just take it by force?

Not only was D.C. on the hook for a $500 million stadium, they wouldn't even be allowed to use it for anything else. Baseball was dictating that D.C. would be allowed to use the stadium for no more than 12 days a year. During the offseason and away games, it would have to remain empty.

Plus there were fines and penalties that D.C. would have to pay if there were any construction or financing delays. If you make a deal with baseball, you'd better be able to have that stadium opened on time.

Of course baseball gets away with all this, in part because they are a legal monopoly. Their anti-trust exemption means that Vince McMahon can't run out and start his own Extreme Baseball League (XBL?). Simply put, if you want a major league baseball team in your home town you have to go through Major League Baseball. And since they are the only game in town, you have to pay through the nose for it.

If I were D.C., I'd tell baseball to buy their own damned stadium. Who the hell wants Montreal's sloppy seconds any way?

Two years ago, Ravenwood's Universe had the priviledge of hosting Carnival of the Vanities #14 on Christmas Day. This year we will once again play host to the Carnival, now in it's 118th edition.

To submit an entry, please use the Feedback Form, or email carnival -at- ravnwood.com

Be sure to include the URL of your entry and an exerpt or summary. Entries should be submitted by 5 PM on Tuesday December 21, although in the Christmas Spirit I will try to honor late entries. The Carnival will be held on Wednesday, December 22.

WTKR TV in Hampton Roads is reporting that a would be bad guy tried to rob a man in the parking lot of a local "gentleman's club". Unfortunately for the armed robber, the man had a Virginia concealed handgun permit and was packing heat as well.

In the parking lot behind the "Treasure Chest" nightclub on East Pembroke Avenue, police drew circles around empty shell casings, drawing the conclusion that 22-year old Tony Kensler, Jr. Newport News pulled-out a gun to rob a man, just to be surprised that his intended victim fought back.

That man had a permit for a concealed weapon, and he's the one who got off the shots, hitting Kensler in the arm, leg and chest. Police say it was self defense, and those who we spoke with agree. Sarah Daniel lives nearby, "I think he had every right to do what he did. If someone came up to me, I'd use any means of self defense that I had." Charli is an employee of the club, but wasn't working the night of the shooting. Still, she has an opinion, "I think the bad guys need to have something happen to them for a change, instead of always have some innocent person die."

Kensler, listed in fair condition at Riverside Regional Medical Center, is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of crack cocaine.

But I have to assume that this bad guy was deliberately staking out a gentlemen's club because he knew that the people inside would be unarmed, and have lots of cash. What more could a burglar ask for?

The D.C. Metrorail system is one of the worst in the nation. It's more expensive and less efficient of any rail system in the nation for a city this size. Rates have increased several times in the past few years, single car trains were run for Sunday night football games, and brand new bathrooms were installed and then closed due to lack of funds. Now Metro officials want to stick their hand back into the public till by increasing the sales tax in D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia.

Rudolph Penner of the Urban Institute, who chairs the panel, agreed with members who are concerned a sales tax will be seen as a regressive tax. On the other hand, he said no funding for Metro is not an option.

"If we do nothing, the downward spiral is almost inevitable," Penner said of Metro, which projects a $304 million a year capital and operating budget shortfall between 2006-2015.

John Hill with the Federal City Council -- a nonpartisan group that tries to improve the nation's capital -- said he believes the sales tax recommendation "will have business community support. This has been on our radar screen."

In Britain, burglars feel emboldened. When they invade a home in England they have little to fear. The citizens are pretty much disarmed and if they do have the nerve to defend themselves, they will likely face criminal prosecution.

Some members of the British government are beginning to realize that they have a problem. They have been working hard to restore the rights of homeowners. They hope to send a message to the criminal class that they will no longer be permitted to rob people with impunity. Then, of course, there is the opposition.

Lord Goldsmith, the attorney-general, flew in the face of the Prime Minister's pledge to look again at the law with a view to giving homeowners more rights when he said that existing legislation was adequate.

He said that criminals must also have the right to protection from violence, prompting David Davis, the shadow home secretary, to accuse the government of being dangerously split on the issue. [...]

"We must protect victims and law abiding citizens," [Goldsmith] said.

"But we have to recognise that others have some rights as well. They don't lose all rights because they're engaged in criminal conduct."

Contrast this with America. In the States, anyone who breaks into your home is considered a threat. An occupant pretty much has the right to use whatever force necessary up until the burglar is no longer a threat. No, you can't chase the guy down the street with guns blazing. But you can do your best to make sure he leaves your home on a stretcher (in a bag). That, my freinds, is why the rate of "hot" burglaries - burglaries in which the occupant is home - in the UK is three times as high as in the US.

For all you lefties out there that want to come up with new conspiracy theories, but just aren't creative enough, use the George W. Bush Conspiracy Generator. For example:

George W. Bush lowered taxes so that Rush Limbaugh and big corporations could kill welfare recipients.

(Via reader Steve S.)

Democrats have appointed themselves watchdogs over President Bush reports the Washington Post. Democrat Senators Byron Dorgan (N.D.) and incoming Minority Leader Harry Reid (NV) have appointed themselves to conduct hearings on those eeevil Republicans.

Dorgan and Reid listed possible targets for the hearings, including contract abuses in Iraq, the administration's use of prewar intelligence, misleading cost estimates for the Medicare drug benefit, the cost of the administration's plan for private Social Security accounts, the implementation of the No Child Left Behind education bill and administration policies on global warming.

Oy. Whenever I read a story throughout the day that strikes my fancy, I email it to myself and re-read it later. If it makes the cut, it shows up on the weblog the next morning. Those that don't make the cut are considered "leftovers", which are sometimes posted in a single entry.

Well, the leftovers have really been piling up, so here are some of them.

Winchester, England, is complaining because its sister city in Virginia has an image of the Confederate flag on its state seal, reports Fox News. "I've always been disturbed by the Stars and Bars up there," said City Councilor Ray Love, a Liberal Democrat on the English board, adding that the seal from Winchester, Va., hangs on a wall where his council meets. For the record, the Winchester (VA) Seal contains the St. Andrew's Cross, NOT the "Stars and Bars". He doesn't even know what he's offended about.

James Taranto had a terrific zinger about Rosemarie Jackowski's suggestion that U.N. power be indirectly proportional to military power. When she suggested that weaker countries have more U.N. influence, and followed it up by claiming that "Any nation, charged with a crime against international law, should be subject to the [International Criminal Court's] findings", Taranto remarked "And be enforced, apparently, by countries that have no weapons!"

Verizon says that it's not quite ready to offer "naked" broadband service. (DSL service not bundled with a phone line) As a Verizon DSL subscriber that doesn't have a Verizon phone line, this worries me.

Is your employer watching you? More employers are using GPS devices to track their employees movements and schedules. Illegal no, creepy definitely.

There's lots of bitching and moaning about those RFID chips that companies want to use to manage inventory. But very few people are sounding the alarm about vehicle Event Data Recorders (EDR) or "black boxes". When you get into an accident and the government subpoenas your own car to testify against you, don't say you weren't warned.

Some 'artist' made a George Bush portrait from a bunch of small pictures of chimpanzees. The owner of the market where the art exhibition was being held asked that they not display it, but they went and did it anyway. So, he kicked them out. Naturally they are crying "censorship".

The price of oil has been dropping quite a bit lately. It's been dropping so much that OPEC has decided to cut production so that prices will go back up. When that happens, the usual suspects will undoubtedly blame Bush.

A new survey shows that artists and musicians are actually doing better thanks to file sharing.

Driverless cars are coming. It's just too bad they look like a metrosexual golf cart.

With judges and politicians making their annual attacks on anything Christmas, something tells me that a little tar and feathers might come in handy.

MSN created a list of the 10 Best TV Characters. I've never heard of any of them, nor do I watch any of the shows.

If I had to make a list of the 10 Best Current TV Characters, it would have to include:

- Homer Simpson
- R. Lee Ermey from Mail Call
- That little kid from Two and a Half Men
- Red Foreman from That 70s Show
- Frank Barone from Everybody Loves Raymond
- Tony Soprano

Okay, that's only 6, but TV sucks so much now it's hard to come up with any more.

Now this is interesting. Pat Rothfuss, a University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point faculty member also writes satire for the student newspaper. But a recent column may have crossed the line. It included phrases like "punching smug-looking Republicans in the mouth", "key every car you see with a Bush bumper sticker", and "why don't you go on a killing spree?"

Naturally, College Republicans are upset. Not only is Rothfuss inciting violence, but as a faculty member such statements could be intimidating to conservative students. If Republicans had suggested such a thing, it would undoubtedly be called "hate speech".

For students, it's too bad Wisconsin denies her citizens the right to carry arms for self defense. If one of my professors had made such a threat, rather it be overt or 'ert, I would have been tempted to "keep and bear arms for security [and] defense" like it says to do in the Wisconsin Constitution.

Members of the Virginia General Assembly have caught Virginia gunowners by surprise. On March 10th 2004, the Joint Rules Committee met and passed a ban on firearms in the General Assembly*, which went into effect April 1, 2004. The joint committee consists of both Senators and Delegates, and does not need the vote of the full assembly to pass General Assembly rule changes. The Committee rule exempts the Members (Delegates and Senators), concealed handgun permit holders, and law enforcement officers.

The gun ban was so low key, that most members of the General Assembly didn't even know about it. If it weren't for Fairfax Board of Supervisors Chairman, Gerry "Hit and Run" Connolly wanting to extend the ban to Fairfax government buildings, we might never have even known. Connolly, who is notoriously anti-gun, says that if the state government is allowed to ban guns, local governments should be allowed to do so too. (PDF: 4.5 MB) Connolly, who was recently found not guilty of hit and run because his "position and his duties. . .caused him to be oblivious to what is going on in his car", is shocked by the double standard.

"It suggests a little whiff of hypocrisy to have one set of rules for them and one for everybody else," said Fairfax Board Chairman Gerald E. Connolly, D-at large.

"No one is trying to take anyone's rights away," he added. "We're simply trying to create weapons-free zones with the exception, I suppose, of concealed permits."

Fortunately, several members of the General Assembly were shocked by the revelation and are calling for a repeal of the gun ban. Gerry "Crash" Connolly is not likely to get his way.

* Open carry had been legal in all government buildings save court rooms and schools.

For a guy that conceded the election and insists that recounting isn't about overturning the results, John Kerry sure is acting rather suspicious. The latest news is that his legal team is going to start looking for hanging and pregnant chads in Ohio. The common theory is that the goal of Kerry's work in Ohio is to lay the foundation for 2008. It is presumed that Kerry wants to shore up the moonbat wing of the Democrat Party. The recounts and wacky consipiracy theories may not pay off now, but they should reap the dividends with the "selected not elected" crowd during the next election cycle.

President Bush is being blamed for yet another death. This time he's responsible for the suicide of an author from California, who obviously was suffering from the later stages of Post Election Selection Trauma (PEST).

In a harrowing 2002 book, Jonathan Aurthur chronicled his son Charley's long struggle with mental illness and his suicidal leap, at 23, from Lincoln Boulevard into the morning rush-hour traffic on the Santa Monica Freeway.

Eleven days after Charley's death on Nov. 1, 1996, Aurthur visited the overpass, peered down at the traffic and walked away feeling oddly liberated. "[Charley's] terrible affliction and suffering had imprisoned him but it had also imprisoned me," he wrote, "and now both of us were free."

Aurthur did not remain free, however. The longtime wetlands advocate, who friends said was despondent over mounting debt, his son's suicide and the reelection of President Bush, leaped to his death from a 500-foot cliff in the Angeles National Forest. A search-and-rescue team found his battered body Nov. 29, after he had been missing since Nov. 22. He was 56.

All of the chatter about Scott Peterson getting the death penalty needs to be put into perspective. Let's face it, getting the death penalty in California is not a very big deal. Since it was reinstated in 1976, California has only executed 10 prisoners, and they have not executed anyone recently.

Despite having 635 people on Death Row, California's last execution was in January 2002, and that was for a murder committed 22 years prior.

Getting the death penalty in California means a private cell on Death Row, and the knowledge that they will likely never execute you. Peterson will also enjoy mandatory appeals. Had I been Peterson, I would have been lobbying for it.

Geek with a .45 is collecting money for Spirit of America's Friends of Iraq Blogger Challenge. The money will benefit the people of Iraq, with some projects supporting the Coalition (Marines, Army, SeaBees) and other projects supporting Iraqis who are on the front lines of building a better future for Iraq.

Geek hopes to break $1000 before the December 15th deadline. He has already collected more than $800 so he just has a little way to go. Please help if you can.

Call it media bias or just a cheap shot, check out this line from MSNBC's synopsis of the reality show, Survivor Vanuato, which concluded last night.

Liars win and losers reward the liars.

Of course, having just finished an election cycle, most of the United States of America knows this well. We like to be lied to.

Maryland teachers are going to start using comic books to try to get kids to read.

Several more Maryland counties will begin using the comic book-based curriculum in the spring, though officials have not determined which books it will use. The rest of the state's school districts will introduce the curriculum at the start of the next school year.

Officials said the project will target students from kindergarten to high school, including children who speak limited English.

"You see kids reading comic books, buying comic books, and they seem totally engrossed," State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick said. "It looks like there's really some potential here." She said comic books are not meant to replace traditional reading materials but rather to be used as a supplement.

I've always been pretty sure that a lot of GFWs out there exhibit an irrational fear of guns. I know several women who plainly admit to being afraid of the inanimate devices. When she expressed fear for her life from one of her acquaintances, I recommended to one woman I know that she purchase a gun and learn how to use it. At best I would describe her response as cold and irrational fear. No gun, no way, no how. However, I've never really met a guy that exhibited that same fear. Hell, I really only know one guy that has gone on the record as being anti-gun. (I know there are plenty out there, I just don't really now any.)

Well, Julia Gorin must know a few, because she takes a scathing look inside the mind of the anti-gun male, whom she deems as cowardly.

He often accuses men with guns of "compensating for something." The truth is quite the reverse. After all, how is he supposed to feel knowing there are men out there who aren't intimidated by the big bad inanimate villain? How is he to feel in the face of adolescent boys who have used the family gun effectively in defending the family from an armed intruder? So if he can't touch a gun, he doesn't want other men to be able to either. And to achieve his ends, he'll use the only weapon he knows how to manipulate: the law.

In short, he is a man begging for subjugation. He longs for its promise of equality in helplessness. Because only when that strange, independent alpha breed of male is helpless along with him will he feel adequate. Indeed, his freedom lies in this other man's containment.

(By request, this was rerun from 08/04/2003)

The Washington Post reports that Montgomery County (Maryland) Democrats are going to start taking an "activist" approach. (What were they doing before??)

"There has never been a more important time to be in local government. Because of gridlock on Capitol Hill and Annapolis, we are going to take the bull by the horn and we are going to be innovative because I believe in progressive government. . . . We are going to push the envelope." -- Montgomery County Council President Tom Perez

"For those of us who have the values that we have, there is a great desire to show what government can do. This is an activist council." -- Montgomery County council member George L. Leventhal (D-At Large)

"We didn't run for office just to rake the leaves and tend to tree trimming. We've got ideas." -- Montgomery County council member George L. Leventhal (D-At Large)

"Those of us who are Democrats were hopeful for a Kerry administration. Well, there isn't going to be a Kerry administration, so what is our choice? Do we wait another four years to see if there is going to be a Democrat in the White House, or do we act locally? The answer is, we act locally." -- Montgomery County Council member Steven A. Silverman (D-At Large)

"I think they feel a sense that they are on their own. If you are in a position like Montgomery, where you've got some resources, talent and political capital, you ought to try some things out." -- Ed Kilgore, a policy director at the Democratic Leadership Council

Springfield Police Chief Wiggum once said, "Can't you people take the law into your own hands? I mean, we can't be policing the entire city!"

The Summit County (CO) Sheriff is taking that advice. He's found a way to let other people do his job, by drafting civilian volunteers to set up speed traps so he can spend more time doing more important work. (Please, no donut jokes.)

The Summit County sheriff has a plan for cracking down on speeding: Giving citizens their own radar guns so volunteers can sit by the side of the road and watch for lawbreakers.

Sheriff John Minor said the volunteers would not have any contact with motorists and would never be responsible for issuing citations. They would forward license plate numbers to the sheriff's office, which would send out letters asking violators to slow down.

What is scariest about something like this, is where do police draw the line. Sure, today they are just mailing out notices. Tomorrow they'll be mailing out tickets.

In Maryland, an SUV allegedly attacked and killed a man:

There's been a deadly accident on Route 198 in Laurel.

Police say an SUV failed to negotiate a turn in the road at 5th and Route 198 and struck a utility pole. The driver, a male, was ejected, and the vehicle landed on top of him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Here is a leftover from last week. A man dies in Chicago, and you know who gets the blame.

Herbert M. Hazelkorn, DDS, PhD Herbert M. Hazelkorn, of Glencoe, Illinois, left us on December 7, 2004, of a broken heart at the recent passing of his wife of 35 years, Bobby, exacerbated by a broken spirit arising from the results of the Presidential election.

Geez. When did we get to the point where we can't even hang laundry anymore?

A Florida woman had to go to court to restore her right to hang the wash out to dry. Even then, the court told her where she had to hang it.

...Robert Strauss, a homebuilder who lodged the complaint about Madden's clothesline, says, "Give me a break." He built two $3 million houses along the waterfront on Madden's formerly modest block. "We're not living in the '50s," he says. "We're not driving Edsels. We have air conditioning in our homes now and clothes dryers."

Fort Lauderdale ruled that Madden could keep her clothesline in a side yard instead of the backyard, where it might offend boaters passing by on the canal behind her home.

"I objected to walking out of the new home I was building and seeing her underwear. And now she's flying it like a flag," Strauss says.

Pat Sajak (of Wheel of Fortune fame) says that those that want to toss out the Second Amendment need to be prepared to toss out the First Amendment too.

The Second Amendment is a different matter. There are two schools of thought from the Left. One says that, since the amendment speaks of a militia, there was no intent to allow and protect individual gun ownership. Still, "...the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed" seems pretty clear to me.

The other school of thought is that the Founders could not possibly have foreseen the advances in weaponry nor imagined the horrible problems of drugs and gangs that have sprung up in our modern society. Therefore, we must either disregard, re-interpret or re-write the amendment to reflect the reality of the times. I have to admit that I see some merit in this argument. The days of Uzis and machine guns are a long way off from the weaponry of the 18th Century.

But, be careful, Second Amendment foes, this is where the slope gets positively greasy. Using the logic that the Founders couldn't have foreseen changes, how could they have possibly imagined the absolute saturation of media in our lives? How could they have begun to fathom the Internet or satellite television? Could they, in their wildest dreams, have conceived of a day when the most vile pornography imaginable could be sent directly to your home desktop without your consent?

Is it time to look at The Second Amendment through 21st-Century eyes? Maybe. But maybe it's time to look at The First Amendment, too.

As the Electoral College is set to certify the election results, some liberals just cannot bring themselves to accept the fact that Bush won the election. Now a story is making the rounds in the mainstream media that the Presidential election is still in doubt. The subheadline of this AP story at CNN reads, "Doubts persist about integrity of nation's voting system". From the opening paragraph, they try to shed doubt on President Bush's legitimacy.

As the Electoral College prepares to certify President Bush's re-election on Monday, concerns persist about the integrity of the nation's voting system -- particularly in Ohio, where details continue to emerge of technology failures, voter confusion and overcrowded polling stations in minority and poor neighborhoods.

Few mainstream politicians dispute Bush's victory, and the incumbent's 3.5 million-vote margin nationwide was wider than any of the reported problems, which included insufficient or incomplete provisional ballots and, in some places, brazen partisan shenanigans.

This is nothing more than a shameless attempt to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the Presidential election. Despite the fallacy of their argument, after the 2000 election detractors were successful in portraying the President as "selected not elected". They claim that it was Al Gore who had really won the election and that if it weren't for the uber-conservatives on the U.S. Supreme Court, Bush would have been sent packing back to Texas. For nearly 4 years, the Anybody But Bush crowd deluded themselves into thinking that using flexible recount standards, changing the rules, and devining Gore votes from hanging chads was somehow Constitutional.

Once you understand the suspension of rational thinking that the ABB crowd used for the 2000 election, it's easier to understand what is going on in Ohio. With the first popular vote majority since the first President Bush in 1988, it's pretty difficult to cast doubt that America really elected George W. Bush. So, not caring how pathetic they look to the rest of America, the detractors are grasping at any straws. They will do anything they can, no matter how absurd, to tear down President Bush.

The story goes something like this. A school in Texas is raffling a deer rifle to raise money to build a fence around the school. The anti-gun media outlet MSNBC is shocked, I say, shocked that such a thing would be allowed. So, they interview a local congresswoman and try to goad her into admitting that raffling a deer rifle is a bad idea. During the spit screen interview (which Kevin Baker painstakingly transcribed), they keep flashing up photos of evil scary looking "assault weapons" (MACs, UZIs, AR-15s and the like), followed closely by pictures of the kiddies in a lame attempt to lead your brain to a simple association.

That MSNBC is anti-gun comes as no surprise. I chronicled the anti-gun bias of their "Guns in America" resource page (which was only just recently removed) more than two years ago. Kudos to Kevin Baker for keeping the pressure on them.

If you thought auto-complete in Windows was annoying, wait until Google rolls out their Google Suggest feature.

(via CNET)

MoveOn.org is hopping mad at the DNC. The group is claiming that the DNC leadership is in bed with corporate fat cats, but would still be absolutely nowhere without the hundreds of millions of dollars raised by grassroots 527 groups like MoveOn.

"For years, the party has been led by elite Washington insiders who are closer to corporate lobbyists than they are to the Democratic base," said the e-mail from MoveOn PAC's Eli Pariser. "But we can't afford four more years of leadership by a consulting class of professional election losers."

Under McAuliffe's leadership, the message said, the party coddled the same corporate donors that fund Republicans to bring in money at the expense of vision and integrity.

"In the last year, grass-roots contributors like us gave more than $300 million to the Kerry campaign and the DNC, and proved that the party doesn't need corporate cash to be competitive," the message continued. "Now it's our party: we bought it, we own it, and we're going to take it back."

Back to back linky love. Can you offer a better explanation?

No wonder the guy has a bad back.

UPDATE: I KNEW IT!!

The Washington Post reports that Presidential Candidate John Kerry paid Al Sharpton to be his friend.

All of John Kerry's one-time rivals in the Democratic presidential primary eventually lined up to support him as the nominee, but only Al Sharpton got paid for it.

The Democratic National Committee paid Sharpton $86,000 in travel and consulting fees to compensate for his campaigning for Kerry and other Democratic candidates, according to reports to the Federal Election Commission.

. . . records show that while most of the money was to reimburse travel expenses, Sharpton was paid $35,000 as a "political consulting fee" 15 days after the election.

President Bush is vowing not to increase the payroll tax to fix the Social Security ponzi scheme. If they didn't collect that tax at the point of a gun, I would have opted out years ago. I hate social security and have come to the realization that I will never see a dime the 15% of my income that they seize from me each year. The money they take from me every month would make a nice mortgage payment in most communities.

Even if I do qualify to receive social security benefits (in the year 2040), the payments are likely to MAX out at 1/3 of my current salary. At least that is what my annual statements are telling me. No offense, but I hope to IMPROVE my living standard over time, not regress backward. As such I have already taken steps to plan for retirement. I have 401k, whole life, and several other investments going. When I retire I hope to actually get a raise, rather than having to settle for 1/3 of my income. Of course I would have a much better chance if politicians didn't take 15% of my income for their vote-buying scheme.

Keep in mind that if Social Security were run by private individuals they would be rounded up and thrown in jail. It's a ponzi scheme pure and simple, but since it's run by the government it must be okay.

It looks like Air America is going to make it after all. Investors have poured more cash into the outfit, and they are expanding into more markets, including this one. They have also signed Al Franken to a multi-million dollar contract to stay on and do his radio show.

When the show starts airing in D.C., I'll probably listen in a few times just to see what it's like. I doubt I would ever listen regularly, but I am very glad that they are doing well. Liberals have been complaining for years that conservatives have a stranglehold on talk radio. Their solution is more government regulation and a suppression of free speech called the 'Fairness Doctrine'. The law would force radio stations to air liberal programming to match that of conservatives. Every Hannity would have to have his Colmes to balance things out.

The survival of Air America means the death of the 'Fairness Doctrine' and government meddling in programming decisions.

They say you should give until it hurts, but that doesn't seem to be the policy of the Statesville Housing Authority. They snubbed a local businessman who is running a 'toys for tots' like program and collecting hundreds of toys for children who would otherwise receive nothing on Christmas day. There were a few whiners last year who were upset that the Housing Authority dared to accept gifts from the owner of a local gentlemen's club, reports Fox News, so the Housing Authority has decided that the children should forgo the toys.

Jeff Bustle, owner of Teasers in Statesville, said the Statesville Housing Authority told him that it won't accept gifts collected at his business.

"It's really sad," said Bustle, who has participated in toy drives for the past 14 years.

David Meachem, executive director of the housing authority, said he rejected the toys because he was criticized last year for accepting the donation.

Residents complained after they saw a photograph in the Statesville Record & Landmark last December.

The photo showed two dancers from the club next to a Statesville police officer, inside a limousine loaded with presents for children.

Gunman storms stage, kills 4 at Ohio nightclub - CNN Headline, December 9, 2004.

Tyson arrested in nightclub incident - CNN Headline, December 9, 2004.

U.S. to give Palestinian Authority�$20 million

You know, if I had a distinguished accent like this, I'd do an audioblog every day.

The Loudoun County (VA) Sheriff's Office is changing their uniforms from the traditional brown shirt and tan pants to a tan shirt and brown pants. They will also be changing from stiff polyester pants to cotton cargo pants with lots of extra pockets. The benefits of the change are clear: increased officer moral, increased comfort, increased utility, and a savings of 10% on their wardrobe budget. In fact, the only drawback is the uniform change violates state law.

According to a 1960s-era state law, deputies must wear brown shirts or blouses, taupe trousers, a Smokey the Bear-type hat and other complementary accessories. White shirts are allowed in warmer months. Badges are left to the sheriff's discretion.

I agree with the Sheriff's Office that the law is silly and should probably be repealed. But that doesn't mean that they should have the leeway to just ignore the statute. How would you feel if you were pulled over for making a "California stop" at an intersection and the deputy is wearing an illegal uniform? Why should you be expected to obey the law when he clearly is not?

I think that rather than move forward with the new uniforms, Loudoun should press the Legislature to repeal the statute when they come back next year. The benefits are clear and the General Assembly should have no heartburn about striking the law from the books.

When it comes to red vs. blue, Washington D.C. is about as blue as you can get. The Washington Post reports that the D.C. city council is raising taxes on sport utility vehicles. Vehicles that weigh more than 5000 pounds will carry a 1% excise (sales) tax premium, and cost $40 more per year to register. The council tried to justify their tax hike by making the unsubstantiated claim that SUVs cause more wear and tear on the roads and pollute more.

Washington D.C. also raised the minimum wage to $6.60 per hour next year and then $7 the year after, a measure that is sure to increase unemployment among low wage earners. Other laws passed by the council include making April 16, Emancipation Day, a legal holiday for city workers and public school students, and making it more difficult for police officers to arrest protesters.

D.C. puts the "progress" in "progressive".

1800 Harvard fans agree:

The federal law allowing retired and off-duty cops to carry firearms has really spooked the city of Chicago. Apparently, the virulently anti-gun city is worried about the mental stability of it's former employees. The Tribute writes:

There are about 9,000 retired city officers, and they receive no refresher training and do not undergo physical and mental evaluations after leaving the Police Department.

Last fall, Rockies pitcher Denny Neagle was charged with DUI after an accident where he allegedly hit someone from behind.

A few days ago, Neagle was caught with a prostitute, and the Rockies promptly cut him from the team.

Maybe my priorities are misplaced, but it seems to me that driving under the influence is more serious than paying someone for sex.

(Hat tip to Neal)

A fourth grader has been suspended for providing "look-a-like" drugs to her fellow classmates. The "drugs" were individually wrapped for distribution, and were being freely divvied out to eager young students. The Jefferson Parish Fourth Grader has been suspended pending a further investigation. KATC has more:

Eight-year-old Kelli Billingsley brought homemade Jell-O cups to school at Boudreaux Elementary. Her mom says the school tested the Jell-O and determined it didn't have any alcohol in it. But the school suspended the girl for having a look alike drug.

EDITOR'S NOTE: In the school's defense, they probably had a mean old mother like I did. As I stated more than two years ago, I thought jello was supposed to have liquor in it. My mother never made me jello when I was a kid, and the first time I had it was when I was in college. I went to the supermarket to find it and was appalled to find it mixed in with the pudding and kiddie treats. Also, the instructions don't say anything about how much vodka to add to the jello. I tried calling the help line, but they refused to help me how much Vodka to add. Finally, one of my roommates clued me in that jello was a kiddie treat that drunkards and college students had perverted for their own alcoholic gratification.

Manual trannies are almost dead.

...today, more than 90 percent of all new cars and nearly as many new trucks are equipped with automatics. In the past few years, the percentage of new vehicles sold in the United States with manual transmissions has slipped from 19.9 percent to 11.1 percent.

Perhaps one of the biggest appeals of driving a manual was the prestige. Even though they were more common back then, in high school only a few of us even knew how to drive a manual. In fact, when a friend of mine got a car with a stick shift for his 16th birthday, his parents left it up to us to teach him how to drive it.

I would bet that now most kids today are never even taught to drive a manual and would probably have a tough time getting one started much less moving. And lets see them try to find the reverse gear on a VW Rabbit or figure out how to operate the "glow plugs" on a diesel.

The FCC crackdown on TV and radio broadcasts for indecency has some entertainers crying censorship. But the FCC points to the dramatic increase in consumer complaints as justification for their action. In 2000 and 2001 there were less than 350 complaints, while in 2002, the FCC received roughly 14,000 complaints. In 2003 that number shot up to more than 240,000. So far in 2004, there are more than 1,068,767 complaints with 540,000 stemming from Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" during this year's Super Bowl.

So just who is to blame? How about conservative columnist and Media Resource Center founder Brent Bozell? Media Week points out that 99.8% of the complaints filed in 2003 came from Bozell's Parents Television Council (PTC). Aside from Super Bowl complaints, 99.9% of this year's tally came from the PTC.

The PTC has worked hard to achieve its influence over broadcast content. Founded in 1995 by longtime conservative activist L. Brent Bozell III, it set out to make an impact in 2003, including what it called "a massive, coordinated and determined campaign" for more action by the FCC against broadcast indecency. "We delivered on that promise," Bozell said in the group's annual report.

The document listed tools developed by the PTC, including continual monitoring and archiving of broadcast network programs and "cutting-edge technology to make it easier for members to contact program sponsors, the FCC, or the networks directly with a simple click of the button."

The result, the group said, was "a more than 2,400 percent increase in online activism."

Wired reports that more and more often, people running weblogs are being fired from their jobs over the content of their web site. Their tale of woe includes three examples of what seem to be somewhat justifiable terminations. The least justifiable was a stewardess who based her whole blog around being a stewardess. When she posted photos of herself in uniform on her website, Delta fired her for improper use of a company uniform. I don't know if she posted anything the company would (or could) consider negative, but since she appeared in company uniform they sent her packing. It seems like a shitty thing to do, but then Delta is a shitty airline.

Another case involved a web designer who used her weblog to bitch about her coworkers and people with whom she worked. (DUH!) When the company got wind of it, she was cut loose. Perhaps the most justifiable case was a Microsoft temporary worker who posted a few pictures he had taken of their headquarters facility in Redmond. Perhaps it was his wanton violation of their security policy, or the fact that he was seeking to publicly embarrass Microsoft by revealing their purchase of the latest Macintosh computers. Either way, he should have seen the pink slip coming from a mile away.

Here at Ravenwood's Universe we follow a simple rule. Don't bite the hand that feeds you. This blog is not financially solvent and it can support neither itself nor it's author. Therefore there will never EVER be any posts about my job, my company, or the work that I do. In fact, one of the reasons I use a pseudo-alias is to help prevent my company from finding this website to begin with. Now, once they found this site, they could easily check the domain registration or any of the photographs to verify my identity. But beyond that, I figure why advertise.

Of course, the threat can come from the other direction as well. All it would take is a well-placed phone call from an angry reader or a troll, and yours truly would be just another unemployment statistic. I think I'll stick to maintaining a low profile. In the immortal words of Beavis, "I'm in burrito".

The AP reports that Ohio has certified President Bush as winner of their 20 electoral votes. But apparently John Kerry still has dreams of being President.

This battleground state on Monday certified President Bush's 119,000-vote victory over John Kerry, even as the Kerry campaign and third-party candidates prepared to demand a statewide recount.

The Kerry campaign last week joined the presidential candidates for the Green and Libertarian parties who are asking for a recount. The candidates, who received less than 0.5 percent of the Ohio vote, planned to file their requests Tuesday. The Kerry camp is not disputing the outcome of the race, but wants to ensure that every vote is counted.

UPDATE: Kerry officials are trying to downplay that they hope to overturn the election result. But Green Party Candidate David Cobb is magnanimous: "There is a possibility that George W. Bush did not win Ohio. If that is the case, it would be a crime against democracy for George Bush to be sworn into office."

Until she got voted off, I had no idea that Survivor bad girl Ami Cusack had once posed for Playboy magazine. A very quick Google search pulled up this set of (DEFINITELY NOT SAFE FOR WORK) photos.

Here are a few tidbits from the MSNBC Gossip Page.

Eminem has been spending some serious cash at the cosmetics counter.

The bad boy rapper, who has been accused of writing homophobic lyrics, reportedly went on a shopping spree and dropped more than $100,000 on makeup.

Some anti-tobacco groups are protesting the nomination of Nicole Kidman as the Australian of the Year, insisting the "Stepford Wives" star flaunts her cigarette habit. "Her smoking does reinforce the wrong message, that smoking and glamour and success go together for young women," the Action on Smoking and Health Australia's Ann Jones told the Sydney Daily Telegraph.

Microsoft has launched their own blogging utility in an attempt to drive the competition out of business compete with blogger, Movable Type, Typepad, etc. But as CNET reports, dealing with Microsoft may have some significant drawbacks.

First of all, there is the censorship. You can't just post anything you want, and in simply choosing a blog name you may run into Microsoft's censorship filters pretty quickly. Second, there are the terms and conditions, which pretty much signs your content over to Microsoft:

For materials you post. . .you grant Microsoft permission to (1) use, copy, distribute, transmit, publicly display, publicly perform, reproduce, edit, modify, translate and reformat your Submission. . . Microsoft will not pay you for your Submission. Microsoft may remove your Submission at any time. . . To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Microsoft may monitor your e-mail, or other electronic communications and may disclose such information. . .

If you recently left France, you may have come home with an unexpected souvenir. As part of a training exercise, French police planted plastic explosives in the bag of a real passenger. Then, in typical French competence, they lost track of the bag.

Airport police deliberately placed a bag containing plastic explosives into a passenger's luggage early Friday evening, Bouquin said.

The exercise was designed to test sniffer dogs' abilities. One dog successfully detected the item, but the other did not. Before police got another chance, the bag had been carried off on a conveyor belt going from check-in to planes.

The explosives could have made it onto one of up to 90 flights leaving Charles de Gaulle Airport. Police didn't know the bag's destination and quickly alerted the relevant airlines.

In the past, universities like Harvard had banned military recruiters from their campus, while still enjoying federal tax money. With the passage of the Soloman Amendment, the federal government was able to tell these institutions of higher learning that if they wanted to ban the government from campus, they would no longer be able to accept federal funding. The law schools sued, naturally, and won.

The Boston Globe reports that Harvard didn't waste any time in reinstating their ban on military recruiters.

Harvard Law School will once again ban military recruiters because of the Pentagon's policy on gays in the military, the school's dean announced yesterday, the day after a federal appeals court blocked enforcement of the federal law that forced schools to allow the visits.

"This return to our prior policy will allow [the Office of Career Services] to enforce the law school's policy of nondiscrimination without exception, including to the military services," the dean, Elena Kagan, wrote in a brief statement late yesterday. "I am gratified by this result, and I look forward to the time when all law students will have the opportunity to pursue any legal career they desire."

Harvard had long barred military recruiters from formal campus visits because the Pentagon's ban on gays violated the school's nondiscrimination policies. Like many other law schools nationwide, Harvard was forced to allow the recruiter visits two years ago, when the government invoked a law known as the Solomon Amendment and threatened to cut the university's federal funding.

Despite what they say, I think it's obvious that Harvard is just anti-military and are playing the "gay card" to deflect criticism. Their claim to be such a staunch supporter of non-discrimination rings on deaf ears, especially considering their policy to openly discriminate in their hiring practices.

This is taken from the "Placement Goals" section (p 17) of Harvard's Affirmative Action policy:

Affirmative action has a central premise that an employer's workforce, over time, will reflect the gender, racial, and ethnic profile of the labor pools from which the employer recruits and hires, in the absence of discrimination. Accordingly, as part of the federal contract obligation, contractors are required to determine whether women and minorities are "underutilized" in their employee work force (that is, if women and minorities are not being employed at a rate to be expected given their availability in the relevant labor pool). Where that is the case, the contractor is required to take practical steps to address such underutilization, including the development of placement goals.

The University has set goals to increase representation of minority and female employees where there is underutilization in its work force.

Ashley Perry offers a unique perspective that you're sure not to see in the mainstream media.

I am a settler. According to most of the world, I and people like me are to blame for violence in the Mideast, global terrorism, even tribal warfare in The Sudan. I'm sure that, given time, the hurricanes hitting seacoasts around the world could also be attributed to the settlers.

If I were to be viciously murdered and hacked to death along with children and old people tomorrow, it wouldn't be the person wielding the knife who would be at fault, it would be me and us to blame!

I am an enemy of the world.

Scott Norvell notes that the PC attack against anything Christmas is in full swing:

The mayor of Somerville, Mass. has to issue a written apology for daring to refer to the city's upcoming celebration as a "Christmas party," reports the Somerville Journal.

Mayor Joe Curtatone's apology statement said, "A press release issued from my office last week mistakenly identified this month's City Holiday Party as a 'Christmas Party.' I apologize for the mistake and to anyone who was offended by it. On Dec. 21, City Hall will welcome the entire community to a party honouring all holiday traditions and celebrating this most festive of seasons."

Coming into the season, Virginia Tech was picked to finish no higher than 6th in the ACC. Today they won the conference and will likely face Auburn in the Sugar Bowl.

The interesting thing, as some readers have pointed out, is that Auburn might just eclipse USC in the computer polls. As you can see, USC is only .05 points ahead of Auburn.

1 Southern California .970
2 Oklahoma .990
3 Auburn .920

The problem is that Auburn isn't chasing USC. Even if they pass USC in the computer polls, it won't be enough to overtake Oklahoma's lock on second place overall. Especially after their huge win over Colorado.

Lets face it, the AP and Coaches poll aren't going to change. If anything, Oklahoma is going to gain ground because of their blowout win over Colorado. The human polls count 2/3 of your score, and with 1st place there and 3rd in the computers, USC still goes to the Orange Bowl. Oklahoma with 2nd place in the human polls and 1st place in the computers will take the second spot in the Orange. Even if Auburn managed to take 2nd place in the computers, their 3rd place in the human polls is enough to condemn them to the Sugar Bowl.

In Massachusetts, this is considered progress:

With a quick electronic scan of a fingerprint, gun shop owners in Massachusetts will know immediately if a customer is eligible to buy a weapon. . .

"You hit the button, before the customer leaves the store the state knows they purchased that firearm."

It's no wonder California gave Gray "out" Davis the boot. Just look at how big of a Grinch he was when it came to the official Christmas tree.

Four years ago, during the state's power crisis, Gov. Gray Davis lit the tree and then turned it off to save energy.

Davis also changed the name to the holiday tree, a practice Schwarzenegger followed last year, soon after taking office.

Check out CNET for more cell phone tower spotting fun.

Check out the opening paragraph of this USA Today editorial:

In 1998, just eight African-Americans walked the sidelines as head coaches at the 117 colleges playing big-time college football. It was, perhaps, the most striking symbol of racism entrenched in American life.

I don't know exactly why there aren't more black coaches in football. If I had to venture a guess, I would say it has a lot to do with it being closed to outsiders of all types. Call it a "good ol' boys" club if you want, but there's no mistaking the fact that the coaching carousel has the same old coaches going round and round. Quality coaches like Tyrone Willingham, Steve Spurrier, and Butch Davis are all looking for jobs, and "big-time college football" programs want a big time name. Coaches hoping to crack the major football programs will need to work their way up through the Div I-AA and II schools to the minor Division I-A schools. Louisville coach Bobby Petrino and Utah's Urban Meyer for instance, are ripe for the big time. But that's only two guys out of several hundred.

I'll admit that I was shocked that Willingham was fired from Notre Dame and I think he got a raw deal. But I think it's more representative of Notre Dame's desire to win (and win NOW) than it was any sort of inherent racism. (No offense to Catholics, but I think Notre Dame would hire the devil himself if he could guarantee a couple national titles.) It certainly doesn't seem like "the most striking symbol of racism" in American life.

Remember the online grocer, Webvan, who went out of business in early 2002? How about DrKoop.com who went under in late 2001? Well, with their quarterly filings a mere 3 years late, the SEC has finally suspended them from trading.

The news that the SEC had only now caught up with two of the dot-com era's more spectacular flameouts elicited mainly wisecracks and snickers in Silicon Valley.

"DrKoop--I thought the good doctor was euthanized years ago," said Paul Saffo, a fellow at the Institute for the Future, a research group in Menlo Park, Calif.

Actually, both Webvan and DrKoop.com do still exist, if only as placeholders for subsequent companies that might seek a quick way to go public on the cheap. [...]

Neither Webvan nor DrKoop.com would be very expensive if a buyer were shopping. Shares in Webvan, which topped out at $34 the day the company went public in November 1999, were worth two one-hundredths of a penny at Wednesday's close, on a volume of 165 shares.

DrKoop, which reached $32.65 a share a month after coming to market in June 1999, ended trading unchanged Wednesday, trading at nine one-hundredths of a penny, with 1,300 shares changing hands.

Remember all that tobacco money that the states demanded from tobacco companies. The money was supposed to help recoup medical costs and develop anti-smoking programs. Well, apparently state politicians are spending the money on the usual vote-buying schemes, without meeting even the minimum requirements for anti-tobacco spending. In fact, only three states, Maine, Delaware and Mississippi, are spending enough to meet the minimum requirements.

"The states are receiving more and more revenue related to tobacco but doing far too little to fund programs to reduce tobacco use, particularly among children," said Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "They're using the money to fill short-term budget shortfalls, build roads and every other conceivable political purpose."

In stumping for his latest movie, "Christmas with the Kranks", MSNBC has this hilarious account from Dan Aykroyd.

"Greetings and death to our enemies," Aykroyd began the interview. When one reporter asked what enemy the star was referring to, Aykroyd replied: "Well, the common enemy in North America is the Western consumer. The consumer has driven oil up to $50 a barrel so we have to have these wars."

Regarding George Bush's re-election, Aykroyd said, "We've got to support [Bush] as the commander in chief and we've got to support those young men and women who are out there protecting our big, fat, bloated lifestyle." ...

Then the "Ghostbusters" star got into the subject of extra-terrestrials, saying "I'm the Hollywood consultant for mufon.com, which is the mutual UFO network and I have in the past two weeks have been sent just astounding home video of these objects that are just winking in and out or our atmosphere, coming and going like taxis. . . . You've been hearing of these sightings in [Canada's Yukon Territory] with these ships 200 feet across. 200-300 people have seen them Mounties have seen them. There's huge, massive motherships going up to the Yukon."

John F. Kerry has flip-flopped again. More than 4 weeks after the election, Senator Kerry is supporting a recount in Ohio reports the Washington Post.

Sen. John F. Kerry's presidential campaign asked an Ohio judge yesterday to allow it to join a legal fight there over whether election officials in one county may sit out the state's impending recount.

A pair of third-party presidential candidates, who said that reports of problems at the polls on Election Day are not being addressed, are forcing the Buckeye State to recount its entire presidential vote. But David A. Yost, a lawyer for Delaware County, just outside Columbus, won a temporary restraining order last week blocking any recount there. He told the Columbus Dispatch that a second count would be a poor use of county resources.

The recount request by Cobb and Badnarik is just a rediculous ploy for attention. And if Kerry honestly feels a recount is necessary, why did he concede the election? Oh well, at least Kerry voted against recount before voting for it.

For all the talk about the looming trade deficit, Larry Kudlow makes the case that it is actually the sign of a good economy.

As the U.S. economy rises, tax collections go up and the budget deficit goes down, but the trade gap widens unless our major trading partners take pro-growth policy steps to cut taxes, deregulate markets and end socialism. This is what China and India have done as they liberalize their policies, increase their growth rates, and become important buyers of U.S. goods and services. Not until our G-7 partners take pro-growth policy steps will the trade gap begin to narrow.

But what about the value of the dollar? Kudlow notes that it is way undervalued. If we continue the pro-growth tax policies, foreign investment in the United States will eventually catch up and increase the value of the dollar.

Jonah Goldberg notes that since they are no longer in a position to force their views on people, more and more liberal Democrats are coming down on the side of Federalism. As a Federalist myself, this makes me as happy as I am confused.

If you don't know what this all means, don't worry. Goldberg also offers a Federalism for Dummies analogy for those of you that might be scratching your head.

The analogy I always use with college audiences is dorms. Imagine you've got ten dorms on a campus and a student population divided up into the usual coalitions: stoners, partiers, jocks, and so forth on one side, and study geeks, exchange students and - no offense - nerdy Mennonites on the other. A purely democratic system where all students get to decide dorm policy could result in the tyranny of 51 percent of the students over 49 percent of the students. The party-hardy crowd could pass a policy permitting loud music and keg parties at all hours of the night. Or if the more academically rigorous coalition won, they could ban "fun" of any kind, ever. Similarly, if the administration imposed its own policy from above, you could have a system that makes no one happy.

But, if you allowed each individual dorm to vote for its own policies, you could have a system where some dorms operate like scholarly monasteries and other dorms are more fun than a pool party at James Caan's house. Theoretically, 100 percent of the students could live the way they want. Maximized human happiness!

Unfortunately though, as some Liberal Democrats are moving away from a system whereby a strong central government dictates the rules for everybody, some Republicans are moving in the opposite direction. Goldberg concludes:

Just this week, the Bush administration argued against California's medical marijuana law. Bush is also moving ahead toward a constitutional prohibition on gay marriage. After decades of arguments that Washington should stay out of education, Bush has made it his signature domestic issue.

It's not that the White House doesn't have good arguments for its policies. But it is impossible to restore federalism unless you start by allowing states to make decisions you dislike. Otherwise, it's not federalism, it's opportunism.

The votes have been counted in the state of Washington. The votes have also been recounted. With almost 900,000 votes cast, Republican Dino Rossi won by a mere 42 votes. Winning both counts, the vote totals changed just 0.008%.

But rather than concede defeat, Washington Democrats are demanding yet another recount.

Kim du Toit provides yet another reason we should switch back to the .45 from the wussy 9mm Europellet. See slides 3 through 6.

While I'm glad the guy's alright, what does it say about the potency of the 9mm when a guy can get shot in the face at point blank range and suffer only a broken tooth.

Related articles:
9mm loses to Xbox - 12/04/2003

One of only three known po'ouli birds has died. Environmentalists are crying over the inevitable extinction of the species, and of course they are also blaming mankind for the extinction. But look at these passages from the article and see if you can figure out what's wrong.

The small, stocky, brown bird with a partial black face described as a bandit's mask was discovered in 1973 by a group of University of Hawaii students conducting research on the east slope of Haleakala volcano. [...]

The po'ouli's numbers have dwindled because of habitat loss and introduced predators like rats, cats and mongoose. Nonnative diseases carried by mosquitoes have also taken a toll on the Hawaiian birds.

Its natural habitat has been ravaged by development and by feral pigs, goats, rats and the Indian mongoose.

Although fossil remains have been found on the dry south slope of Haleakala, indicating that the Po`ouli was previously more widespread, it is currently restricted to the upper elevations of east Maui's rainforests, from 4,650- 6,680 feet. All of the known birds occur within the Hanawi Natural Area Reserve and adjacent portions of Haleakala National Park and the Ko`olau Forest Reserve. [...]

Almost all native forest birds are restricted to elevations above 4,900 feet. Possibly one of the most telling explanations for this restricted distribution is that introduced mosquitos, which transmit avian malaria, are common below this elevation.

A story about an increasing number of college kids studying abroad started out innocent enough. The increasing demand was being chalked up to cheaper tuition rates, aggressive international recruiting, and the desire to see more of the world. But then there was this gratuitous jab at President Bush.

Gunnar Olson, Schell's guidance counselor at Indian Springs School near Birmingham, said some of his students who initially expressed interest this fall in going abroad -- prompted by disappointment with the results of the U.S. presidential election -- have since reconsidered.

Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb and Libertarian candidate Michael Badnarik have been seeking a recount in Ohio for the past several weeks. Even though they have absolutely no chance of winning any precinct (much less the state), they are taking advantage of Ohio's generous recount law at the expense of Ohio taxpayers.

Not satisfied with recounting Ohio, now they are setting their sights on Nevada and New Mexico.

Although they have no chance of winning, the candidates backed by the "527" group Help America Recount Fund, are claiming that voting "irregularities" are being ignored in those states (but not in any of Kerry's "blue" states).

Here's hoping that Nevada and New Mexico recognize this for what it really is and tell Badnarik and Cobb to buzz off.

The groping going on at our nation's airports is not going unnoticed. More and more women are getting fed up with the fondling and are finding other means of transportation.

Rhonda Gaynier, a New York real-estate lawyer, was flying home from Tampa, Florida, and passing through airport security when she was asked to step aside for additional screening.

What happened next shocked her: Using an open hand, a security agent touched her on her shoulders, under her arms, around her waist, across her bra strap, and between her breasts, Gaynier said -- all in front of other passengers.

"I support the ban on religious music in the schools because I feel that it makes children, who do not celebrate a particular holiday or have a particular religion, it makes them uncomfortable, as if they have to choose between being in a chorus or band and their religions," -- Maplewood, NJ resident, Shelley Slafkes, supporting a ban on Christmas carols.

So, if you don't like Christmas Carols, why would you go to a Christmas recital? (How long before someone sues Norad for tracking Santa Claus?)

Last week I was channel surfing and ran across CSPAN. They were showing something about Halo 2, so I paused for a few minutes to watch. A bunch of politicians were hearing evidence about the wonton violence and sexuality of video games from some organization of parents who are apparently too lazy to monitor their kids.

After the Halo 2 demo ended, they moved onto Halflife, and then into sex games like Leisure Suit Larry. At the time I didn't think much of it. They did show some soft core animated nudity, but it was cable and I figured nobody watches CSPAN, any way. But it did catch the attention of Brit Hume.

Media critics were up in arms over Janet Jackson's exposed breast at the Super Bowl and the locker-room towel-dropping on last week's "Monday Night Football," but don't expect to hear from them about the latest breast-baring on prime time TV this week. No, it wasn't on the latest episode of "Desperate Housewives," or some reality show wardrobe malfunction.

It was on CSPAN - the 24-hour political channel - during a broadcast of the National Institute on Media and the Family's annual video game report card. With Senators Joe Lieberman and Herb Kohl looking on, CSPAN aired an unedited, uncensored compilation of women baring it all in games like "Leisure Suit Larry" and "The Guy Game."

No word on whether the prime time porn boosted CSPAN's audience.