The Coalition of the Swilling

July 06, 2009

IMHO: On the McNair Murder

Two words sprung immediately to mind:

Garden Weasel

Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:03 AM | Comments (5)

April 24, 2009

What A Nice Model "Family"

The pizza was so good they left the kids for the tip

A German couple who abandoned three young children in an Italian pizzeria on Sunday have told police they fled because they had no money, reports say.

Ina Caterina Remhof, the 26-year-old mother, and her partner Sascha Schmidt, 24, said they had to eat scraps of food from bins, the Ansa news agency said.

The pair were found on Thursday in a wood near the northern town of Aosta.

The two left the restaurant in Aosta, supposedly for a cigarette, but never returned. The children are now in care.

Now this story I suppose is there to make us feel all misty eyed and sorry for the state that these young star-crossed lovers are in, due, no doubt, to the evil capitalistic economy brought about by the US global hegemons. But then there's this little point

The Italian newspaper, La Stampa, quoted Ms Remhof as saying that she and her boyfriend had left for a holiday in Italy with 900 euros (£815) but had quickly run out of money.

Hmm. Doesn't sound like they were really in a position to go off on holiday, does it? Oh, and then there's this little detail about the charming couple

German police have said that Mr Schmidt was on the run after not returning to prison while on parole, while the children's biological father is serving a prison sentence for fatally mistreating a fourth child he had with Ms Remhof.

When people are allowed/encouraged to live and rut like animals one can not be surprised when they start to act like animals.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:49 AM | Comments (4)

March 26, 2009

Something Is Very Rotten In Oakland

How else to account for this

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - As the city prepares for a massive public funeral for four police officers slain in the line of duty, dozens took to the streets in a show of support for the man authorities say was their killer.

Organized by International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement, the march Wednesday evening took participants near a police substation within sight of the two locations where Lovelle Mixon allegedly shot the veteran officers before being slain himself.

Loved ones and supporters walked through the streets chanting, "OPD you can't hide, we charge you with genocide!" There were no officers patrolling the march route.

"I don't condone what he did, but it's bringing to light the frustrations between the community and the police," said Uhuru Movement member Kihad Deen. "This gives people a chance to speak their minds."

Mixon's cousin, Dolores Darnell, 26, addressed the small crowd, calling him "a true hero, a soldier."

"This is the real Lovelle," she said, holding a picture of a smiling Mixon with his wife. "We do apologize for what he did to the officers' families. But he's not a monster."

Well, he's certainly not a monster anymore

Authorities say a day before the shooting the 26-year-old fugitive parolee was linked by DNA to the February rape of a 12-year-old girl who was dragged off the street at gunpoint.

One thing I don't get is the use of the word "allegedly." It's not like there's going to be a trial and therefore a need for presumption of innocence; the bastard is dead and there doesn't seem to be any doubt that he killed at least the first two motorcycle cops, right? Heck, even his "supporters" admit he killed them. And they "do apologize for" it.

And what the heck is this "International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement?"

A recent meeting of the Intergalactic People's Democratic Uhuru Movement

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:02 AM | Comments (8)

February 21, 2009

Remind Me Again Which Party It Is...

That values "monied interests" and "big business" over "human dignity"?

“America stands in firm opposition to China’s detention of political dissidents and human rights advocates and religious activists. We press for openness and justice — not to impose our beliefs but to allow the Chinese people to express theirs.”

-George Bush, August 8th, 2008

"Human rights cannot interfere with the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crises."

-Hillary Clinton, February 20th, 2009

It takes a village to efficiently repress humanity.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 01:05 PM | Comments (12)

Hillary: Chinese Slave Factories? It's All Good!

Now here's some change you can believe in

BEIJING, China (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton broached the issue of human rights with Chinese leaders Saturday, but emphasized that the world economic and other crises are more pressing and immediate priorities.

"Human rights cannot interfere with the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crises," Clinton said in talks with China's foreign minister.

So since she supports the Chinese child slave labor factories as they pump out melamine-laced products and lead painted toys in the struggle against the "world economic crisis," I can only assume that she, and her boss, are now in favor of keeping Guantanamo open as well since in their new official world view that she announced "Human rights cannot interfere with...security crises" either.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:29 AM | Comments (8)

January 07, 2009

"Exclusive Rights" To An Inaugural Ceremony?

HBO and the "star-studded event" can kiss my ass

NEW YORK -- HBO will kick off coverage of Inauguration Week with an exclusive Sunday, Jan. 18, telecast of the star-studded opening ceremony, two days before the saturation coverage of President Barack Obama's inauguration begins in earnest.

In 1993, HBO paid $1.5 million to the Presidential Inaugural Committee to exclusively televise Bill Clinton's kickoff from the Lincoln Memorial, something that annoyed non-HBO subscribers who weren't able to watch the concert by Bob Dylan and Diana Ross.

This time around, HBO -- which has been awarded the rights for an undisclosed sum -- is planning to offer the event free to cable and satellite subscribers, regardless of whether they have the pay channel or not. The entertainment lineup for the event, which may also be streamed, hasn't yet been announced, but both Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are scheduled to attend.

And why is there a "star-studded" opening ceremony in the first place? It's not the Olympics.

What's next... "The Washington Monument, brought to you by Viagra"?

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:01 AM | Comments (31)

August 01, 2008

I'm Sorry, But Unless The Bus Was Loaded With 75 Year Old Ladies...

...I can not see how Dudley Do-Right can say this

(Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sgt. Steve) Cowell said there was no immediate indication of what prompted the attack. He said he didn't know how many times the victim was stabbed. Witnesses described the weapon as a large butcher-type knife.

Colwell praised the "extraordinary" level-headedness and bravery of the bus driver and passengers.

"What you saw and what you experienced would shake the most seasoned police officer. And yet I'm told that each of you acted swiftly, calmly and bravely in running away like a bunch of little pussies," Colwell said. "As a result, no one else was injured."

Ok, maybe I edited that a little bit, and I freely admit that it is easy to armchair quarterback on something like this, but my god, 30+ of you on that bus and no one thought to kick that piece of crap from behind as he was hacking that poor guy? You could have thrown suitcases, books, purses, fire extinguishers; there were tons of things. But you all managed to swiftly, calmy and, oh yes, bravely flee so that beast could continue to butcher that poor man undisturbed.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:18 AM | Comments (224)

July 31, 2008

They Fled?

How completely barbaric and disgusting

A passenger traveling on a bus across Canada's vast Western plains stabbed, gutted and decapitated a man seated next to him in an unexplained attack, a witness told media Thursday.

The victim had been sleeping before he was repeatedly stabbed in the chest by a man with a large knife, witness Garnet Caton told public broadcaster CBC.

The other 35 passengers and driver were jolted by "blood-curdling screams" and fled. "He must have stabbed him 50 times or 60 times," said Caton.

When Caton and two others returned to check on the victim, he said they saw the attacker "cutting the guy's head off and gutting him."

What the hell?

Can't get involved, eh?

"There was a blood-curdling scream. I was just reading my book, and all of a sudden I heard it," said Garnet Caton, who was sitting in front of the two men.

"It was like something between a dog howling and a baby crying, I guess you could say. I don't think it will leave me for a while."

What won't leave you? The fact that 35 of you ran away from one guy with a knife?

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:15 PM | Comments (7)

July 29, 2008

Horror In Antigua

Murdered on their honeymoon

The husband of a British doctor shot dead in their honeymoon hotel room is in a critical condition in a coma with a bullet lodged in his brain, police have said.

Benjamin Mullany, a 31-year-old physiotherapist, is in the intensive care unit of the island's only hospital with injuries including a fractured skull, damage to the spinal cord, brain haemorrhaging and a broken leg, according to sources.

His wife, Catherine, also 31, died instantly after she was shot in the side of the head after an intruder broke into their cottage at the Cocos Hotel in the early hours of Sunday morning.

...Just hours before she was shot dead Mrs Mullany had reportedly sent a text to a friend calling Antigua "beautiful and lush like the Garden of Eden."

The friend said that the hospital doctor had told her she had "never been happier" at her wedding on July 12. She added: "I can't talk much, I'm so choked up. Cath had only just texted me to say she was having the best time of her life, and joked about how grown-up she felt being married. I can't believe she's gone."

My god, just awful. Those poor dears.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:26 AM

July 24, 2008

Channeling Han Solo

I am, after all, a simple man. It would seem to me that if you are a guy who's been married for 48 years and your wife is "totally devastated" because you've been caught on film in an S&M orgy with some prostitutes and you can think of "nothing more undignified or humiliating" for your two sons to experience that maybe, just maybe the blame and responsibility for these troubled times in your family lies with the fellow you see staring back at you every morning when you shave.

"It's not my fault!"

But, like I said...

I am a simple man.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:15 AM | Comments (12)

July 15, 2008

Good

Let her rot in jail and rethink her ways

(CNN) -- Susan Atkins, a terminally ill former Charles Manson follower convicted in the murder of actress Sharon Tate, on Tuesday was denied a compassionate release from prison.
Susan Atkins, Califorina's longest-serving female inmate, is shown in her most recent mug shot.

Atkins, 60, has been diagnosed with brain cancer and has had a leg amputated, her attorney said. In June, she requested the release, available to terminally ill inmates with less than six months to live.

Sorry, anyone who did this

According to historical accounts of the murder, Atkins stabbed Tate, who was eight months pregnant, and scrawled the word "pig" in blood on the door of the home the actress shared with director Roman Polanski.

By her own admission, Atkins held Tate down and rejected her pleas for mercy, stabbing the pregnant woman 16 times.

Never ever deserves to breathe free air.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:22 PM | Comments (5)

July 02, 2008

What Part Of "Go And Sin No More" Don't They Understand?

We're having our great Liberty Extravaganza at church and, given the insanity coming out of the Presbyterian General Assembly, I sent Tim a note letting him know that there were still some sane Presbyterians left in the world (he was dragged to my church last year after I rendered him insensible with the weightier part of a case of wine). He was kind enough to point me to this latest bit of insanity from the General Assembly

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The nation's largest Presbyterian denomination on Friday (June 27) cracked open the door to ordaining non-celibate gay and lesbian clergy, though the decades-old fight is far from over.

Delegates at the Presbyterian Church (USA) meeting here voted 54 percent to 46 percent to remove a clause in their constitution that requires clergy to be either married and faithful or single and chaste.

...In a related move, delegates approved an "authoritative interpretation" of church rules on gay clergy, a move that was meant to piece back together a delicate compromise forged two years ago that was rejected by the church's highest court.

Under the new interpretation, gay and lesbian clergy would be allowed to declare a conscientious objection to rules that would otherwise prohibit them. Local bodies could then choose to ordain them, or deny them access to the pulpit.

How come the G & L folks get special treatment? Why can't I "declare a conscientious objection to rules" that, you know, might crimp my style or, even worse, perhaps cast my desires in a less-than-flattering light?

Last I heard people who declare a "conscientious objection" to God's rules were called atheists, not clergy.

But I don't get out much, and obviously times have changed.

Talking about this this morning with my Pastor, he pointed me to some recent letters concerning these latest GA actions, specifically this one from Mark Isaac:

I am not as discomforted at the actual decisions of the current General Assembly as I have been at the quoted justifications of several of the delegates. The following quote, assuming it is accurate, is representative of why we are in the mess we are in. The speaker is represented as being a supporter of the pro-gay-marriage language of one of the debates:

"Likewise, [name deleted], a youth advisory delegate from Winnebago Presbytery, said, 'We've already made a giant leap toward full inclusion of all Presbyterians.' She argued that the failure to give full privileges to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people 'goes against our constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness.'"

It's hard to know where to begin to respond to this quote. First, I'd ask which Constitution she is quoting. Certainly not the U.S. Constitution, which mentions things like life, liberty and property but not the "pursuit of happiness." (Perhaps she is thinking of the Declaration of Independence). More to the point, our ultimate "Constitution" as Christians is Scripture, and a search for "pursuit of happiness" in a popular Biblical search engine has failed to produce any insightful texts on this "right." What I see in this quote, and in so many others during the past several days, is an Assembly that includes a startling number of delegates who have ceased even to debate about what God wants from us and instead approach awesome decisions from the perspective of what our culture wants from God. "Inclusion," "the pursuit of happiness" and so forth are now the theological starting points of the debate that trump all else.

I've been praying about these events for the past couple of days, and I've been moved to believe that what is called for is a radical reorientation of my relationship with the organized Presbyterian church in the USA. My life as a Christian can no longer simply be concerned with "church membership" – wrestling with the question, "Do I take my membership here or there?" The time for debating over the arrangement of the deck chairs to get a better view of the icebergs is over.

I've decided that Jesus doesn't care about my church membership. I've always wondered what it would be like to feel called to be a missionary in some foreign land. Instead, I believe that the church in America has been so completely overwhelmed by modern culture that the only appropriate stance for me is to live my life as a missionary Christian – living in the modern church culture but not of it, teaching and (I pray) living the gospel among those who have been taught that God is the God of "the constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness." (Lest we all get too comfortable, it would be very easy to find ways in which so-called "evangelical" Christians replace the Gospel with modern culture). Unless we can succeed in thus teaching and living the gospel in this culture, who controls which property and what overture changes which part of the Book of Order is nothing but a vanity.

"I've decided that Jesus doesn't care about my church membership." Completely true. The organized church is nothing but a human construct, and as such is fallen...as our GA goes out of its way to remind us every year.

Folks like Mr. Isaac are why membership in squishy mainline churches, such as what the GA evidently wants us to be, are declining. We are surrounded by relativism, by folks and institutions that go out of their way to be non-judgmental and accepting and affirming of basically everything lest they in some way offend our tender sensibilities by somehow perhaps kind of sorta implying that maybe something we've done is, er, wrong, which of course is an invitation for a lawsuit. If our church, and by its lead and implication Scripture, are now to go down that path then what pray tell is its purpose or use? We don't need another venue to worship ourselves.

The young lady he quotes is sadly all too indicative of this prevalent and all-too-common mindset, and completely bass-ackwards. The church has no need to make a "giant leap towards full inclusion" (a phrase which to my aged ear sounds chillingly Maoist); God is all-inclusive already. However, he does have a few rules that we have to choose to follow, and this is where things evidently get dicey for folks these days. He makes the rules and we have to decide if we will follow them or not. Now, as we have all already decided not to follow them we have to go to Plan B and admit that we, not society, not George Bush, not Mom who didn't buy us that puppy we wanted when we were 8, no, we are fallen, broken and at fault for much of the misery in our lives, for the mistakes we have made. We have to look in the mirror and declare "I am wrong;" heck, we have to publicly declare "I am wrong" by affirming our faith in church.

Otherwise church is just Oprah minus the couches.

As far as the rest of his letter, it's interesting and obviously I agree with most of what he says but he starts to lose me when he talks about going off and "teaching" the Gospel; it seems he's drifting perilously close to falling into the trap he's trying to escape from, the personal interpretation of Scripture. Try to live the Gospel as best you can, 'teach' to some extant via your example, but I'm uncomfortable with someone anointing themselves a "teacher." I much prefer someone to have training with the weight of history behind it.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 11:36 AM | Comments (5)

June 19, 2008

If Only He Had Put This Much Effort In To His Studies...

...he might not be facing 38 years in jail

It could be a long time before Omar Khan goes to college: as long as 38 years, according to Orange County prosecutors, who have arrested and charged the 18-year-old student with breaking into his prestigious high school and hacking into computers to change his test grades from Fs to As.

Let's run over the relevant facts: He's 18. He gets caught cheating on an exam or two, so he gets Fs. He breaks into the school several times. He steals passwords. He hacks into the computers. He changes grades and records. He installs spyware on the computer system so he can continually access it and know who else has been looking.

But, of course

Mr Khan’s defence lawyer, Carol Lavacol, described her client as “a really nice kid” and said: “There’s a lot more going on than meets the eye.”

"This is not the Omar Khan I've known" - Barack Obama

Update: in a TOWACA exclusive we have obtained a photo of the Principal when he learned what this student had done...

KHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:54 AM | Comments (13)

June 11, 2008

God Gave Us Pointy Teeth

...for a reason

A girl of 12 brought up by her parents on a strict vegan diet has been admitted to hospital with a degenerative bone condition said to have left her with the spine of an 80-year-old.

Doctors are under pressure to report the couple, from Glasgow, to police and social workers amid concerns her health and welfare may have been neglected in pursuit of their beliefs.

The youngster, fed on a strict meat- and dairy-free diet from birth, is being treated at the city’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children. She is said to have a severe form of rickets and to have suffered a number of fractured bones. The condition is caused by a lack of vitamin D, which is needed to absorb calcium and is found in liver, oily fish and dairy produce.

Dr Faisal Ahmed, the consultant treating the child, said he believed the dangers of forcing children to follow a strict vegan diet needed to be highlighted. “Something like this needs publicity,” he said. However, he refused to blame the parents, who are understood to be well-known figures in Glasgow’s vegan community: “We shouldn’t name and shame \. Mum feels guilty about the whole thing and feels bad about it.”

Tough poop about how poor "mum" feels; what about the girl? I'm sure this fine doctor wouldn't hesitate to name the parents if they had done something truly outrageous, like say spanking her instead. As my Bride just commented, parents who place their ideology ahead of the well-being of their children deserve public scorn...and constant visits from the Child Welfare Agencies.

(h/t to HotAir)

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:45 PM | Comments (12)

May 28, 2008

Religious Texts Burned! Riots Over Desecrations! Chanting Crowds Mass In Streets

Standard death threats issued in the name of Peace!

Not.

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Police in Israel are investigating the burning of hundreds of New Testaments in a city near Tel Aviv, an incident that has alarmed advocates of religious freedom.

Investigators plan to review photographs and footage showing "a fairly large" number of New Testaments being torched this month in the city of Or-Yehuda, a police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld, said Wednesday.

The episode has worried defenders of Israel's minority population of Messianic Jews, who consider themselves Jewish but believe in the divinity of Jesus, as do Christians. It also has concerned evangelical Christians in North America, Europe and Asia, who visit Israel by the hundreds of thousands.

Calev Myers, an attorney for Messianic Jews in Israel, told CNN he plans to file a formal complaint Thursday with the national police at the request of the United Christian Council in Israel, an umbrella organization for a few dozen Christian organizations outside Israel.

Folks, at the end of the day any particular Bible is just a book; an object made and owned by men. And the Word of God can never be "owned" by men; it is God's alone. So this veneration, this worship, of the false idol of the Book, something that man can control and manipulate, leads one away from the Word, from the worship of God.

So you can burn my Bible, stick a cross in urine and dung and call it "art" if you'd like; whatever. Hell, with proper planning you can probably even get the government, and by extension me, to fund your little exercise. It's more a demonstration of mankind's degradation than an attack on my faith. I won't get all worked up about it; "vengeance is the Lord's" as it says. As I've noted before I could not worship a god who requires men to do his dirty work like some sort of cosmic mafia Don.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:20 AM | Comments (2)

May 27, 2008

When In Rome...

...avoid the cappuccinos from "nice" strangers

ROME -- An American tourist from California was killed by a train as he walked on the tracks in a daze after he drank a cappuccino laced with drugs and then was robbed, railway police said Monday.

Frank Phel, 74, of California, died early Friday at the suburban Tiburtina station, police official Giovanni Piccolantonio said. Phel's hometown was not disclosed.

The suspected robber, a 54-year-old Italian man who was arrested Saturday, had chatted with Phel and his wife before fetching them cappuccinos at a local cafe and then adding a mix of drugs including sleeping pills, Piccolantonio said.

"This man approached these two tourists and earned their trust, and then offered them two cappuccinos with drugs," Piccolantonio said.

How horrible.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:58 AM

May 12, 2008

I Don't Think There's Enough Material

...to technically call it a prom "dress".

Posted by tree hugging sister at 12:59 PM | Comments (9)

May 08, 2008

"Mugabe"

...ring a bell? Why foreign real estate is always an 'iffy' thing. One socialist president and there goes the farm.

American Rancher Resists Land Reform Plans in Bolivia

From the time Ronald Larsen drove his pickup truck here from his native Montana in 1969 and bought a sprawling cattle ranch for a song, he lived a quiet life in remote southeastern Bolivia, farming corn, herding cattle and amassing vast land holdings.

... After armed standoffs with land-reform officials at his ranch this year, Mr. Larsen made it clear which side he was on, emerging as a figure celebrated in rebellious Santa Cruz Province and loathed by Mr. Morales’s government, which wants to reduce ties to the United States.

“I just spent 40 years in this country working my land in an honest fashion,” said Mr. Larsen, who resembled Clint Eastwood with his weathered features and lanky frame. “They’re taking it away over my dead body.”

Could be.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:40 PM | Comments (1)

A Burqa In Manhattan

So I'm walking to catch the bus home today, and as I round the corner onto Broadway right there by the naked bull in Bowling Green what do I damn near bump into but some scowling fellow wearing muslim garb and a woman in a toe-length burqa. I was stunned.

You know, I'm a big believer in the freedom of religion. You can worship, or not worship, whatever deity floats your boat. And I will defend that right until my dying breath.

But you do not, no matter what your god or prophet or spaghetti monster says, under any circumstances, have the right to enslave another human being. We've spent hundreds of years, and spilled the blood of hundreds of thousands of our fellow Americans, as we've stumbled towards the dream f all of us being equal before the law and each other, and I will be god-damned if I'm going to quietly sit around and allow people to be treated like chattel in our country.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:52 PM | Comments (12)

May 07, 2008

Uncle Walt

...is spinning like a top.

Andy Marlette strikes again.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:41 AM | Comments (3)

April 30, 2008

Go Read Baldilocks

Go read her now for a clear viewpoint on Rev. Wright.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:47 AM

April 15, 2008

Mrs. O'Leary's Cash Cow

Just because no one ever called you on it didn't mean it was okay to begin with.

The head of the Smithsonian Latino Center resigned after an investigation found she abused her expense account to fund her extravagant use of spas, luxury hotels and frequent limousine rides, according to a report released by the institution.

Pilar O'Leary, 39, billed the nonprofit museum complex for "extravagant" and "lavish travel expenses," the Smithsonian Institution inspector general found. In one case, she charged the Smithsonian for a limo she took across the National Mall from one Smithsonian building to another, according to the report, which was released Monday.

...In statements attached to the report, O'Leary said she relied on authorizations from former Deputy Secretary Sheila Burke for her expenses and was never questioned.

I'm guessing they were assuming you were a 'responsible' adult.

Moo.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:55 AM | Comments (2)

March 27, 2008

Regrets, I Have A Few...

As Eric Idle asks Dan Akroyd in the "Rutles" movie, "what's it like to be such an asshole?

SANTIAGO, Chile - Finland's consul in Chile said Wednesday that a tourist from her country "really, really regrets" breaking the earlobe off one of the ancient Maoi statues on Easter Island.

Marko Kulju, 26, is under house arrest on the island after he allegedly ripped off the earlobe of a Maoi on Sunday and was seen taking a piece away as a souvenir after it fell to the ground and broke into pieces.

..."It was a sudden, impulsive crazy idea," Loflund said. "He is sorry and is surprised that it has caused such a stir."

A photo released by Chilean Investigative Police shows one of the massive Moai statues whose right earlobe was stolen by a Finnish tourist in Easter Island on March 23.

So Marko's on Easter Island, and on Easter Sunday he decides to break a freakin' ear off of a priceless statue so he can bring a pebble back to Finland...and he regrets doing it and is surprised that people might be upset?

Well, in the immortal words of Sgt. Johnson in Halo

Cortana: "The message just repeats. 'Regret, Regret, Regret.'"

Commander Keyes: "Catchy. Any idea what it means?"

Sgt. Johnson: "Dear Humanity... we regret being alien bastards. We regret coming to Earth. And we most definitely regret the Corps just blew up our raggedy-ass fleet!"

Marine Pilots: "Ooh-Rah!"

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:09 PM | Comments (6)

March 25, 2008

Like Hillary, He Didn't "Lie"

He just "misspoke"

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A former military aide to President George H.W. Bush, who later became commander of the U.S. 6th Fleet, has been fired for providing "false and misleading" information to the Department of Defense inspector general, the U.S. Navy confirmed Monday.

Oops, maybe that should be changed to "Miss Poke"

Thorp confirmed the inspector general had begun a preliminary investigation into an allegation that Stufflebeem had an "inappropriate relationship" while serving as a military aide to the former president in 1990.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:41 AM | Comments (5)

March 21, 2008

When Fostering an Elitest Climate

...these things happen. Until the proletariat rises up in anger, that is.

San Diego Superior Court Judge ordered coffee chain Starbucks to pay $87 million plus interest to workers who say that their tips unfairly had been shared with supervisors.

...Starbucks in a statement said it would appeal the judgment, which also required that Starbucks cease letting supervisors share tips.

I don't think I've ever heard of a supervisor tip dipping. That's appalling. It's pretentious ~ like a snobbish feudal system, taking a cut of the serfs' own cabbage greens from their kitchen garden.
No wonder I find, "My mouth can't form these words..." so snickeringly apropos.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:30 AM | Comments (9)

February 26, 2008

Der Surrender Continues

At Der Spiegel. If you follow the link back to Der Spiegel from Fausta's you will see a picture of a burqa clad woman (I guess) with one of the scariest captions I have ever read

Women who would rather not wear a burqa can now slip around it electronically.

F*ck you buddy. Just f*ck you. No woman anywhere should ever have to wear one of those things, and by God she should always have the option to take it off, not just send some feeble picture out via bluetooth. And that fact that this "advancement" took place at an event in the US

A model demonstrated a prototype of Kison's garment at the Seamless 2008 design and fashion show in Boston, a high-tech fashion event run with support from the Masschusetts Institute of Technology.

disgusts me to no end. I'm sure the audience applauded and talked about Gosh how this technology really empowers those women, doesn't it? Aren't we so culturally non-judgmental that we help their slaves have email! Ooh, pass the vegan canapes and I'd love another glass of that organically grown Chardonnay to toast the liberation this will bring!

It just sickens me to no end how the supposed 'progressive' people in this country continually enable the oppression and subjugation of women here and around the world.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:44 AM | Comments (9)

February 18, 2008

Congratulations, Clarence and Mayme

You've been married a glorious 83 years

Clarence, 101, and Mayme Vail, 99, celebrated their 83rd anniversary Sunday, possibly making them the longest married couple alive in the United States.

Married in 1925, they almost didn't make it to their 25th anniversary. When Clarence became critically ill with tuberculosis in 1948, Mayme made a promise to God that if her husband survived, she would attend mass every day -- a promise she kept until last year when health issues forced them to move into an assisted-living center.

Now that is a life sentence, friends.

God bless them. 1925...man.

And I want a piece of their gene pool:

There was no shortage of people to attend the Vails' anniversary party. Their family includes six children, 39 grandchildren, 101 great-grandchildren and 40 great-great grandchildren. Mayme Vail's "kid" sister was there, too. She's only 98.

So often you read of folks this age having outlived their children and grandchildren; not these folks. Amazing. Must be all that cheese and canned goods.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:48 AM | Comments (3)

February 12, 2008

How More Disgusting Can These Animals Get?

It's bad enough that they 'recruit' these suicide bombers to slaughter people while they try and shop and get on with their lives in a reasonable facsimile of normalcy. Yeah, that's one hell of an effective strategy to advance your cause, I know; I mean, heck, I'm convinced of the moral righteousness of their position. Now, understandably, volunteers for these exciting job positions that, er, open up have become somewhat scarce of late so to meet their quotas they turn to this

The acting director of a Baghdad psychiatric hospital has been arrested on suspicion of supplying al-Qaeda in Iraq with the mentally impaired women that it used to blow up two crowded animal markets in the city on February 1, killing about 100 people.

Iraqi security forces and US soldiers arrested the man at al-Rashad hospital in east Baghdad on Sunday. They then spent three hours searching his office and removing records. Sources told The Times that the two women bombers had been treated at the hospital in the past.

“They [the security forces] arrested the acting director, accusing him of working with al-Qaeda and recruiting mentally ill women and using them in suicide bombing operations,” a hospital official said.

...The attraction of mentally impaired women to al-Qaeda was obvious, he said. Being women they could get close to targets with less chance of being stopped or searched; being mentally impaired, they were “less likely to make a rational judgment about what they are being asked to do”…

As Bryan says, words fail. As the first commentator at HotAir says, these are the kind of people that Barack would 'negotiate' with and leave the Iraqi people to fend with at the first chance he got.

And where is the outcry from the women's groups here about this?

Disgusting.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:53 AM

February 10, 2008

Come Out Swinging

I love it.

..."There can be no exceptions to the laws of our land which have been so painfully honed by the struggle for democracy and human rights."

...Writing in this newspaper, Lord Carey condemns multiculturalism as "disastrous", blames it for creating Islamic ghettos and says that Dr Williams's support for sharia law will "inevitably lead to further demands from the Muslim community".

He suggests that such a move could embolden some Muslims to try to turn Britain into a country ruled by Islamic law which, he says, contradicts principles of human rights and allows the persecution of Christians.

It's the most BRITISH anyone's sounded for a long time.

More, please.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:47 PM | Comments (4)

February 08, 2008

The ArchMoron Of Canterbury

By now no one should be shocked by anything this creature (I really struggled for the right word for him; I ultimately decided to be as calm as possible. Aren't you impressed?) says, so his latest cave-in to sharia is no surprise. But I continue to be amazed at the Kafka-esque levels of intertwined layers that the British bureaucracy has evolved to. I mean, look at this title in the linked article:

Shadow community cohesion minister Baroness Warsi told BBC News 24 the suggestion was unhelpful and said: "Dr Williams seems to be suggesting that there should be two systems of law, running alongside each other, almost parallel, and for people to be offered the choice of opting into one or the other. That is unacceptable."

Doesn't that sound like something out of Marvel comics? How creepy Big Brothery is that?

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:53 AM | Comments (1)

January 14, 2008

We've Come For Your Liver

In what seems to be a scene straight out of Monty Python, hell, in what is a scene straight out of Monty Python, the UK Government has decided that they can take your organs with out your consent

Gordon Brown has thrown his weight behind a move to allow hospitals to take organs from dead patients without explicit consent.

Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, the Prime Minister says that such a facility would save thousands of lives and that he hopes such a system can start this year.

The proposals would mean consent for organ donation after death would be automatically presumed, unless individuals had opted out of the national register or family members objected.

Now that's bad enough, but they are going even further: they are going to pressure hospitals to come up with ever larger numbers of "donors"

The Government will launch an overhaul of the system next week, which will put pressure on doctors and nurses to identify more "potential organ donors" from dying patients. Hospitals will be rated for the number of deceased patients they "convert" into donors and doctors will be expected to identify potential donors earlier and alert donor co-ordinators as patients approach death.

The outcome of this is clear: since it costs far more money to keep patients alive the UK system will devolve into little more than an organ farm. Hey, why waste time and money prolonging your life when they've got that back-log of transplants to attend to? Heck, the medicines they give you to cure whatever ails you might in fact harm some of your organs, and the hospitals do have their quotas to meet!

"A system of this kind seems to have the potential to close the aching gap between the potential benefits of transplant surgery in the UK and the limits imposed by our current system of consent," Mr Brown writes.

Yes, allowing people to decide how their bodies are used is so limiting, isn't it, Gordo? Such an archaic concept like "consent of the governed" is so limiting when you, the big happy friendly government want to "help" people, isn't it?

Oh, but this is a policy from the Labour Party, so it can't possibly be bad, right?

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 01:36 PM | Comments (7)

December 28, 2007

Beyond Parody

"Mommy, Niko is on my side of the seat"

Seven people were injured on Thursday when Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests came to blows in a dispute over how to clean the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

Following the Christmas celebrations, Greek Orthodox priests set up ladders to clean the walls and ceilings of their part of the church, which is built over the site where Jesus Christ is believed to have been born.

But the ladders encroached on space controlled by Armenian priests, according to photographers who said angry words ensued and blows quickly followed.

For a quarter of an hour bearded and robed priests laid into each other with fists, brooms and iron rods while the photographers who had come to take pictures of the annual cleaning ceremony recorded the whole event.

I mean, I know that Christmas can be stressful and all that, but geesh louise guys...

Update: I see the Spider was onto this yesterday.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:26 AM

December 14, 2007

The Mitchell Report

So we finally got to see this long-awaited report on drugs in Baseball, and shockingly it seems that players are using them. Gasp. I'm not sure I like that this Report with a capital "R" from some puffed up ex-Senator is basically 400 pages of hearsay and therefore every player 'named' now has his 'name' tarred and forever associated with cheating; while I love to jump to conclusions as much as anyone I do like there to be evidence and trial and conviction before I damn someone for eternity. Well, most times, anyway.

I fully agree with the commentator at Volokh who said

I don't think anybody seriously thinks the report favors any particular team because, in all honesty, nobody cares enough to do anything. If you want to ban steroid use, the solution is very simple. Players caught are barred for life and that player's team forfeits all games in whcih that player appeared. If that means forfeiting (and refunding) World Series games, too bad.

Once such a draconian rule is instituted, players, agents and owners will be alligned in ensuring frequent and accurate tests.

Is such a rule fair? Ask Jearl-Miles Clark, Monique Hennagan, LaTasha Colander-Richardson and Andrea Anderson how they will feel if they lose their relay Olympic gold medals because team member Marion Jones cheated.

But baseball will never invoke a team forfeit rule. Until it does, it's really not interested in treating the problem seriously.

I think every single player who uses these things should be booted and banned. Cheating bastards.

But what really underwhelmed me about the report was the large number of forgettable players who are named. I mean, this has got to be the most effective anti-drug aspect of the report: Maybe there are some guys who would risk shrinking their weenie if they knew they'd hit the ball like Bonds...but to end up throwing the ball 10 rows up behind 1st base like Knoblauch?

No thanks.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:39 AM | Comments (10)

December 04, 2007

I Really Don't See a Problem

...with the majority opinion.

...Out of curiosity, I boiled down the Jim Stevenson case and sent it to a few environmental-ethics professors. Most agreed with Callicott:

Shoot the cat.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:57 AM | Comments (7)

October 19, 2007

A Programming Note

FOX To Air Controversial Documentary on Islam

A controversial film that PBS axed from its documentary series about the post-Sept. 11 world will be broadcast for the first time nationwide this week by the FOX News Channel.

The documentary, originally titled "Islam vs. Islamists," was produced by ABG Films with $675,000 in public funds from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was originally slated to run earlier this year as part of PBS' "America at a Crossroads" series.

The film follows moderate Muslims who have challenged the "Islamists" who espouse a more radical view of their religion. The film shows the Islamists advocating, among other things, the imposition of Sharia law on Muslims in the West, the stoning of women who commit adultery, and even violence and terrorism.

"Islam vs. Islamists" will be seen in its entirety as part of an all-new FOX News Channel special. The 90-minute FOX program, called "Inside Islam: Faith vs. Fanatics," includes interviews with "Islam vs. Islamists" director and producer Martyn Burke and executive producer Frank Gaffney. It will be broadcast at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 20.

Might as well, since we've already paid for it.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:10 AM | Comments (5)

October 14, 2007

Oh, Fer Chrissakes

Take a frickin' picture, jackass.

Adlee Bruner’s fishing story is about the big one that didn’t get away.

Bruner and five friends headed out Saturday morning on a charter boat, hoping to catch some grouper to enter in the annual Destin Fishing Rodeo.

Instead, Bruner landed a gargantuan 844.4-pound mako shark, setting a new record for the decades-old tournament.

The money quote...

...“Ninety-nine percent of the time we catch sharks and let them go. (But) it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Blech. It's easy to be a catch and release afficianado. Until the BIG one...the schmaybe once in every twentieth person's lifetime... comes along, which SHOULD leave one in a moral quandary. ('Should' being the operative word.)

Thank goodness he got his trophy so no one else would have to wrestle with the choice.

But seein' as how old shark was 844.4 pounds...maybe someone else had made a different decision...a coupla hundred pounds...and decades ago.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:41 PM | Comments (4)

October 09, 2007

"Clarence Thomas Has a Right to Be Angry"

Many Americans have a blind spot when it comes to black conservatives. They don't have the foggiest idea what makes these people tick.

And they blew their chance to learn more during the October 1991 confirmation hearing for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Instead, there were those who tried to destroy someone who dared to think for himself.

... As Thomas recalls in his book, he felt compelled in 1986 to take issue with an article by the journalist Hodding Carter that accused President Reagan of reviving racism in America. Carter responded by comparing Thomas, a Southerner, to "those chicken-eating preachers who gladly parroted the segregationists line in exchange for a few crumbs from the white man's table" and said Thomas was "one of the few left in captivity."

Thomas correctly described that language as "nakedly racist." It was also awfully presumptuous for a white man to lecture a black man about racism, just because one is a liberal and the other a conservative. And yet, Thomas laments, not a single civil rights leader rose to say anything about it.

Whew. I'll bet he's getting some letters.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 08:16 PM | Comments (2)

October 02, 2007

Junkmen for Jesus, Cooks for the Koran, Tellers for the Torah?

Enough, already.

...Making some provisions for worship, like providing an empty room for Bible study at work, for example, isn’t entirely new, Saunders explains. What’s new, he adds, is the magnitude of worker requests:

"Now people are saying I don’t want to do my job because it doesn’t fit in with my faith practice."

So find a job that suits you to begin with. Now there's a concept.

I wonder if an application had boxes that asked, "Do your peculiar religious practices preclude you from performing ANY function within the confines of this company? If you check 'yes', EXPLAIN/CLARIFY. Does it require you have extraordinary access/accomodation to a separate area/unscheduled breaks for purposes of worship during your shift? If you check 'yes', EXPLAIN/CLARIFY", would be legal. I know you can't discriminate on the BASIS of religion, but you sure should be able to call the shots if said religion sweeps its way onto your showroom/retail/production floor and disrupts the whole enterprise. And I believe an employer is entitled to know that there is something said prospective employee believes which will shortly have said employer dealing with chaos, mad customers and talking to the EEOC, while his formerly hardworking regular employees are now pissed off and looking for something for them. (Like belonging to the Church of Nicotiana Virginianus, for instance. That was always the Marine Corps scam for undeserved breaks.)

..."Religions have become more prominent in how they want freedom to be expressed in the workplace, and we have a ‘what’s in it for me’ kind of thing."

If you want to run your little Christian bookstore and play that God AWFUL music, so be it. It's clearly identified as such, any prospective employee has an idea what's required/tolerated and it's also clearly my right not to enter. But if I hire you to work the line at What-a-Burger and it's time for the bacon chicken sandwich promotion, which you then tell me is unclean and you're not touching it or any surface that might have interacted with the pork fat...well.

I think the employee should have the problem.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:30 AM | Comments (3)

September 12, 2007

Jule's Lays A Smack Down, Eh?

A must-read on this day after our 'leaders' went lint searching in their navels

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, addressing the Australian parliament yesterday, explains:

Harper said that the 9/11 terrorist attacks showed that “if we abandon our fellow human beings to lives of poverty, brutality and ignorance, in today’s global village their misery will eventually and inevitably become our own.”

OK. A bunch of well-heeled, educated Saudis hijacked airliners and flew them into our buildings because we had abandoned our fellow human beings to lives of poverty, brutality and ignorance, in today’s global village.

And it only gets better from there. Go read.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:19 AM | Comments (1)

August 28, 2007

No, I 'Da Ho!

So Idaho Senator Larry Craig was arrested in Minneapolis for lewd behavior in a men's room

U.S. Sen. Larry Craig pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct this month after his arrest in a Minneapolis airport men’s room by an undercover officer who said Craig was sending signals that he wanted to have sex.

Craig said Monday his actions were misconstrued by police and that he should not have pleaded guilty to the charges.

Now, I love a good scandal as much as anyone, and a conservative republican getting hooked up in some gay sex solicitation in a public restroom is as juicy as a liberal democrat not wanting windmills 10 miles away blocking the view from his beach house in my book. Bring it on!

But when you read just exactly transpired here it sure seems like there's a very loose interpretation of what is 'lewd' going on here, and frankly I think we need to require a bit more substantial evidence before arresting someone for this behavior:

According to the police reports, a man, later identified as Craig, kept watching the undercover police officer through a crack in the stall. Craig then entered the next-door stall and placed his luggage against the opening under the stall door.

"My experience has shown that individuals engaging in lewd conduct use their bags to block the view from the front of their stall," said the officer, Sgt. Dave Karsnia, in the report.

Alright, the 'kept watching' bit is odd. As for the rest of it with apologies to Officer Karsnia but my experience has been that individuals taking a dump also place their bags against the opening at the front of the stall because there's no other place to put them, fer crimminy's sake.

The report continued: "At 1216 hours, Craig tapped his right foot. I recognized this as a signal used by persons wishing to engage in lewd conduct. Craig tapped his toes several times and moves his foot closer to my foot. I moved my foot up and down slowly. While this was occurring, the male in the stall to my right was still present. I could hear several unknown persons in the restroom that appeared to use the restroom for its intended use. The presence of others did not seem to deter Craig as he moved his right foot so that it touched the side of my left foot which was within my stall area."

Oh my God! He tapped his foot while taking a dump! He must want to scoff my chorizo!

"I recognized this as a signal used by persons wishing to engage in lewd conduct. Craig tapped his toes several times and moves his foot closer to my foot."

This is the high standards of evidence that Minneapolis holds its police to? Are you kidding me? Do the Minneapolis Vice Police sing "Knock Three Times On The Stall Floor If You Want Me" along with Tony Orlando and Dawn during Talent Night at the Academy?

The report said Craig swiped his hand beneath the stall divider several times, and Karsnia showed his police identification under the stall.

Again, this is odd and weird, and for all I know he was interested in some stinky stall lust. But did he assault the cop? Did he verbally proposition him? No. Did he threaten him? No.

It is ridiculous that someone could be arrested on the basis of this.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:54 AM | Comments (16)

August 24, 2007

Vick's Plea Deal

I guess his lawyers looked at Pete Rose and "morality" clauses that NFL contracts must have because his plea deal to my mind effectively kills his career forever

(CNN) -- NFL star Michael Vick has admitted that he and two of co-conspirators killed dogs that did not fight well in papers filed Friday with a federal court in Virginia.

NFL star Michael Vick is set to appear in court Monday. A judge will have the final say on a plea deal.

Vick said he would plead guilty to one count of "Conspiracy to Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Unlawful Activities and to Sponsor a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture" in a plea agreement filed at U.S. District Court in Richmond, Virginia.

The charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, "full restitution, a special assessment and 3 years of supervised release," the plea deal said.

Federal prosecutors agreed to ask for the low end of the sentencing guidelines.

"The defendant will plead guilty because the defendant is in fact guilty of the charged offense," the plea agreement said.

Now what his lawyers wanted clear I'm sure was this

In an additional summary of facts, signed by Vick and filed with the agreement, Vick admitted buying pit bulls and the property used for training and fighting the dogs but did not bet on the fights or receive any of the money won.

"Most of the 'Bad Newz Kennels' operations and gambling monies were provided by Vick," the official summary of facts said. Gambling wins were generally split between co-conspirators Tony Taylor, Quanis Phillips and sometimes Purnell Peace, it continued.

"Vick did not gamble by placing side bets on any of the fights. Vick did not receive any of the proceeds from the purses that were won by 'Bad Newz Kennels.' "

But I think they were so blinded by fear of gambling allegations that they really didn't realize the full potential of this

Vick also agreed that "collective efforts" by him and two others caused the deaths of at least six dogs.

Around April, Vick, Peace and Phillips tested some dogs in fighting sessions at Vick's property in Virginia, the statement said. "Peace, Phillips and Vick agreed to the killing of approximately 6-8 dogs that did not perform well in 'testing' sessions at 1915 Moonlight Road and all of those dogs were killed by various methods, including hanging and drowning.

"Vick agrees and stipulates that these dogs all died as a result of the collective efforts of Peace, Phillips and Vick," the summary said.

You know what? The American Public can forgive womanizing, drinking, hell gambling on games you play, whatever.

But no one will ever forgive a bastard who hangs and drowns dogs because they aren't vicious enough.

He will never play again.

He will never be a spokesman for anything. Ever.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:43 PM | Comments (4)

July 11, 2007

Shock: Pope Declares "Only Catholics Are Catholic"

I mean, sorry but yawn. Oh sure, rags like the Grauniad would love to see some christian infighting

Protestant churches yesterday reacted with dismay to a new declaration approved by Pope Benedict XVI insisting they were mere "ecclesial communities" and their ministers effectively phonies with no right to give communion.

Coming just four days after the reinstatement of the Latin mass, yesterday's document left no doubt about the Pope's eagerness to back traditional Roman Catholic practices and attitudes, even at the expense of causing offence.

but really, isn't he just restating what he's supposed to state? I think he fears, rightly, that all these talks of "ecumenical community" need to take place in an atmosphere of clearly delineated belief, and when he sees how squishy the Anglicans and many Protestant denominations have gotten he, rightly, in my view, says "we ain't going there." The proof of this is right there in the Grauniad's reporting:

"even at the expense of causing offence"

You can not be the leader of a religion, or frankly an adherent either, if your primary concern is someone else's widdle feewings; religion is your relationship to God, not man.

I mean, as a Presbyterian I don't overly value what the Pope says (we settled that point four hundred years ago) but unless you are unafraid to firmly say "This is what I believe" ...then you don't really believe it, do you?

And in a world that is increasingly becoming dominated by a crowd that fervently believes in something and is very willing to act decisively, indeed is required by that faith to act so, being "squishy" very quickly becomes "squashed."

Hot Air as always has an interesting comment thread going.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:03 AM | Comments (17)

June 28, 2007

Amtrak Has Got A Big Problem

My god, I can't imagine how anyone thought this was a good idea

PHOENIX -- A 65-year-old St. Louis man is missing after Amtrak personnel, mistaking his diabetic shock for drunk and disorderly behavior, kicked him off a train in the middle of a national forest, according to police in Williams, Ariz.

Even if the guy was drunk how do they justify this?

"He was let off in the middle of a national forest, which is about 800,000 acres of beautiful pine trees," Lt. Mike Graham said.

Police said there is no train station or running water at the crossing, which is about two miles from the nearest road, at an elevation of about 8,000 feet.

Amtrak personnel told police dispatchers that Sims was drunk and unruly.

The Sims family said Sims is diabetic and was going into shock.

Why not throw people overboard on ships? Hell, open up the 767's door at 35,000 feet and off you go!

Somebody should be facing a lot of jail time even if they somehow find this guy alive.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 03:25 PM | Comments (2)

June 15, 2007

I Can Understand This Father's Grief

His 14 year old was killed when the vehicle she was a passenger in struck a freight train parked on a country road train crossing at night. It had no warning lights or cross bars. I can understand and feel for their pain deeply.

"Those lives were taken because of our negligence!...I hope you lose your job and go ahead and suffer some loss!"

What I CAN'T understand is HOW his daughter came to be there. Or any of the other victims.

"The impact killed all four backseat passengers."

Three FOURTEEN year old girls and one THIRTEEN year old boy.
The driver and front seat passenger lived ~ both FIFTEEN year old boys.
They were speeding.
In a STOLEN jeep.

It was 3:30...A.M.

You can blame them all you want but...
I don't think Union Pacific killed your kid, Dad.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 01:03 PM | Comments (3)

June 14, 2007

Insta Asks "Is killing your husband less serious than serving kids beer?"

The Preacher's wife sentencing is insane, no doubt. But let's not trivialize what this women in Virginia did. It's not like she innocently let the kids have a sip of beer. She planned for the kids to drink

Elisa's crime was to hold a birthday party for her 16-year-old son Ryan and serve his friends beer.

As a precaution, she and her ex-husband, who is serving 30 days for bringing the alcohol onto the property, made sure that none of the kids would be able to drive home.

As they arrived at their 6000ft suburban mansion on the outskirts of Earlysville, she confiscated their car keys, put them in a bucket, barricaded the drive with her Hummer and told them to have a good time.

They were all expecting to have a sleep over and, since Elisa knew most of the kids because she had taught them at school, she did not think it was necessary to warn their parents that beer would be consumed.

The kids were 12 to 18 years old and she and her husband decided to serve them alcohol and never consulted the parents. I'm sorry, this is premeditated drugging of someone else's children. My Daughter is 13, and I can assure you that, firstly, she'd never be at a sleepover party with 30 kids at someone's house, and, secondly, if she was at such a party and I found out that the parents had planned it so the kids could drink...well, in that case then I might be the one looking at jail time right now.

There is no excuse for this, and she is being properly punished.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:47 AM | Comments (3)

June 13, 2007

Ninety Grand in Every Freezer

...and two chickens in every pot!

Supporters of a Democratic congressman charged with bribery and money laundering harkened to their civil rights days on Wednesday as they denounced the allegations against U.S. Rep. William Jefferson.

The group, including ministers and the president of the local chapter of the NAACP, alleged the 16-count corruption indictment was the work of a Republican White House and Justice Department scheming to target black Democratic leaders and shift attention from legal troubles of Republican congressmen.

"When it's all over, Bill Jefferson will stand up like Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver. He will stand up in the South and he will be victorious," said the Rev. Samson "Skip" Alexander.

I'm getting my Ouigi Board warmed up now, because something tells me old Booker T. gonna have sumpthin' to say just as soon's he stops spinning.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:54 PM | Comments (5)

June 11, 2007

Some Required Reading

Robert Spencer is Blogging the Koran at HotAir.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:42 AM

May 07, 2007

They Should Be Shot

That's what one does with looters

GREENSBURG, Kansas (AP) -- Four soldiers and a reserve police officer were arrested Sunday on suspicion of looting cigarettes and alcohol from a store in this tornado-ravaged town, state officials said.

Bastards.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:41 AM | Comments (4)

April 11, 2007

The Answer to Their Questions Is Easy

"...How do we work to ensure that the final decisions in this case in no way deter women of color from making claims of violations against them which violate their spirits and their bodies?" — statement from William J. Barber II, president of the North Carolina NAACP

"...and the fear that would happen to any survivor who comes forward, can have a chilling effect and make them reluctant to step forward." — Margaret Barrett, executive director, Orange County Rape Crisis Center in Chapel Hill.

...and hasn't changed one iota.

Tell the truth to begin with.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:02 PM | Comments (2)

April 06, 2007

A Must-Read Easter Column

By an Agnostic.

(thanks to Michelle Malkin)

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:51 AM | Comments (1)

March 22, 2007

Barbarism In Chicago

This horrible incident is partly the result of a corrupt city government. Look at the video if you can. How can those people there not attempt to help this poor woman?

CBS) CHICAGO A woman was injured during a frightening attack and it was all caught on tape. The attacker was an off-duty Chicago police officer who has now been charged. CBS 2 Investigator Dave Savini reports.

Shocking surveillance video shows off-duty Chicago police officer Anthony Abbate, 38, a 12-year veteran of the force, brutally beating a female bartender.

He punches and kicks her.

"He was drunk in a bar. She refused to serve him anymore so he went behind the bar and threw her around like a sack of potatoes," said Attorney Terry Ekl who represents the alleged victim.

Well, there you go. The thug was an off-duty cop. The only thing I can say in the bystanders' defense is that they thought if they helped her, i.e. fought the bastard, that they would be the ones who ended up in jail. And the Chicago PD's initial reaction certainly supports that

"The Chicago Police Department made a unilateral decision that they were going to charge him only with a misdemeanor without telling the State's Attorney’s Office," said Ekl.

But prosecutors took over and filed felony aggravated battery charges.

"It's one of the most brutal and savage attacks that I have seen caught on tape," said David Navarro, a prosecutor in the case.

Based on their high standards and careful backround checks you wonder how many other charmers like this guy are on the force

Abbatte is no stranger to drunken behavior.

He was one of 100 Chicago police officers who had been hired despite having prior drug or alcohol related driving offenses.

Abbate had also been arrested for drag racing and driving on a suspended license.

Nice, huh?

But still. What kind of loathesome beasts would not go to this woman's aid? It is completely disgusting behavior.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:06 AM | Comments (11)

March 16, 2007

I Am So Disgusted By This

I saw this yesterday and just couldn't post on it. It is beyond vile

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (AP) -- A 17-year-old girl who spent weeks looking for her missing dog unwrapped a box left at her house and found the pet's severed head inside, authorities said.

...After Crystal Brown's 4-year-old Australian shepherd mix, Chevy, wandered away last month, she put up "missing" posters in her neighborhood and went door to door looking for him. She called the St. Paul animal shelter and rode the bus there several times.

...Two weeks ago, a gift-wrapped box was left at the house Crystal shares with her grandmother. The box had batteries on top, and a note that said "Congratulations Crystal. This side up. Batteries included."

Crystal opened the box and found her dog's head inside. The box also contained Valentine's Day candy.

What kind of a sick demented bastard could possibly do such a thing?

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:55 AM | Comments (12)

March 12, 2007

Family Friendly Mouse in the Happiest Place on Earth

...or money grubbing, manipulative, run-you-down-like-a-juggarnaut rat defending it's magic kingdom?

Disneyland Sues to Stop Condo Plan
The Happiest Place on Earth doesn't want any new neighbors.

The Walt Disney Co. has sued the city of Anaheim to stop the proposed construction of 1,500 condos, including several hundred low-income units, at the doorstep of Disneyland.

Housing advocates say the units are desperately needed to accommodate workers who are essential to the city's huge tourism industry but can't afford to live there. Many workers spend at least four hours a day commuting from outlying areas where rent is cheaper.

"We helped to build this resort, but now they're saying we can't live here," said Lori Condinus, a hotel switchboard operator who lives 60 miles away. "Disneyland is supposed to be the family friendly place, but they're not helping families make it."

Disneyland and other tourism-oriented businesses say that housing will drive away visitors from the park -- which pumps an estimated $3.6 billion into Southern California's economy each year -- and open the way for the return of the cheap motels, neon signs and scraggly landscaping that marked the area in the early days of Disneyland.

I've always been in the 'rat' camp, but then I'm prejudiced.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 03:13 PM | Comments (5)

March 06, 2007

You Selfish Bastard

How could you do this to your daughter?

BEDFORD, Indiana (AP) -- The man whose small plane slammed into his former mother-in-law's house, killing him and his 8-year-old daughter, had told his ex-wife before the crash he had the girl "and you're not going to get her," the mother-in-law said Tuesday.

Eric Johnson, a student pilot who had soloed before, strapped daughter Emily into the passenger seat of a leased, single-engine Cessna on Monday morning. Less than two hours later, officials said, the plane smashed into the home of Vivian Pace, the girl's grandmother.

Pace told reporters outside her damaged home Tuesday that Johnson called her daughter, Beth Johnson, by cell phone shortly before the crash.

He told his ex-wife: "I've got her, and you're not going to get her," she said.

This just makes me sick to my stomach.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:05 PM | Comments (4)

February 27, 2007

Teach Your Children

I wonder how many more cases like this are out there

TACOMA, Washington (AP) -- A woman admitted Monday that she coached her two children to fake retardation starting when they were 4 and 8 years old so she could collect Social Security benefits on their behalf.

Rosie Costello, 46, admitted in U.S. District Court that she collected more than $280,000 in benefits, beginning in the mid-1980s. Most was from Social Security, but the state social services agency paid $53,000.

Costello pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government and Social Security fraud. Her son, Pete, 26, pleaded guilty earlier this month. Federal prosecutors in Seattle said Monday authorities had not yet located her daughter, Marie.

According to the plea agreement, Costello began coaching her daughter at age 4, and later used the same ruse with her son. He feigned retardation into his mid-20s -- picking at his face, slouching and appearing uncommunicative in meetings with Social Security officials.

That's all it takes to be regarded as retarded?

Sounds like a lot of the government officials should be eligible for benefits then...

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:39 AM | Comments (1)

February 22, 2007

Any Bets On Who Did This?

And I bet we can guess who they voted for

SANTA FE, New Mexico (AP) -- Three CD players hidden under a cathedral's pews blared sexually explicit language in the middle of an Ash Wednesday Mass, leading a bomb squad to detonate two of the devices.

Authorities determined the music players were not dangerous and kept the third one to check it for clues, said police Capt. Gary Johnson.

The CD players, duct-taped to the bottoms of the pews, were set to turn on in the middle of noon Mass on Wednesday at the Roman Catholic Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.

The recordings, made on store-bought blank discs, featured people using foul language and "pornographic messages," Johnson said. He would not elaborate because of the ongoing investigation.

How disgusting can you get? And I'm sure the people who did this will scream to high heaven about their right to free speech and demand 'respect' for their views, while at the same time trying to drown out and restrict the speech of others.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:27 PM | Comments (2)

January 23, 2007

Pardon Me While I Barf

The Scientoiletgists aren't just a bunch of ego-intense nutjobs.

Really they're not:

TOM Cruise is the new “Christ” of Scientoiletgy, according to leaders of the cult-like religion.

The Mission: Impossible star has been told he has been “chosen” to spread the word of his faith throughout the world.

And leader David Miscavige believes that in future, Cruise, 44, will be worshipped like Jesus for his work to raise awareness of the religion.

A source close to the actor, who has risen to one of the church’s top levels, said: “Tom has been told he is Scientoiletgy’s Christ-like figure.

“Like Christ, he’s been criticised for his views. But future generations will realise he was right.”

Cruise joined the Church of Scientoiletgy in the ’80s. Leader L Ron Hoover claimed humans bear traces of an ancient alien civilisation.

I simply don't know where to begin.

Whiskey
Tango
Foxtrot

Update: I see Emily was way ahead of me on this.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 01:40 PM | Comments (9)

December 07, 2006

"Christian" Vs "Christ Follower"

Allah at Hot Air has posted a series of videos from a contemporary church that is trying to distance itself from the term 'christian.' Go look; I'll wait.

I really don't get how the 'cool dude' calls himself a 'Christ-follower' while acting as if the Bible is not needed. While it's easy to mock the bumpersticker WWJD crowd (and certainly there are many of them that seemingly drift perilously close to the Pharisee on the corner) we are, as Christians, called to spread the faith, so I can't really fault folks who do as long as they are able to keep the focus on Christ and not their works/zeal. As Christians we shouldn't do good acts to bring glory to ourselves, to hear the neighbors say "What a decent fellow Bingley is" (it gets rather embarassing when they keep saying that, let me tell you). No. Well, we shouldn't really but of course at times we do because we are imperfect, fallen creatures. And that's okay because we confess our sins and are aware of our failings and foibles...and we know that God is also aware of them, and makes us confront them with painful clarity. To look truthfully at yourself is hard, painful traumatic business, made all the moreso by the knowledge that someone else knows all your dirty laundry and calls you on it. There's none of this "that's ok" crap; and here's where I think that 'modern' Jesus-Is-My-Bestest-Bud movements go astray: Jesus judges us, and judges us harshly. We are sinners. We do bad things. We do selfish things. We do evil things. And Jesus tells us so. And this causes shame...well deserved shame. And from what I've heard of contemporary christian music and preaching this part of it is de-emhasized, because shame and judgement are so passé, so damaging to the self-esteem. I mean, church is where you're supposed to feel good, right? NO! Church is where you confront yourself honesty, where you go before the living God who sees you as you truly are, makes you face all of your flaws...and then when you know you least deserve it says "I forgive you." And this Grace, freely given to those who should by all rights have no expectation of it causes a change, little by little, week by week, in how we act. As the saying goes we are reformed and ever reforming. We act out of thanksgiving for the Grace that God has given us, and since The Big Guy really has no need for any earthly gifts we could possibly give (well, except maybe a PS3; they've got to be hard to come by even there) we show our thanks by acting in ways that we hope would be pleasing to Him; we can not presume to always act in such a fashion, because we can't, but we can conciously try. And occasionally we succeed.

My church is a moderately large traditional Presbyterian church in NJ, and we, like many churches, are struggling with how to attract new members. I'm simply not sure if the desire to 'be contemporary for the kids' that Tom Lehrer parodied so brilliantly in "The Vatican Rag" is the call of spiritual and communal growth or the call of the Sirens. We have a large traditional Sunday morning service, replete with full choir and organ, and we've added a more contemporary Saturday night service of the guitar-based variety and we'll see how it goes. As I said above I guess what bothers me most about this whole contemporary movement is that it seems to be based on the idea that Christ is our 'best buddy' and that if you profess belief than everything is peachy and cool, when in actuality nothing could be further from the truth. Religion is hard, uneasy work. For you musicians out there it's as if life was all major chords...when it's really mostly minor. We're trying to see if we can bridge that gap.

It's sad that people who profess to follow Christ would want to separate themselves from the term 'Christian' and the Bible for political convenience, isn't it?

And if you want to see the true secrets of my Presbyterian faith revealed, the commentator "CorinthianJest" at HotAir must have hacked into our secret Presbyterian database. The BlackHawk helicopters are on their way to his location as we speak...

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:00 PM | Comments (8)

October 26, 2006

Ask The Aussie Imam

Iowahawk helpfully gets us answers to today's pressing questions.

(Thanks to AllahPundit for the spiritual pointer)

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 05:20 PM | Comments (1)

October 17, 2006

Let Me Get This "Breaking News" Straight

From a banner on the Fox Buzztracker:

Breaking News >> Judge Tosses Conviction of Late Enron Founder Ken Lay Citing His Death

So, he's only a crook as long as he's alive?
Nobody's got anything else yet. All Wesley all the time so far.
UPDATE: Got it.

A federal judge Tuesday vacated the conviction of Enron founder Kenneth Lay who died in July, wiping out a jury's verdict that he committed fraud and conspiracy in the months before his company's collapse.

Lay was convicted of 10 counts of fraud, conspiracy and lying to banks in two separate cases on May 25. Enron's collapse in 2001 wiped out thousands of jobs, more than $60 billion in market value and more than $2 billion in pension plans.

Because he wasn't alive to contest the verdicts. Sheesh. It's been a good week...


...for toads in general.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:20 PM | Comments (3)

October 10, 2006

The Archdiocese of Miami and Diocese of Palm Beach Put Foley on Notice

...to put up or shut up.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:26 PM

"Veils Suck"

Salmon Rushdie, again I salute you, Sir

The row over Muslim women's dress codes reignited today after author Salman Rushdie declared that "veils suck". Rushdie, whose book The Satanic Verses triggered death threats from Islamic clerics, gave his full backing to Leader of the Commons Jack Straw for raising the issue.

Rushdie was forced into hiding for 10 years after Iranian cleric Ayatollah Khomeini served a "fatwah" on him over his book’s alleged slight on the prophet Mohammed.

..."Speaking as somebody with three sisters and a very largely female Muslim family, there's not a single woman I know in my family or in their friends who would have accepted wearing the veil.

"I think the battle against the veil has been a long and continuing battle against the limitation of women, so in that sense I'm completely on [Straw's] side.

"He was expressing an important opinion, which is that veils suck, which they do. I think the veil is a way of taking power away from women."

Mr Straw triggered anger last week when he revealed he asked Muslim women visiting his constituency surgery to remove their veils.

He said that seeing someone's face made it easier to communicate and felt the garment was a barrier to integration and good community relations.

While Straw is right about that, that aspect is really secondary; the real problem with the veil is that it subjugates the women and consigns them to second-class status. That is simply unacceptable in the modern world.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:46 AM | Comments (15)

October 09, 2006

They Sure Sound Like Red Blooded Americans

...to me!

Alaska Villages Reject Venezuela Oil
In Alaska's native villages, the punishing winter cold is already coming through the walls of the lightly insulated plywood homes, many of the villagers are desperately poor, and heating-oil prices are among the highest in the nation.

And yet a few villages are refusing free heating oil from Venezuela, on the patriotic principle that no foreigner has the right to call their president "the devil."

..."As a citizen of this country, you can have your own opinion of our president and our country. But I don't want a foreigner coming in here and bashing us," said Justine Gunderson, administrator for the tribal council in the Aleut village of Nelson Lagoon. "Even though we're in economically dire straits, it was the right choice to make."

And ho-lee cow, are things tough up there for them.

...A spokesman for Gov. Frank Murkowski, John Manly, said the governor believes Chavez's donation is a ploy to undermine Americans' faith in their government. But he said it is up to each village to make its own decision.

"It seems like a very strange irony that we produce the oil and yet every year there seems to be a chronic problem in getting the fuel to people that need it," Manly said.

Joan Eddy, principal and teacher at Nelson Lagoon's school, said most buildings in town were erected 30 to 40 years ago, which makes them pretty old, considering how they get battered by the constant 20-25 mph wind coming off the ocean. Their heating systems are aging, too.

She noted the fuel barge is late arriving this year, and said residents are turning on their furnaces for only a few hours in the morning and at night.

"We're conserving as much as we can because we are concerned. It looks like it's going to be a snowy winter and cold," she said.

Bless their hearts.

Remind me again why I should send money to Africa?

Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:10 PM

October 02, 2006

As Much as I Despise Joe Screw Your Borough

...I'm with him on this one.

Scarborough: D.C.'s dark underbelly exposed
Joe Scarborough and Mark Foley entered Congress together in 1994

...Reading the first set of e-mails made me uneasy. My friends and I who knew Mark got on the phone and asked why he would ask a high school kid for a picture. Friday afternoon I saw the instant messages he sent to another student and realized that Mark was in big trouble.

But he is not alone.

Where was the Republican leadership over the past year? They knew of Mark's inappropriate e-mails to a former page but never informed Democratic leaders so they could warn those pages they had brought to Washington.

How could the Speaker of the House not remember being told by the Chairman of the Republican Congressional Committee that Foley had been confronted with his inappropriate e-mails to a male intern? Does this happen so often in Congress that it was no big deal to Denny Hastert?

The fact that Republicans allowed Mark Foley to continue as Chairman of the Committee on Missing and Exploited Children is terrible. The fact that they let him lead the charge on a bill to stop the exploitation of minors on the Internet is unpardonable.

My only beef with his point of view is letting Democrats know so they could "warn" their pages. How 'bout you expose and expulse the SOB? How 'bout you show zero tolerance for such behaviour?

THAT's the problem with this whole mess.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 04:24 PM

The Fall Foley Age

There is some talk about who knew what, when with regard to this, and what should happen to them.

The unfolding cyber-sex scandal involving former Rep. Mark Foley, who resigned Friday, has spread to the House leadership that appears to have known of Foley's involvement with a former congressional page for months. The word "cover-up" is now being aimed at various top House Republicans, and they are losing support from Republican bloggers as a result.

To me, anyone who knew about this, actually knew and not just 'heard rumors', should be voted out. I don't care what party they are from. Yes, there are legitimate questions about the timing of stories from the MSM on info they had for a year; I don't care, that's a different issue.

Any bastard/bastardette who knew about this is a disgrace and should be hounded from office.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 01:18 PM | Comments (2)

September 30, 2006

No Loss

Rep. Foley has resigned from Congress. Good. It seems he's a scumbag.

As Gaypatriot correctly points out

First — a 16-year old!?!? I just don’t get that!!!

Second — Think a long, long time before you put stuff in email. It never goes away and travels all around the world.

Third – Foley will be lynched, while Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) was given a pass for having his call-boy boyfriend running a prostitution ring out of Frank’s townhouse and he has won re-election ever since.

(I think on his third point Gaypatriot forgets that in our Parliament of Whores prostitution is most certainly not a sin)

I don't care if he's gay or indifferent; the fact is he was at the very least making extremely inappropriate contact with a minor, and perhaps even soliciting sex from the minor. The hubris and arrogance ('stupidity' for us little folk) of these politicians continues to amaze.

And what is the deal with the St. Petersburg Times, which seemed to know all this a year ago and has sat on it until...4 weeks before the election? Aren't they an accessory to any crime by not reporting it to the police?

I don't care about the political impact of this per se, and how it may help the Dems gain another seat; I want this guy to be making license plates.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:33 AM | Comments (6)

September 20, 2006

Orange County Is Home To Simpler Folks, I Guess

Of course, Option B is that the school officials are complete morons.

Blind morons, at that. That's as charitable as I can be after reading this:

A veteran teacher used the font — depicting quasi-anatomically correct male and female stick figures contorting into letters of the alphabet — on the cover sheet of a spelling curriculum given to parents at a Pine Tree Elementary open house last week.

Think Kama Sutra meets Sesame Street.

But at first glance, it's difficult to make out the salaciousness of the type font.

Sources said the teacher had no idea the alphabet was offensive when she downloaded the font from the Internet. It's unclear if any disciplinary action has been or will be taken against the teacher, who sources said has been with the district for many years.

"I definitely believe it was a mistake," said Kelly Stegmann, Pine Tree Parent Teacher Association president. Stegmann said she received very few calls from parents about it.

The design is so subtle that even school officials missed it. And many parents didn't know what they were looking at until they received a letter of apology Friday from Pine Tree principal Jean Maxson.

"This packet was reviewed by a number of people, including myself," Maxson wrote. "I take full responsibility for this inappropriate publication."

Now, here is the cover page, the one that is so innocent at first glance. I'm sorry, even reduced to this size it, ahem, catches the eye shall we say:

Are you telling me that all these people saw this in its full 8 1/2" by 11" glory and didn't notice?

(h/t to Michelle Malkin)

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:52 AM | Comments (21)

September 19, 2006

"Letter From America"...

Arms and legs from Britain??

NEW YORK (AP) -- After "Masterpiece Theatre" host Alistair Cooke died, errors in the medical records accompanying his body fell through the cracks, one by one.

His name was misspelled. His birthdate was off by 10 years. His Social Security number wasn't even close. The name of his doctor, contact information for a relative, the time and cause of his death: all wrong.

None of that prevented the removal and sale of the 95-year-old's arms and legs. The fate of his pelvis and other tissue remains a mystery.

It's amazing the errors/deceipts/frauds this case has highlighted in the cadaver biz:

...Where Kittredge's name might have appeared on the records, there is instead a bogus name and phone number for a family member who supposedly agreed to donate her father's body parts for tissue transplants.

Donated cadaver tissue is used in more than a million procedures a year in the United States to repair bad backs, fix ailing knees and replace heart valves. Most of these operations are safe and do tremendous good, but tissue that has not been treated properly or is taken from unscreened donors can infect a patient with hepatitis, HIV and other potentially deadly infections.

...The documents say that a person named "Susan Quint" of the Bronx -- identified as Cooke's daughter -- consented to giving BTS the body parts. But Kittredge is Cooke's only daughter, and she lives in Vermont, where she is a minister.

In addition, Cooke died of lung cancer, but the records list his cause of death as "cardiopulmonary arrest." He was 95. BTS said he was 85.

The FDA sets no age and few health limits on donors, but some tissue banks consider cancer a disqualifying condition. It's not known whether the disease can spread to a recipient.

The time the body was recovered was also fudged. Cooke died just after midnight March 30, 2004, but BTS lists it as 6:45 a.m. making the 9:30 p.m. recovery time look shorter and the body fresher and more suitable for processing.

Do you really want parts from a 95 year old guy who died of cancer implanted in to you?

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:38 AM | Comments (3)

September 18, 2006

The Pope Murders Children And Canadians

Clearly his insensitive remarks about violence and Muhammed are behind this latest outbreak of Presbyterianism:

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) -- A suicide bomber on a bicycle attacked Canadian troops handing out candy to children in southern Afghanistan on Monday, killing four NATO soldiers and wounding many others, officials said. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the blast.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:18 AM

September 15, 2006

An Open Letter to Pope Benedict

Dear Holy Father ~

Tell them to piss off. Anyone who could read understands what you were saying and the jihadists fanning the current flames prove your point. The shrieking blind sheep of the Muslim street prove your point.

Apologize to no one. If they can't see their faces in the mirror for fear or ignorance, they are lost to reason. If there isn't one civilized, sane voice that can rise above the morass of Islamic indignation, ignorance and hysteria, they are lost to humankind.

And that is their eternal loss.

If we bow to them...it is ours.

Another strong voice falls silent and more on Benedict.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:13 AM | Comments (6)

Who Do They "Represent"?

An important post today from Lawhawk on our who our supposed Representatives really seem to care about:

Why is Congress, and these members in particular, so fixated on the rights of terrorists under the US legal system and what the rest of the world thinks of us? Isn't the first job of Congress to protect and serve the United States of America? Have they forgotten their responsibilities under the law? Or the oath of office they took?

I, _____ , do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.

With that in mind, the Senate Armed Services Committee voted on its own version of a terror tribunal bill, which would grant even more rights to terror suspects than the Administration's version. The vote passed 15-9, with chairman John Warner of Virginia (R) joined by all the Democrats on the committee and McCain, Graham, and Collins. Supporters of this bill claim that it would help improve the US image abroad.

Image is everything, I guess. Who cares about, oh, I don't know, something say so esoteric like the safety of US citizens?

Silly me.

Anywhoo, read the whole thing.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:44 AM | Comments (2)

September 06, 2006

Nuts Are Just Nuts

There's really nothing else you can say about these people:

The 9/11 terrorist attack on America which left almost 3,000 people dead was an "inside job", according to a group of leading academics.

Around 75 top professors and leading scientists believe the attacks were puppeteered by war mongers in the White House to justify the invasion and the occupation of oil-rich Arab countries.

I'm curious what the requirements are to be proclaimed a "leading academic".

Dropped on your head several times immediately after birth?

This ever-growing conspiracy simply amazes me. These people will never be satisfied that they are wrong; they simply expand the net until we were all involved in it, I suppose.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:31 AM | Comments (25)

September 05, 2006

This Time You've Gone Too Far, Mr. President

He is getting out of control

(AP) -- America's hard-line president urged students Tuesday to push for a purge of liberal and secular university teachers, another sign of his determination to strengthen Christian fundamentalism in the country.

...Bush's call was not a surprise -- since taking office six years ago, he also has moved to replace pragmatic veterans in the government and diplomatic corps with former military commanders and inexperienced religious hard-liners.

The US still has strong moderate factions but Bush's administration also has launched crackdowns on independent journalists, Web sites and bloggers.

Speaking to a group of students Tuesday, Bush called on them to pressure his administration to keep driving out moderate instructors, a process that began earlier this year.

Dozens of liberal university professors and teachers were sent into retirement this year after Bush's administration named the first cleric to head Washington University, sparking strong protests from students.

"Today, students should shout at the president and ask why liberal and secular university lecturers are present in the universities," the New York Times quoted Bush as saying during a meeting with students.

Oh, silly me; they were talking about Iran, not Chimpy.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:32 PM

Why Bother Going To The Hospital

If you ain't gonna let the doctor look at you?

A hospital in northwest England has introduced a new surgical gown modelled on the burka, allowing female Muslim patients to cover themselves completely in line with their religious beliefs.

I agree 100% with the Daily Express:

"If people want to live in Britain, then they must accept British standards and the British way of life... The standard hospital gown is surely good enough for everyone."

That's some, er, skin rash you got there.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:47 AM | Comments (5)

August 30, 2006

Police Pot In Duluth

I think Bill's take on this story is exactly right:

"A joker". Yeah, right. The mere presence of these plants is proof that the Duluth police are running a marijuana distribution ring. They should be required to prove in court that they were not growing the plants for illicit purposes, and they must prove that all their assets were not purchased with drug money. If they cannot do this, the Duluth Police Department should be forced to forfeit all their assets under the asset forfeiture laws the rest of us are subject to.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 06:39 AM

August 23, 2006

I've Put Off Posting On This

...both because I wanted to wait until it was confirmed and because I was just plain sick at the thought. But he took the deal, his camp issuing patently ridiculous interpretations of the findings which are in themselves disgusting, delusional and devoid of personal responsibility. So I can't pretend it never happened and he's our golden boy anymore.

Gatlin loses record in deal
After accepting the accuracy of an incriminating drug test, Olympic and world champion sprinter Justin Gatlin faces up to an eight-year ban from track and field competition.

In exchange, the Woodham High graduate avoids a lifetime ban from the sport -- the penalty for a second positive test.

Gatlin, 24, will be stripped of his co-world record-tying time of 9.77 seconds that he ran in May. He also agreed to cooperate with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's efforts, but his compromise does not stipulate that he testify against his coach, Trevor Graham, who has been involved with at least a half-dozen athletes who have received drug suspensions.

The one thing I don't get ~ His coach is track and BASEBALL's acknowledged dirtballpondscum:

...The case is about more than Gatlin. It's also about his coach, Trevor Graham, who now has had at least seven athletes test positive for banned drugs. Graham precipitated the BALCO scandal in June 2003 when he sent a vial containing a designer steroid to USADA, which found a way to identify the previously undetectable substance thanks to work by the Olympic testing lab at UCLA.

Graham portrayed himself as a whistleblower and has denied any involvement with performance-enhancing drugs.

"As Trevor has stated publicly, he completely supports Justin Gatlin and Justin's cooperation with USADA and efforts to get reinstated," said Graham's lawyer, Joseph Zeszotarski, in a released statement. "Trevor knows he has done nothing wrong in his relationship with Justin or any of his athletes and only wants the truth to come out."

But Graham, according to a recent report in The New York Times, is under scrutiny by a federal grand jury as well as USADA.

Why in God's name did he ~ WOULD he ~ ever hook up with this guy?

But I guess that answer's plain enough, too.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:34 AM | Comments (2)

August 13, 2006

The Deathscapers

Reader Dan Collins alerted me to this story about a photographer in Lebanon admitting hat they pose bodies for shots, and sometimes they even bring in the needed bodies from the morgue.

Like friggin' landscapers.

Or maybe Moral Artistes.

But remember, we're the evil ones, kids.

Lots more at Hot Air and LGF and Confederate Yankee.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 11:31 AM | Comments (1)

August 11, 2006

The "Third Camp" Manifesto

Sis pointed out this Manifesto she found over at Slugger O'Toole's. It makes for an interesting read, and to my mind (what little of one there is) it neatly encapsulates a lot of the Left's positions on just about everything.

So let's take a peek, shall we?

The title gives a big hint as to what lay below:

"Manifesto of the Third Camp against
US Militarism and Islamic Terrorism."

The present conflict between the Western governments and the Islamic Republic of Iran can have disastrous human, political and social consequences. The terrible experience of Iraq has shown to all the catastrophes that can result from economic sanctions and a military attack. Deterioration of living conditions, economic plight, death, destruction and displacement of people, and increased repression by the Islamic regime, would be some of the immediate consequences of economic sanctions or a military attack on Iran. This policy would unleash Islamic terrorism on a regional scale and escalate it internationally.

Yes, it will have disastrous effects if we lose it. If Iran is victorious the catastrophe for the West will make Iraq look like a happy place with gumdrop smiles (and run-on sentences. Hell, I know my sentences run on, but I'm not publishing some high-faluting 'manifesto'). Er, and are they saying that there is no regional Islamic terrorism currently, and that it's quiet around the globe?

Ho boy...

We must stand up with all our power to the US government’s and its allies’ bullying. We must put an end to the crimes of the opposite pole, i.e. Islamic terrorism. We must help the people of Islam-stricken countries to get rid of the menace of Islamic terrorist states and forces. American militarism and Islamic terrorism have brutalised the world. Neither of them has a solution to the present crisis and its resulting problems. Rather, they are themselves the cause of this crisis and its aggravation. Civilised humanity must rise up against both these poles and the suffering that they have imposed on the world. The human and genuine solution to the problem of nuclear weapons, to Islamic terrorism and its horrific crimes against the people of the world, and to the militaristic bullying of the US and Western governments lies in the hands of us people.

There you have it: the US and Islamic terrorists, co-equal world brutalisers, equally at fault and equally fearful of the mighty wrath of "us people." How low our language has fallen from the dizzying heights of "When in the course of human events..." and "We the People..." to "us people." I keep looking for a "Youse Guys" in there somewhere.

Amid all this, the struggle of the people of Iran for freedom holds a prominent and critical place. For years there has been a mass social movement in Iran against the Islamic regime and for liberty and equality. The triumph of this movement over the Islamic Republic of Iran would be a decisive blow to political Islam and Islamic terrorism throughout the world. It would also be a powerful response to the US government’s political-military interventionism aimed at regime change, in the name of “exporting democracy”, and imposition of reactionary puppet regimes on other societies. The victory of the Iranian people would be a giant step forward and a turning point in the struggle against militarist and Islamic terrorism and in defence of liberty, civilisation and universal rights for all throughout the world.

The triumph of such a movement in Iran would be wonderful, and it would be a powerful response to US military intervention, because that intervention is the only thing that will create the conditions for it to happen. Do you really think that the religious leaders in Iran will give up as easily as the Shah did if there is a general uprising of "the people"?

We, the undersigned, declare:

1- No to war, No to economic sanctions

Economic sanctions and a military strike on Iran will have catastrophic human, political and social consequences. What happened in Iraq should not be repeated in Iran. These threats must stop immediately.

Ok, and in their place you suggest?

2- No to US militarism, No to political Islam

In the conflict between the state terrorism of the West and Islamic terrorism, the civilised world is not represented. Both sides of this conflict are reactionary and inhuman. They must be driven back.

My god! Not only is Bush evil; he's not even human! And I like the "yes, we believe in peace and freedom but not in the political rights of religious people" angle of this, don't you? Instead of "We are all New Yorkers" they offer "You are all terrorists."

3- Nuclear disarmament of all states

Neither Iran, nor the USA, nor any other state should have nuclear weapons. The Iranian regime’s nuclear project must stop immediately. However, states which have the largest stockpiles of nuclear weapons themselves are not competent authorities to judge on the nuclear capability of other states. Halting the Islamic Republic of Iran's nuclear project is the task of the freedom-loving people of the world, in particular the people of Iran - just as the nuclear disarmament of all states and liberation from the global nuclear nightmare can only be achieved by the struggle of the people of the world.

I agree: nobody should have nuclear weapons. But I feel compelled to point out that unfortunately they do. States with no nuclear capabilities are the only competent judge of another states nuclear capabilities? Are they kidding? Someone who can't boil water without a cheat sheet is the one we should use for reviews of french cuisine? Halting their program is the task of freedom loving people; I ask again: how do you suggest this can be accomplished?

4- Attacks on civil liberties in the West in the name of ‘war on terror’ must stop

The governments in the West are violating or restricting civil rights and liberties in the name of fighting the terrorist threat and safeguarding security. Increased surveillance and control of citizens, curtailing freedom of _expression and movement and denying the rights of immigrants are some of the commonest forms that this attack on people’s rights is taking. This must be stopped. No excuse for an attack on civil rights and liberties is acceptable.

The only attacks I see on civil liberties are people being attacked and murdered for 'insulting' Islam and printing some cartoons. Oh, and they looked in my backpack the other day when I took the subway. Help, help, I'm being repressed.

5- We actively support the struggle of the people of Iran against a military attack and against the

Islamic Republic of Iran

For 27 years the people of Iran have been fighting against repression, violation of women’s rights, sexual apartheid, stoning, torture, execution of political prisoners and poverty and economic deprivation. The people of Iran want to and can determine their own political destiny. Support for the struggle of the Iranian people for freedom, the victory of this struggle against the Islamic Republic and the establishment of people’s own direct rule will be a crucial step in standing up to the US government’s bullying and a decisive blow to Islamic terrorism in the Middle East and the world.

I wasn't aware that the people of Iran were struggling against a military attack, at least not one by soldiers who aren't wearing Iranian uniforms. By that list it sounds like the people have been struggling against...Islam. The US government wholeheartedly supports the people in that struggle.

6- The Islamic Republic must be expelled from the international community

The Islamic regime in Iran must be kicked out of the international community, just like the racist South African regime, for 27 years of crimes against humanity, for the brutal suppression of the rightful struggles of the people, for the execution of over one hundred thousand political prisoners, for establishing a sexual apartheid in Iran and for promoting Islamic terrorism in the Middle East and throughout the world. We call for the non-recognition of the Islamic Republic as the representative of the Iranian people, for the ending of diplomatic ties with it and the closure of its embassies everywhere. We call for the expulsion of the regime from international institutions.

Now wait one minute. Only in a manifesto from the Left can they end triumphantly with a position exactly opposite from where they started. Recall the opening paragraph:

The terrible experience of Iraq has shown to all the catastrophes that can result from economic sanctions and a military attack. Deterioration of living conditions, economic plight, death, destruction and displacement of people, and increased repression by the Islamic regime, would be some of the immediate consequences of economic sanctions or a military attack on Iran.

And now the ending once again:

The Islamic regime in Iran must be kicked out of the international community, just like the racist South African regime...

Hmmm, and the method the "international community" used with South Africa?

Economic sanctions.

The logic is brilliant: we are against sanctions so we insist that they be used; if there are any bad results, well, we told you so!

There is no plan, no vision, no suggestion on any plan of action to actually do something, no nothing in this 'manifesto' except the repeated mantra 'no'. That's their answer to everything. The US is bad, m'kay. Islam is bad, m'kay. Let's hold hands and via our collective empowerment we can will problems away. The utopian belief in "Why can't we all get along" is frightening; that seemingly intelligent people are signing on, even more so.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 03:34 PM | Comments (7)

August 03, 2006

Words Can Not Express The Disgust I Feel

At the amoral bastards on this tape over at HotAir.

My god, it is sickening. Listen to it, if you can.

And then go listen to this, the 911 call of a man on the 102nd floor of tthe World Trade Center. I was not going to link to this, because it just ripped me to shreds listening to it. But those "Loose Change" bastards (whatever the hell "loose change" is) has just pised me off so much that I am going to link to it.

But be warned, it is horrible. I am crying even as I type this.

Just what the hell is wrong with some people? How blind, ignorant, spiteful can some be? How insane are you to believe that there are conspiracies behind every corner?

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 05:56 PM | Comments (1)

A Well Known 'FRIEND of BIG BUSINESS'

...saved some BIG DRUG COMPANIES some BIG bills.

U.S. court: Victim of Nazis cannot sue German drug companies

A man left sterile by Nazi medical experiments during the Holocaust cannot sue two German drug companies, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of Simon Rozenkier's lawsuit, saying that his "exclusive remedy" is through a fund set up by the German government in 2000. Rozenkier applied for compensation from that fund and received two checks totaling $9,993 (-7,800), the ruling said.

...U.S. Circuit Judge Alan Lourie wrote that former President Bill Clinton was personally involved in negotiations that established the fund as "the exclusive forum for claims by Nazi-era victims of medical experimentation against German companies."

How about that. I wonder what the quid pro quo was?

Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:01 AM | Comments (6)

June 20, 2006

Rock, Paper, Scissors

Resident Druid that I am, even I have a problem with this.

Participants at this summer's national meeting of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will be asked to ratify a paper that says the Trinity is female.

The 217th General Assembly will be asked to ratify the 40-page report, "God's Love Overflowing," which suggests "Mother, Child and Womb" as terms equally appropriate to "Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

"In recent years new ways of speaking of the Trinity in the prayer and theology of the church have been proposed," the report states. "Some of these proposals are helpful; some are unsatisfactory. What must be clear is that we cannot distinguish the persons of the Trinity simply by assigning different attributes or acts to each of the persons. The divine attributes are held in common by all three persons: all are holy, all are loving, all are wise and powerful. Similarly, an action of God cannot be restricted to one of the three persons. All of the acts of the triune God are indivisible."

..."In praising the triune God we use biblical language, both classic - Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and surprising - Mother, Child, and Womb," the report says. "We may use words that speaks of the inner relations of the Godhead - Lover, Beloved, Love, and those that speak of the loving activity of the Three among us - Creator, Savior, Sanctifier, Rock, Redeemer, Friend, King of Glory, Prince of Peace, Spirit of Love."

According to an AP report this morning (which I canNOT find online), the delegates voted yesterday to "receive" this policy paper "on gender-inclusive language for the Trinity, a step short of approving it".

"This does not alter the church's theological position, but provides an educational resource to enhance the spiritual life of our membership," legislative committee chair Nancy Olthoff, an Iowa laywoman, said during Monday's debate on the Trinity.

Church officials get to propose 'experimental liturgies with alternative phrasings for the Trinity'. In my jaundiced eye, that's all well and good, inclusive and cutting edge but...anything that leaves "Son" out of it sort of defeats the whole point of "Christian", does it not? Jesus was a real, LIVE person, not a "fill-in-the-blank" concept.

UPDATE HAH! The AP link, thanks to Bingley's beady eyes and Mark in Mexico. Now, who the hell is St. Athanasius?

Bingley Update: Well, it all goes to prove that us Frozen Chosen are human too:

(link deleted)

Gosh, that's great! Poor baby jeebus!

Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:24 AM | Comments (40)

June 08, 2006

A Good Day All Around

Closer to home, there was this great news that I heard driving home today:

NEWARK — A federal judge remanded former Middletown Township Committeeman Raymond J. O'Grady - who was found guilty earlier today on five counts of extortion and bribery - to house arrest and increased his bail to $200,000.

...O'Grady, 56, former director of the Monmouth County motor pool, was one of 13 former and current county and local public officials in Monmouth County charged in February and March 2005 as part of a wide-ranging and ongoing FBI money-laundering and bribery investigation called "Operation Bid Rig.''

He was accused of taking $6,000 in bribes from an undercover agent working with a contractor who was operating a fictitious company set up by the FBI as part of the corruption probe.

It's a beautiful thing to see slime politicians get convicted. The jury only needed three hours to reach a verdict.

I guess the glove fit.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 05:45 PM | Comments (6)

May 31, 2006

Tiger Confirms...

That Bill Clinton is really Joe Isuzu:

Woods described a hole on the back nine.

"President Clinton rolls one in the bushes, then hits another one off the tee ... right in the middle of the fairway, hits a nice little wedge shot up there to about, I don't know, 6-7 feet.

"I hit a bad pitch, I blasted it by about 12 feet. ... Then all of the sudden, he does one of these," Woods said, gesturing like a player picking up his ball.

"It was 6-7 feet and he walked off the green. ... So I'm sitting in the cart. He's writing down the numbers, I happen to kind of ..." Woods said, leaning back as if reading a scorecard over someone's shoulder.

"Woods 4, Clinton 3."

"Hmmm...Birdie!"

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:38 AM | Comments (1)

Sorry, But I Can't Get Too Worked Up About Heroin Deaths

It seems there's a rash of folks dying in Michigan from either 'bad' heroin or od-ing from mixing it with another drug; the article isn't that clear:

Another person died from a probable drug overdose, Wayne County health officials reported Monday, bringing the toll to 48 people who have died since May 19.

Even though the number was dropping from the multiple deaths per day, health officials aren't ready to say the deadly overdose spurt is tapering off.

Toxicology results won't be available for several weeks, but health officials say they believe the deaths have been caused by a dangerous combination of heroin or cocaine and the painkiller fentanyl.

Whatever. My pitymeter is pegged pretty low for people who are doing that stuff. What the hell do you expect to happen, idjits?

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:02 AM | Comments (2)

May 26, 2006

So Will He Practice What He...Practiced?

So poor old Dr. Death is dying in prison.

May 26, 2006 — Today, on his 78th birthday, Jack Kevorkian, the man known as "Dr. Death," is slowly dying in prison.

And, according to his lawyer, Kevorkian seems to have second thoughts about helping people die.

For years, Kevorkian was the center of a national debate around the highly controversial questions surrounding physician-assisted suicide or "mercy killing:" Do the terminally ill have the right to choose when and how they die? Do doctors have the ability, even an obligation, to help them die as they choose?

Now, as he sits in jail, Kevorkian may have had a change of heart — not about his dedication to the "death with dignity" movement, but on how he went about promoting it.

I'm not really concerned about his change of heart on his tactics, but rather, since

Less than a week ago, Morganroth publicly stated that doctors had told Kevorkian he had less than a year to live.

Kevorkian suffers from Hepatitis C, which he contracted during service in Vietnam. Morganroth said Kevorkian's liver enzyme levels were three to four times above normal — a clear signal his liver was failing.

In light of his failing health, Kevorkian has requested a commutation of his sentence, a pardon that would get him released from prison.

will he choose the path he chose for so many others?

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:28 PM | Comments (1)

May 08, 2006

Hooray For Bleacher Speech

I love these guys:

As Bonds walked out to left field before the bottom of the first, fans in the front row of the bleachers unfurled a huge sign that read: "Ruth did it on hot dogs and beer. Aaron did it with class. How did YOU do it?" In addition, one `i' and the question mark were dotted with asterisks.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:02 AM | Comments (4)

May 01, 2006

Buy Gringo, Compadre

So Gateway Pundit is all over the story of the boycott of 'gringo' goods by the illegal lawbreakers oops happy work fairy elves.

So, like Florida Cracker, I'm going all-gringo, all the time today. My initial plan is McDonalds for lunch, swilling some coke and Budweiser.

Anybody have any other ideas for Gringo Support Day?

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:28 AM | Comments (12)

April 28, 2006

Damn Straight

About time he said something on this issue I agree with:

When the president was asked at a Rose Garden question-and-answer session whether the anthem should be sung in Spanish, he replied: "I think the national anthem ought to be sung in English, and I think people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English and they ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English."

"I think people who want to be citizens of this country ought to learn English," Bush said.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 03:23 PM | Comments (6)

April 18, 2006

Something Else You Should Read

I'm sorry I didn't get to this great post by John until now.

...If the US, rather than the USSR, had fallen to impotence in the Cold War, I would now be backing the Soviets against the Islamists, because the Soviets shared fundamental worldviews with us that, although twisted by a corrupt system, could have been reformed. I do not see the same humanity with which I can find a common ground in the medieval Salafists. The first time I was in the USSR, one of my friends (an ex-paratrooper) said in a drunken, midnight conversation that he was glad that he and I were sharing a glass of samogon, and had not first caught sight of one another over the sights of our rifles. I can not imagine one of Osama’s troopers saying that to me if I were to travel to Tora Bora and did not submit to the superiority of Islam.

I did not engage in flag waving or in putting yellow ribbons on my car after September 11. I see the war as a sad necessity, like shooting a beloved dog that has contracted rabies. It has to be done, but in the process we are destroying life and wounding a piece of our own collective soul. However, no person and no nation can get through any length of time on this Earth with an unsullied conscience, and to insist otherwise is to remain a mental child and shirk adult responsibilities and their attendant compromises and consequences. So I do see much reason for pride in stepping up to the task of fighting Salafism, and not farming it out to someone else or pretending that a threat does not exist – and for defending the interests of a modern way of life that benefits the entire world...

Go read the rest.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:01 PM | Comments (4)

The Modern-Era's Patron Saint

Thanks to Insta for the pointer to this great essay.

Read the whole thing.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:28 AM | Comments (7)

April 15, 2006

I'd Hate to See This Investigation

...De-layed. I'm sure it's all an honest mistake...or a witch hunt.

A fundraising effort by Democratic legislators intended to help elect party members to the state House and Senate produced more than $1 million in questionable campaign donations during the past two years, state records showed.

The Miami Herald reported Saturday that two political committees organized to raise money to help elect and retain Democratic legislators accepted donations in excess of the $500 cap on individual contributions for political campaigns set by state law.

Between July 2004 and last December, Florida House Victory accepted 214 contributions over the limit, raising $830,803 in excess of the $500 cap before the committee finally closed down, records showed. About $759,000 of the money raised went to the Florida Democratic Party, records showed.

Florida Senate Victory took in 54 contributions over the limit, or $211,246, before it was dissolved and re-created as a "committee of continuous existence," records showed.

Does that last sentence remind you of anyone...
...as in "Nuthin' up ma sleeve!"

Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:42 PM

April 06, 2006

When I Said "They're Racist"...

What I meant was "I apologize."

Damn, won't you Media guys ever get the quotes right?

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:39 PM | Comments (1)

April 03, 2006

Rev. Jesse Stirring the Pot

...and not the way ~ or the reverend ~ you'd think.

...Prior to 40 years ago, such a pathetic performance by the black community in a time of crisis would have been inconceivable. The first response would have come from black men. They would take care of their families, bring them to safety, and then help the rest of the community. Then local government would come in.

Wow.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:38 AM | Comments (6)

March 22, 2006

Speechless

It doesn't happen often (certainly not as often as some might wish) but sometimes I read something that someone has said and I am left speechless:

"Wearing a headscarf is of course culturally determined. And that’s the way these women experience that, because that’s how they experience their religion. In addition, the headscarf offers opportunities for women is some Islamic countries, because without one they won’t be able to leave home."

Barcepundit replies perfectly to this...this...toad.

(h/t to Vodkapundit, whose trackbacks keep giving me a 404)

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:55 AM | Comments (3)

March 07, 2006

"We Have Not Seen a Single Jew

...blow himself up in a German restaurant."
Wow. Wafa Sultan lets fly.

From Kokonut Pundits via the always wired in Gateway Pundit.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:14 PM | Comments (3)

February 27, 2006

This Is One Of The Most Disgusting Things I've Seen

I'm sorry, but what woman would do this? And what kind of a scum bag guy would want/encourage/demand that his wife do it?

Mrs Yarborough paid $5,000 (£2,860) to a cosmetic surgeon to stitch her hymen back together so she could “lose her virginity” all over again and her husband would have that thrilling conquest at the grand age of 40

Yuck yuck yuck.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:51 PM | Comments (13)

February 17, 2006

A Glimpse Of Their Priorities?

I dunno, maybe it's me, but when I read a story saying that

...The corpses of at least 20 newborn babies and fetuses are found each week in the sewers of Zimbabwe's capital, some having been flushed down toilets, Harare city authorities said, according to state media Friday.

and it contains a quote like this:

"Apart from upsetting the normal flow of waste, it is not right from a moral standpoint. Some of the things that are happening now are shocking," the state Herald, a government mouthpiece, reported Chideya as saying.

I'm really not all that surprised that their country is a mess.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 03:10 PM | Comments (4)

February 07, 2006

Call Me When They Burn Down an Embassy

THE JEWISH STREET EXPLODES

...The White House continued to plead with Jews across America to stay calm.

(I'd say 'or burn Iranian anything', but I can't think of a single export except dates. Or maybe a flag, that's always flashy. But ~ as Crusader pointed out earlier this evening ~ it's not as easy to find an Iranian flag in America as it seems to be finding sh*tloads of Danish flags in any given Middle Eastern capital.)

I think it's safe to say I'll be able to get through my Wednesday night viewing schedule without interruption.

UPDATE: See what I mean?

"Yes Arabs and Muslims are uptight when you touch their religious and national symbols, but Europe has made political correctness, the cult of the Holocaust and Jew-worshiping its alternative religion and is even more uptight when you touch that," writes Dyab Abou Jahjah, the leader of the Belgian-based radical group.

"I am for the absolute freedom of speech everywhere, and that's why I call upon every free soul among Arabs to use the Danish flag as a substitute for toilet paper," continues the Lebanese-born agitator, calling on Muslims to "illustrate every wall with graffiti making fun of everything Europe holds as holy: dancing rabbis on the carcasses of Palestinian children, hoax gas-chambers built in Hollywood in 1946 with Steven Spielberg's approval stamp, and Aids spreading fagots (sic)."

They've got Danish flags coming out their wahzoos!

Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:58 PM | Comments (2)

February 03, 2006

Oh The State Department Pisses Me Off

What kind of CRAP is this:

Washington on Friday condemned caricatures in European newspapers of the Prophet Mohammad, siding with Muslims who are outraged that the publications put press freedom over respect for religion....

..."These cartoons are indeed offensive to the belief of Muslims," State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper said in answer to a question. "We all fully recognize and respect freedom of the press and expression but it must be coupled with press responsibility. Inciting religious or ethnic hatreds in this manner is not acceptable."

This is complete and total bullshit. If Condi doesn't smack down these limp-wristed idiots she will have a very very tough time getting my vote now. How dare they encourage those bastards to riot and blow shit up.

God Bless Denmark!

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 04:28 PM | Comments (10)

February 01, 2006

Death To Drug Smugglers

You bastards:

(CNN) -- A two-year investigation into a Colombian heroin ring netted more than 65 pounds of drugs, resulted in the arrests of more than 20 people and saved the lives of some drug-smuggling Labrador retrievers, the Drug Enforcement Agency said Wednesday.

Ten wayward pups were found during a raid on a Colombian farm in 2005, and six of them were carrying more than 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) of liquid heroin in their stomachs, said DEA spokesman Rusty Payne.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:14 PM | Comments (3)

January 26, 2006

A Worthy Corporate Stance

Doesn't cost them a whole bunch, but it's the thought that counts.

Regional bank to refuse loans in eminent domain projects
Regional bank BB&T Corp., one of the nation's largest financial institutions, will make no loans to developers who plan to build commercial projects on land taken from private citizens by the government through the power of eminent domain, the company said Wednesday.

In an interview, BB&T chief credit officer Ken Chalk said the bank expects to lose only a tiny amount of business but believes it was obligated to take a stance on the issue.

BB&T, which is headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., ranks among the nation's top 10 banks by assets.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:54 AM | Comments (7)

Here's A Nice Family

I don't know about this:

Deputies say a 16-year-old has been arrested for beating his grandmother with a two-by-four for refusing to give him $100 for beer.

...Authorities tell us today that Cass came from a troubled family. His mother is in prison on cocaine possession and sale charges, and his father is serving a 15-year prison sentence for manslaughter after choking a prostitute to death in 2002.

What kid needs $100 for beer?

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:14 AM | Comments (8)

January 11, 2006

What A Mess For The Catholic Church

Now you've got a Bishop saying he was abused 60 years ago:

Gumbleton, 75, told The Washington Post in an interview published in Wednesday's editions that he was "inappropriately touched" by a priest in 1945 when he was a ninth grader at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit.

...He was appearing in support of a bill pending in the Ohio House that would open a one-year window for sex abuse victims to sue the church for incidents that occurred years ago. The state senate has already passed the bill.

...He told the Post that opening the window to additional law suits in Ohio and elsewhere "could cost the church some money, but it also could bring a great deal of healing to a lot of victims."

Certainly the Church brought a lot of this onto themselves by covering up, ignoring reports and shifting scumbags to different parishes, and for this they have rightly paid and continue to pay, both financially and morally as they should. But for a legislature to effectively write a blank check to anyone who has an axe to grind is just wrong. They will be no standard of proof in these cases; it's a mugging, plain and simple, sanctioned by the state. If someone was abused by an Ohio State Legislator 60 years ago would the Legislature give them another year to file a suit, so long after any reasonable semblence of a statute of limitations had expired? Hell, so long after many of the supposed perps had expired? I don't think so. All those who so zealously scream, and many times rightly so, about the separation of church and state, will they now speak out when the church is singled out unfairly?

Don't hold your breath.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:33 PM

January 10, 2006

How Brave Are You To "Suspend" Something...

That you've never used?

New Jersey lawmakers voted Monday to suspend executions while a task force studies the fairness and costs of imposing the death penalty... ...There are 10 prisoners on New Jersey's death row. While capital punishment was reinstated in the state in 1982, the last execution took place in 1963.

Whatever your views on the death penalty, it is ridiculous how expensive and drawn-out the process has become. But since no one has been executed by the State in 43 years, I would hazard a guess that the death penalty has been 'suspended' already.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:29 AM | Comments (2)

January 09, 2006

Maurice Clarett Ring a Bell?

It should. I was just talking bad about him. Now add Marcus Vick. He coulda been a contenda...if he wasn't such a P-U-N-K, punk.

Marcus Vick arrested for alleged gun incident

QB, booted by Virginia Tech last week, accused by 3 of pointing gun

But he'll get his shot at the big-time ( 'shot' in the figurative sense, only), just like another mis-understood, high spirited young player did. Until his act got real old.

And it's everybody's fault but theirs.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:26 PM | Comments (1)

January 05, 2006

Quote of the Day

"I think they all stink, to be honest with you,"
-Gov. Jeb Bush, about political funds

The new, much heralded 'Gift Ban' on lunch from lobbyists to Florida legislators has a slight problem. As Steve Bousquet of the St. Petersburg Times notes:

In Florida in 2006, a lobbyist cannot buy a legislator a stick of gum. But it's still legal for a lobbyist to give $10,000 to a fund controlled by a legislator.

Ain't progress great?
Now, everybody talk like a pirate. Looting and pillaging is alive and well.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:19 AM

December 29, 2005

Bottoms Up!

One thing that always sort of puzzled me is christians who don't drink for 'religious reasons'. I mean, Jesus brought the wine to the wedding, right? He drank wine all the time. Sure, we are commanded in Matthew (I think?) not to get drunk, and that's on the list of non-10 Commandments commandments that I will get around to following eventually, but I can't recall any place where He says "don't drink." Oh sure, He says He's not going to drink wine anymore, but heck, He well knows that in heaven you don't need no stinkin' wine. And anyway, isn't the full phrase "I won't drink the fruit of the vine again until I drink it with you in heaven" or something like that?

Look. If you don't drink because you don't like the taste or the way it makes you feel, fine. I feel the same way about chocolate milk.

If you don't drink because once you start you can't stop and you become a slobbering obnoxoid then I'm glad you've made the decision to stop, but don't blame baby Jesus.

And please don't deny me my bottle.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 11:23 AM | Comments (19)

December 23, 2005

Christmas Compassion Challenge

I failed. The woman's an idiot.

Hopefully some of you will fare better.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 01:36 PM | Comments (6)

December 21, 2005

Ethics?

You know, everytime that I start to think that maybe certain religious folks have too big a say in some aspects of the government some story like this comes along:

Work on the world's first human-made species is well under way at a research complex in Rockville, Md., and scientists in Canada have been quietly conducting experiments to help bring such a creature to life...

...Government and scientific bodies in the U.S. have investigated safeguards for the new technology, given its potential to yield new pathogens as weapons of bioterror. Ethicists have raised concerns about humans altering the "nature of nature."

But proponents feel the many benefits of redesigning micro-organisms to do human bidding far outweigh the risks...

..."I grew up doing that with cars and clocks and radios and things like that," Dr. Venter said. "You take them apart to understand them and then you try and see if you can reassemble them."

Holy sweet mother of (insert deity name here) does that scientist's attitude scare the bejeebus out of me. Life. It's just a game for some, I guess.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 04:04 PM | Comments (3)

December 14, 2005

So, Honey, How Was School Today?

"It sucked."

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 04:00 PM | Comments (10)

December 09, 2005

Hey Bill, STFU

Did any former President ever do any such thing to him while he was in office? What a classless piece of crap attention whore this guy is:

MONTREAL - Former President Clinton told a global audience of diplomats, environmentalists and others Friday that the Bush administration is "flat wrong" in claiming that reducing greenhouse gas emissions to fight global warming would damage the U.S. economy...Canadian officials said the U.S. delegation was displeased with the last-minute scheduling of the Clinton speech.

Clinton, a champion of the Kyoto Protocol, the existing emissions- controls agreement opposed by the Bush administration, spoke in the final hours of a two-week U.N. climate conference at which Washington has come under heavy criticism for its stand.

Yes, the same Clinton who was in office when the US Senate voted 95-0 against the terms that were being proposed under what became known as Kyoto, the same Clinto who never submitted the Treaty to the Senate because he knew it would go down in well deserved (and hopefully extremely bloody polluting) flames, yes this is the same fellow who now trys to shift all the blame for the US not being a party to this 'treaty' to Bush. What an ass.

Memo to Willy: You ain't an elected official no more. STFU.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:50 PM | Comments (9)

December 08, 2005

Boat People

Our family line has some who came over earlier than 1776 and some who rode the waves to America much, much later and in far worse circumstances. It also seems we have a lot in common with Peggy Noonan than just a good Irish background.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:50 AM | Comments (20)

December 06, 2005

Heroin: A Canadian Right

There is so much wrong in this article:

Health authorities in Canada's westernmost province want to make the country's first test facility for heroin injection permanent and are considering opening additional clinics to meet the huge demand. The Vancouver facility was set up in 2003, against US opposition, as a three-year experiment exempt from Canadian drug laws....

...Addicts bring in drugs purchased illegally on the street, and self-inject them under medical supervision. There are onsite emergency services in case of overdose and staff nurses and counselors to provide health care and referrals to rehabilitation facilities.

Now, here's a shock: they're doing a booming business. You know, if I opened up a bar that only catered to kids under 21, because, you know, they need a place where they can safely get plastered, I bet you I'd do a bang-up business as well.

The United States also opposes a new experiment in Vancouver to give addicts free prescription heroin in hopes of reducing property crimes to feed their habit.

Sounds like a brilliant plan to me. I'd like to extend it further: let's simply drug all criminals, all the time. Let them stumble and bumble about in La-La Land. For the Government to supply heroin to every person convicted of any crime in the US would surely be cheaper thaan the costs of the prison system. Hell, let's shift all farm subsidies to opium production. As a bonus, think of all the great poetry that would be written by these modern-day Byrons!

Ironically, the success of Vancouvers supervised heroin use site led to another controversy this month, as Vancouver police launched a crackdown on public drug use. For years police have turned a blind eye in some areas to thousands of addicts shooting up on sidewalks, streets and in public buildings such as libraries, and leaving behind used syringes. Police now say because addicts can use the supervised facility, they will be stopped from injecting in public. "The police recognize drug addiction as a health issue... but police must step in when the addicts' activities interfere with other people's lives," police said in a statement. "Children should be able to use (park playground) swings and not have to worry about pricking themselves with needles buried in the sand," said police Inspector Bob Rolls.

Which is why we need to make those kids addicts too!

Advocates for drug users protested that the police crackdown is cruel because the clinic can only serve a minority of drug users. "It's just a really destructive thing," said Ann Livingston of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users. She notes that the supervised site can handle just 800 of 15,000 heroin injections daily, and staff are prohibited from physically injecting addicts or letting other addicts inject incapacitated users.

Yes, it's so cruel. Perhaps if we got the Police addicted they'd be more sympathetic...

There's also no place for addicts who smoke cocaine, said Livingston.

That's the last straw! Rise up, oppressed users! And what about those who snort cocaine? Where are there government-supplied mirrors and clean razors, hmmm?

No wonder they call it The Great White North...

I need a drink.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:49 PM | Comments (23)

November 29, 2005

Er, I'm Supposed To Want This Guy To Live?

#999 isn't quite the poster boy for the anti-death penalty folks that they wanted:

Hicks offered a tearful apology for the 1985 murders in an interview earlier this month with Ohio Parole Board members, and said he loved both victims -- 56-year-old Maxine Armstrong and 5-year-old Brandy Green. He detailed the killings and said his cocaine high made him desperate and paranoid.

Hicks had traded his VCR for about $50 worth of cocaine, court records show. After taking the drugs, he realized that he needed to get the VCR back before his wife wondered where it was, so he decided to steal money from Armstrong.

Hicks found his stepdaughter asleep on the couch at Armstrong's apartment. He woke her and brought her to bed and then strangled Armstrong, first with his hands and then with a clothesline.

He left her apartment with about $300 and some credit cards. He used some of the money to buy back his VCR and purchase more cocaine.

Realizing Green could identify him as the last person at the apartment, he returned and attempted to suffocate the 5-year-old with a pillow then strangle her with his hands. She struggled, and Hicks covered her mouth and nose with duct tape.

I think a bunch of folks are happy he's no longer around.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:47 PM | Comments (4)

November 07, 2005

For You "Hot Cheerleader Action" Fans

I'm not sure "2:10 am in a bathroom stall" is what you envisioned:

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Two Carolina Panthers cheerleaders were arrested after a bar dispute that broke out early Sunday after patrons complained the women were having sex in a bathroom stall, a police arrest report said.

Police reports named the women, but The Tampa Tribune reported officials were checking into whether one of them gave a false identification. One woman was charged with battery, and the other with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Both women were released on bond later Sunday

The women were locked in a stall at about 2:10 a.m. Sunday when other patrons got angry they were taking so long in the bathroom, the police report said. The women left the stall, and one began arguing with another patron of Banana Joe's, eventually hitting that patron in the face with a closed fist, police said.

Two women having sex in a stall? I'm assuming it was a handicapped one, so they'd have a little more room (and that sturdy bar...), but still...ick all around.

Update: Mugshots!!

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:44 AM | Comments (8)

November 02, 2005

You Can Only Use Your Skin To Think

So it seems as far as the Democrats in Maryland are concerned:

Black Democratic leaders in Maryland say that racially tinged attacks against Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele in his bid for the U.S. Senate are fair because he is a conservative Republican.

Republican=Racist

Such attacks against the first black man to win a statewide election in Maryland include pelting him with Oreo cookies during a campaign appearance, calling him an "Uncle Tom" and depicting him as a black-faced minstrel on a liberal Web log.

Nice, huh?

As the Man says, read the whole thing.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:05 AM | Comments (2)

September 27, 2005

Aside From Your Bartender, Who Has...

Absolute Moral Authority?

(not counting Ken, of course)

Ken has the answer.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 03:36 PM | Comments (4)

September 21, 2005

There Is No Such Thing As "The Slippery Slope"

It does not happen in the real world.

Really.

(please note I avoided all references to jokes in this post. This I humbly leave to the endless wit of our commentators)

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:39 AM | Comments (11)

September 13, 2005

Chitty-Chitty Kid Cage

Here's a novel child-rearing method:

WAKEMAN, Ohio - Sheriff’s deputies found 11 children locked in cages less than 3½ feet high inside a home, but a couple denied they had abused or neglected the children.

Nope, no abuse here, move right along folks. Heck, they even found the obligatory relative to say the kids liked it:

A woman who identified herself as Sharen Gravelle’s mother but would not give her name said the children were happy in their new home.

“This year they have played and had fun and laughed like no other children have, which they have never been able to do,” she said.

Being locked in a 40-inch cage is so liberating!

I wonder if they fed them treacle tarts?

UPDATE: Oh fine. Let the record show that Mr. Smartypants Wunderkraut posted on this story several hours before I did. I'm not bitter, as I'm not the one who got the number of kids wrong and I'm certainly not the one who forgot to mention the key HUGE BEADY MATTED BUNNIES angle of the story.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 03:19 PM | Comments (5)

September 01, 2005

Order Must Be Restored

We can not let an american city become Port au Prince or Abidjan or Baghdad. Looters must be shot.

Sorry. It's ugly and harsh and unbelieveable that this could happen, but it can not be allowed to go unchecked and spread. We are in for an extremely long and difficult time, and order must be re-established now.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:32 PM | Comments (2)

August 19, 2005

Predicting a Bittersweet Homecoming...

...as noted in a dismal little Der Spiegel article.

WANTED: PIOUS PEOPLE

When the German Pope Returns Home, He'll Find an Unchristian Land
When Pope Benedict XVI lands in Cologne for World Youth Day, he will be arriving in a country that has become foreign to him. The churches are empty, the politicians are non-believers and the people in the east are complete strangers to God. And now organizers of the biggest religious festival of the post-war era plan to turn it into a launching pad for a new religious awareness...

...The German pope's first trip abroad is essentially a homecoming to a strange land, a country in which more people enter training programs to become orthopaedic shoemakers and equestrian managers than to join the Catholic clergy; a country in which just eight percent of the population in a city like Magdeburg, in the former East Germany, has been baptized...

...Most Germans have developed their own private concept of faith. For them, the Big Bang has replaced the myth of creation, while catastrophic climate change is their new apocalypse. And depending on where they are in life, they enjoy small servings of ecstasy in the form of sex & drugs & rock 'n' roll or a concert subscription for two. At best, they pray on Wednesdays and Sundays, when the lottery numbers are announced. Internet chat forums are the new confessional, and everyone has his own homemade answer to the question of spirituality: a little Jesus, a big dose of career and, when in doubt, a deep gaze into their children's eyes. Indeed, many Germans are likely to view the World Youth Day with the indifference reserved for a congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 03:04 PM | Comments (1)

August 18, 2005

The Shameful PC-USA Leadership

I really wish that I could point out errors in this column by Lileks, but sadly I can't. The leadership of my church, strike that, rather the leadership of my denomination (the leadership of my church is much more sensible), is chock full of leftist touchy-feelies, and stuff like this is the result:

The Presbyterian Church (USA) -- not the members, but the learned elders -- has announced it will use its stock holdings to target Israel for being mean to the Palestinians.

But they're not anti-Semites. Heavens, nay. Don't you dare question their philosemitism! No, they looked at the entire world, including countries that lop off your skull if you convert to Presbyterianism, and what did they choose as the object of their ire? A country the size of a potato chip hanging on the edge of a region noted for despotism and barbarity. By some peculiar coincidence, it happens to be full of Jews.

The General Assembly passes every year resolutions that are far to the left of the individual congregations on various matters, and the local Presbyteries vote them down. It's caused a lot of dissention and wasted time, and it's sad. I guess the only people who have the time to belong to the General Assembly are lefty idealists; the rest of us have to work for a living.

Update: But I do have to disagree with Lileks on one point. I don't think that the PC-USA leadership is consciously anti-semitic; sadly their toeing of the lefty line puts them in the same camp, however.

Thanks to the Blogfaddah for the pointer.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:36 AM | Comments (5)

August 04, 2005

Corzine Pays His Girlfriends Well

Not that this might be any potential conflict, you know, but shouldn't people be a little concerned about this:

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jon S. Corzine loaned the president of New Jersey's largest state workers union $470,000 when the two were romantically involved about three years ago, then forgave the debt late last year, according to two published reports.

Hmmm. Anybody want to hazard a guess about who the union will be supporting in the election? Oh golly! Look:

The CWA endorsed Corzine's Senate candidacy five years ago and recently announced its support for him in the governor's race, one of only two in the nation this year.

The stench from NJ ain't from the landfills.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 11:28 AM | Comments (3)

Fiddlin' While Rome Explodes

There are actually times when I agree with the ACLU, but this is not one of them:

The New York Civil Liberties Union will file suit against the city Thursday to keep police from searching the bags of passengers entering the subway, organization lawyers said.

The suit, which will be filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, will claim that the two-week old policy violates constitutional guarantees of equal protection and prohibitions against unlawful searches and seizures, while doing almost nothing to shield the city from terrorism.

What is unlawful about this? You are asked to show the contents of your back. If you choose not to, you don't ride. Why is this any more onerous then requireing, say, a ticket to ride?

It argues that the measure also allows the possibility for racial profiling, even though officers are ordered to randomly screen passengers.

I wish to hell they would be allowed to profile. How many 70 year old women of Danish descent have set off bombs recently?

"While concerns about terrorism of course justify -- indeed, require -- aggressive police tactics, those concerns cannot justify the Police Department's unprecedented policy of subjecting millions of innocent people to suspicionless searches," states the suit, a partial copy of which was provided to Newsday.

Can anyone possibly imagine what 'aggressive poplice tactics' the ACLU would endorse if they are against random searches of friggin' bags?

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:34 AM | Comments (1)

August 02, 2005

Ken Skewers Air America

Now, if it had been Emily, would she be the Skewerdess?

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:17 PM | Comments (2)

July 23, 2005

Now THIS Is Irony

Kerry seeks release of Roberts' documents
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic Sen. John Kerry urged the White House on Friday to release "in their entirety" all documents and memos from Supreme Court nominee John Roberts' tenure in two Republican administrations.

"We cannot do our duty if either Judge Roberts or the Bush administration hides elements of his professional record," said the Massachusetts senator who was his party's presidential candidate last year.

I find his lack of faith disturbing. "Hides elements", indeed. As I recall, we were supposed to elect Senator Kerry PRESIDENT without seeing any of his 'professional record'.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 12:12 AM | Comments (4)

July 21, 2005

"I Do Not Consent To Being Searched"

You knew it would happen. The NYPD come up with a reasonable plan to enhance safety on the subway system, and the lefty wackoids are up in arms.

Reacting to the NYPD's announcement Thursday afternoon that police would randomly—but routinely—search the bags of commuters, one concerned New Yorker quickly created a way for civil libertarians to make their views black-and-white.

In a few outraged moments, local immigrant rights activist Tony Lu designed t-shirts bearing the text, "i do not consent to being searched."

Well, guess what, asshole? 50 people in London did not consent to getting blown up. The fact that police are going out of their way to hamstring themselves so that your precious "profiling" does not occur bugs the hell out of me, frankly. I wish they'd search everybody, but at the very least it would be nice if they concentrated on those most likely to commit the crimes, i.e. young islamic males of middle eastern ethnicity. Sorry folks, but those are the facts. With the exception of Oklahoma City every major terrorist act of the past, what, 30 years has been committed by either a middle eastern muslim or, in the case of Bali, an asian muslim. Sorry, but I think that that should allow the police to watch them a little more carefully.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:28 PM | Comments (2)

Let Me See If I Understand

1) Rene has a husband in El Salvador.
2) Rene lives with her boyfriend in Houston.
3) Rene's boyfriend cheats on her.
4) Rene cuts off his John Thomas* with a kitchen knife.

Relationships can be so complicated sometimes...

*The name has been changed to protect the delicate sensibilities of a certain blogger.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:36 PM | Comments (4)

July 19, 2005

"The Catholic Church Is The Whore of Babylon..."

God, I've always loved that quote*. Almost drove off the US 17 in a laughing fit when I heard it read during an NPR broadcast of Whad'Ya Know. It was the gem contained in an author read excerpt (a most distinquished lady of letters, Mary Lee Settle) from her biography of her West Virginia grandmother. It also arrived at an opportune moment in my life, pondering the mysteries of 'Christian'. We were all baptized Roman Catholic, but have never 'practised' as such. Consequently, we've all wandered off to different degrees/expressions of 'faith', as it were. Granted I am the tree hugging mystic Druid of the bunch, but, for convenience sake, I've always just said 'Catholic' when asked.
But you know, I was never asked until I moved south of the Mason-Dixon line. Where 'Catholic' was as common as a nickel in your change in the Northeast and California (and where, hell, NO ONE would be rude enough to ask one's religion as part of an introduction), in the South that answer became something viewed with suspicion and barely contained contempt by 'Christians' and pretty much used as an excuse for the most miserable exhibits of ill-manners I've ever had the misfortune to endure. And that honestly bugs the sh$t out of me. To this day. Especially when it's tacitly endorsed by Southern governmental agencies. Witness this gem, in Sunday's (And how appropriate is that?) local fish wrap:

Christian adoption agency rejects Catholic couples because 'faiths are in conflict'

JACKSON, Miss. -- A Christian adoption agency that receives money from Choose Life license plate fees said it does not place children with Roman Catholic couples because their religion conflicts with the agency's ``Statement of Faith.''

Bethany Christian Services stated the policy in a letter to a Jackson couple this month, and another Mississippi couple said they were rejected for the same reason last year.

``It has been our understanding that Catholicism does not agree with our Statement of Faith,'' Bethany's state director Karen Stewart wrote. ``Our practice to not accept applications from Catholics was an effort to be good stewards of an adoptive applicant's time, money and emotional energy.''

The Statement of Faith that has caused the ruckus?

...all Bethany staff and adoptive applicants personally agree with the faith statement, which describes belief in the Christian Church and the Scripture. It does not refer to any specific branches of Christianity.

``As the Savior, Jesus takes away the sins of the world,'' the statement says in part. ``Jesus is the one in whom we are called to put our hope, our only hope for forgiveness of sin and for reconciliation with God and with one another.''

I'm confused. Sounds alot like what I remember, even when it was in Latin, from those knee-numbing days of my youth.

Sandy Steadman said she was hurt and disappointed that Bethany received funds from the Choose Life car license plates. ``I know of a lot of Catholics who get those tags,'' she said.

She added: ``If it's OK to accept our money, it should be OK to open your home to us as a family.''

I know this is a long one, but, like I said, it bugs the sh$t out of me, the pretentious, holier-than-thou twits. Sometimes I think Jackson or Jalalabad ~ what's the difference?

*

I didn't hear her walk onto the porch. Like many heavy women, Addie had silent feet. I did not know she was close to me until she spoke. "The Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon in the Book of Revelation," she said to wake me up. She wanted to talk. She said she thought I ought to know about the Catholics, in case.

Addie: A Memoir: Mary Lee Settle, University of South Carolina Press, 1998

Posted by tree hugging sister at 01:00 PM | Comments (16)

July 14, 2005

I'd Rather Have A Bottle In Front Of Me...

Than have to have a frontal lobotomy...

It really is amazing, and frankly somewhat sickening, that this 'procedure' was done on some 50,000 people in the US alone.

Other doctors used a more primitive version than Moniz, punching an ice pick into the brain above the eye socket and blindly manipulating it to sever nerve fibers.

Nice, huh?

The truly shocking thing is that the inventor of this "miracle breakthrough" (whose name was not Mengele, btw), a Portuguese neurologist named Egas Moniz, was awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine in 1949. Un-farking believeable.

"First, do no harm" my ass.

Ah, hell. You knew I'd have to print these:

I'D RATHER HAVE A BOTTLE IN FRONT OF ME (Randy Hanzlick)

Jimmy and I were brothers.
We went down different paths.
Jimmy always listened to my mother,
And me, I never like to take a bath.

As we grew and tumbled through adulthood
The pressure caused emotional drain.
So now I'm slowly dying in the bottle
and Jimmy has to live with half a brain.

Yes, me, I've got a bottle in front of me,
And Jimmy has a frontal lobotomy.
Just different ways to kill the pain the same.

But I'd rather have a bottle in front of me,
Than have to have a frontal lobotomy.
I might be drunk, but at least I'm not insane.

Jimmy let his troubles drive him crazy.
He never tried to drown it in a drink.
I know that drinking makes my thinking hazy,
But at least I still have brains enough to think.

Jimmy's got a brain that isn't stable.
He doesn't have the sense to say his name.
I'm sorry that his doctor was unable
To remove the proper portion of his brain.

Yes, me, I've got a bottle in front of me,
And Jimmy has a frontal lobotomy.
Just different ways to kill the pain the same.

But I'd rather have a bottle in front of me,
Than have to have a frontal lobotomy.
I might be drunk, but at least I'm not insane.

Funny how the world works.
People can be real jerks.
Some prefer the tension over booze.

Either way it ends the same.
Hard to beat the living game.
Might as well enjoy it while you lose.

When I need a drink I start to shiver
And Jimmy always viewed it with concern.
But I'd rather have cirrhosis of the liver
Than an intellect that's second to a fern.

I wonder if old Jimmy's gonna hear it
When I tell him that his logic wasn't sound.
They'll dose him up on lots of evil spirits
When they take him to the psychiatric grounds.

Yes, me, I've got a bottle in front of me,
And Jimmy has a frontal lobotomy.
Just different ways to kill the pain the same.

But I'd rather have a bottle in front of me,
Than have to have a frontal lobotomy.
I might be drunk, but at least I'm not insane.
I might be drunk, but at least I'm not insane!

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:19 PM | Comments (7)

July 07, 2005

From An Elderly British Gentleman On The Street

"No, I'm not going to change anything. That's the point, isn't it? If you let it change your life you let these evil, cowardly, despicable people win."

You do indeed, dear sir. You do indeed.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 06:43 PM | Comments (1)

July 06, 2005

Why Are Some Citizens...

...so much more important than others? My heart breaks for her mother and family. I know I would be foaming at the mouth at the thought that someone could hurt the most precious thing in my life.

But now comes word that Senator Richard Shelby (AL) (in a FoxNews video) has spoken to Sec. Rice, the FBI Director and now the Sec. of the Navy (Fox says it has a copy of the letter), to ask for a deep diving team and ship to head on out to Aruba. Isn't it enough that the Dutch government has F-16's streaking over the island, flying 'grid patterns'? Color me a cynic, but if her name was Tameka, it wouldn't matter how much her mother ran her mouth. There wouldn't be camera ONE around to cover it, less mind a Senator actively soliciting Federal help. (Though it does pay off handsomely in TV appearances for him.) I want to think that oh, say...Senator Nelson would do the same for me...or Tameka. But I think not.

Ask poor little Sasha Groene. She wandered through a convenience store, arms folded, staring into customers' faces, her expression beseeching somebody, anybody, to recognise her and save her from the monster reading a paper by the front door. No one did. When was the last time you saw her pretty little face on TV? About 5 weeks ago. Was Greta Van Sustern traipsing the Idaho forests, interviewing Big Foots and Wookies, keeping us breathlessly up to date on every little international non-event? Never. That little girl and her brother dropped off the face of MSM as fast as Uncle Pussy off the stern with concrete overshoes in the Sopranos. (SO much off the radar that, when she was found, people went "oh, WHAT little girl?") Thank God for an alert waitress, hours later, in damn near her home town.
The Navy sure doesn't get mobilized to look for anyone in my neighborhood either, less mind taking a Caribbean cruise. If the squid terrorist next door was a little late getting home from grouper fishing in the Gulf, the Coast Guard and volunteers would do their damndest for days, but eventually call the search off. The last time I saw the Navy called out to search for a citizen, his name was JFK, Jr.

The White House "situation room" was alerted. Federal transportation officials swung into action, and sophisticated military equipment was brought to the waters off Martha's Vineyard. Several Clinton administration cabinet members, including the secretary of defense, were rousted from their beds.

"The same amount of effort would have been expended for an average citizen*," said Capt. Sandy Troeber of the Air Force's rescue coordination center in Virginia. "Every life is as important as the next."

*Right. Only as long as you're a well off pretty blonde/brunette college student or 'American Royalty' citizen. I got a sinking feeling me and Tameka are on our own, while the squid terrorist would be backstroking beachward by his lone self.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:49 AM | Comments (6)

July 05, 2005

This...

6 attackers die in raid on Hindu shrine in India
Security forces end standoff with gunbattle

AYODHYA, India - A suicide bomber blew up a security fence Tuesday and gunmen used the breach to storm a Hindu shrine complex at the center of Hindu-Muslim strife, setting off a two-hour gunbattle that left all six attackers dead, police said.

An attacker in a jeep blew himself up, with the blast tearing a hole in iron railings surrounding the shrine and allowing the other five attackers to get within 50 yards of the temple’s inner sanctum, police said.

...DOESN'T HAPPEN with the Baptists, Catholics, Wiccans and Brownsville Revival types 'round here and, trust me, they like each other about that much. If they believe your lack of their brand of worship will be sending you to nasty netherworlds of individual description, they will pray and preach and 'tch-tch' you there. Truly devout people of any religion 'of peace' do not ignite explosive bandilleros, spray bullets around (ending with the obligatory police shoot out and scenes of carnage) and have anybody-can-be-an-ayatollah issuing proclamations portending/inciting doom, with reward promises of a carnal nature in the hereafter. If you need to get laid to make Heaven worth getting there, you have a whole 'nuther set of problems. And we shouldn't be kissing your Neanderthal patootie. Overseas or here.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 09:42 PM | Comments (3)

June 29, 2005

Family Values

Alright, I'm an old fuddy-duddy. But this just sickens me.

An East Texas college student finally learned why she'd gained weight and was having abdominal pain — she was about to give birth.

Annie Cohen was three days shy of 19 on the morning of June 16 when, after a night of tossing and turning, she walked out into her yard to try to catch some winks in her neighbor's swing seat.

"I had been having pains for about a week," the Marshall, Texas, woman told The News-Journal of neighboring Longview. "I thought maybe it was the bed, so I went outside to lay in the swing."

She didn't even make it that far. Instead, Cohen, already the mother of a 3-year-old, figured out she was in labor and grabbed the pole of her own swing set.

"It was one big push for the baby and a little one for the placenta," Annie Cohen told the newspaper.

"It was like a natural instinct," marveled her mother, Julie Cohen. "She knew to push to turn the baby's shoulder and to get the baby out."

After the delivery, Annie Cohen ran inside, yelling at her mother to call 911.

"I said 'Why?'" recounted Julie Cohen. "She said, 'There's a baby in the yard.' I said, 'Whose is it?' She said, 'It's mine.'"

Yes, isn't my special little angel so great? 19 years old, already has a 3 year old, out and about getting knocked up and doesn't realize it ("It's a big surprise," said Julie Cohen. "I thought she was just really liking her pizza."), pops out the baby in the front yard and leaves it there to go inside.

WTF is up with these people?

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 01:26 PM | Comments (16)

June 27, 2005

The Only Tablets Allowed in This Courthouse...

...are Tylenol. The Supreme Court says 'nyet' to the ones Moses hauled around.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 10:27 AM | Comments (1)

June 24, 2005

Another "Mother Of The Year" Nominee?

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. -- A deputy Tasered an intoxicated 13-year-old girl who was kicking and scratching two hospital nurses, officials said.

April Rene Burleson, who is 4-foot-9 and weighs 90 pounds, had a blood alcohol level of 0.175 percent and was under the influence of marijuana and the prescription drug Xanax, according to the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

Nice, huh? She was out wandering around at 3 am and I guess Momma wasn't too concerned, but she did agree to let the deputy take the girl to the hospoital.

No word about any charges being filed against the mother for allowing her daughter to get involved with booze...and pot...and xanax, but you know the lawsuits will be flying about them Tasering her little baby.

Disgusting.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 03:50 PM | Comments (14)

June 22, 2005

Would Your Parents Accept This "Apology"?

Mine wouldn't:

"Some may believe that my remarks crossed the line," the Illinois Democrat said. "To them I extend my heartfelt apologies."

No "I was wrong" but just the usual "I'm sorry if I offended you" crap. Useless garbage.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:51 PM | Comments (1)

June 19, 2005

Who's Your Buddy, Who's Your Pal...?

Heard about the four hostages rescued by the Marines yesterday? Gitmo does indeed sound like a Gulag if you've only read the WaPo's version. Jeez, even the headline "At Least 50 Insurgents Killed In Western Iraq, Marines Say" makes no mention of what they found. That finally appears paragraphs down, describing the unfortunate fellows only as...

"After a firefight Saturday morning, they raided a house and found four Iraqi men blindfolded, shackled and badly bruised in a room concealed by curtains." and "The rescued men, all of whom appeared to be in their twenties and thirties, had welts and bruises on their faces and backs and were taken to a medical facility for treatment, Chase said."

The Marines who found it were "shocked" and it appeared to be a "very bad place", but the guys were just 'badly bruised'? What gives? Sounds like Senator Durbin's Gitmo, doesn't it?
But then, CNN, damn their eyes, has an actual correspondant with the troops, who had a whole different take on what those four guys looked like, not to mention their headline:
"Arraf: Marines rescue tortured hostages as battle rages".
Tortured? Read on.

Jane Arraf, CNN's senior Baghdad correspondent, is embedded with U.S. troops taking part in the mission. She spoke with CNN anchor Betty Nguyen by phone during the pitched battle.

ARRAF: What I see in front of me is absolutely heartbreaking. It's two of four hostages who are being taken away, rescued. They were rescued this morning. They're Iraqi, and they were found in this complex that Marines first thought was a car-bomb factory. In fact, they did find what they believe was a potential car bomb or suicide car bomb.

But inside this complex, they found something even more sinister -- four Iraqis who were handcuffed, their hands and feet bound with steel cuffs. They're now being taken away for medical treatment, one being borne away on a stretcher.

The man in intense pain that they're trying to get into a vehicle, has been tortured, he says, and has all the marks of being tortured with electricity. His back is crisscrossed with welts. The other man is even ... in worse shape. Their crime was to be part of the border police.

The Marines came in here this morning, rescued them. The battle is still raging around us. I don't know if you can hear the gunfire, but this is a major offensive to get rid of insurgents and foreign fighters in this city near the Syrian border....

... Two young men say they don't know why they were seized. They say they didn't hear the voices of their captors, only people whispering in their ear that they were going to be killed.

But we have just watched the two who were most badly treated be carried out of here for medical equipment, one of them on a stretcher, an older man who worked for the border police, along with his colleague...the Marines showed us the room where he says he was hung by his feet, his head dipped in water and then tortured with electric shocks repeatedly.

One of the other men, the other border police, was too weak, really, to tell us what had happened. But he obviously was in very, very bad shape.

They were rescued this morning as Marines and Iraqi forces came into this complex, which included an underground bunker, weapons stockpiles and other things, and found them here. Their captors have fled.

According to Joe Biden on Meet the Press this morning, Senator Durbin has released a 'big mistake to say that' letter, but, as of this moment, I haven't seen that anywhere. The cynic in me wonders if the CNN version (and the video of Marines using bolt cutters to release emaciated ankles and wrists from shackles...) had anything to do with his sudden bout of remorse. What an ass. And he should send a big juicy fruit basket to the WaPo for trying to help him out.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 01:57 PM | Comments (3)

June 17, 2005

Operation Murambatsvina

What would your local civic leaders name their latest urban clean up campaign? Especially one aimed to "...weed out all criminal elements countrywide"?

Well, if your local alderman was Robert Mugabe, and you were poor and destitute and lived in a shack, he'd call it "Operation Murambatsvina" -- drive out trash, with the trash being, well, you, natch.

Police Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka, quoted Tuesday in a government newspaper, said that 21,194 "illegal structures" had been demolished nationwide, and 32,435 people arrested since "Operation Murambatsvina"...began May 19.

Imagine the outcry if our Zionist Overlords demolished 200 shacks, let alone 21,000. However, this should assuage the International Community of Concerned Head Tilters:

Education Minister Aeneas Chigwedere said Monday that people would be moved on to an "appropriate place," adding that there is "nobody in Zimbabwe who does not have a rural home."

That's a relief.

Update:

Gosh, it was such a success they've extended the program! Now they've displaced 250,000 people.

No word from Kofi Annan if he's "deeply concerned" yet.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:46 AM | Comments (1)

It's Amazing How Ironic Irony Can Be

Two PETA Employees Arrested on Animal Cruelty Charges in N.C.

Police found 18 dead animals in the trash bin and 13 more in a van registered to PETA. The animals were from animal shelters in Northampton and Bertie counties in North Carolina, police said. The two were picking up animals to be brought back to PETA headquarters for euthanization, PETA president Ingrid Newkirk said Thursday.

Neither police nor PETA offered any theory on why the animals might have been dumped.

Local officials and veterinarians said they were told that PETA would find homes for the animals, not euthanize them.

Nice, huh? But I guess it's ok, since they're concerned and humane and stuff; it's the "gas 'em with a smile" PETA attitude that sets them apart.

Sheesh.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:14 AM | Comments (4)

June 16, 2005

This Is Not A "Prank"

You do not throw water balloons at moving cars. People will die; possibly even you, you ass.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 01:32 PM | Comments (9)

June 12, 2005

Goddamn I Hate Spammers

They should all be shot. Now.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:26 AM | Comments (6)

June 10, 2005

Ashes To Ashes, Dust To...

Pringles? Shockingly, they are suing.

Marcelle Lieberman says she visited the niche that July and her sister visited in fall 2003.

The daughters say they returned to the mausoleum together on June 10, 2004, their father's birthday, and discovered the potato chip can in their mother's niche.

And then they commited their mistake:

A locksmith opened the niche and Houston police took custody of the can, which still contained potato chips.

But times are tough at the Houston headquarters...

Wiping his mouth with his sleave, Officer John Garcia of the Houston Police Deptartment said that, unfortunately, "We can't seem to locate the evidence in this case. Anybody have a quarter I can borrow for the soda machine?"

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 11:19 AM | Comments (1)

June 01, 2005

There's A Curious And Sad Fact In This Year's Spelling Bee

Look at the kids who've advanced to the 5th round. Look at the words these young great kids spelled! Amazing. Now look at their names and faces. It sort of fulfills all your stereotypes, doesn't it? A smattering of metal-mouthed white kids in a sea of names and faces that suggest asian and indian-subcontinent roots...and one black girl from Jamaica.

Not a single african-american kid. Not a single hispanic kid. Not one.

Why? Obviously, there is no bias in the words that were chosen for the kids to spell. All I can think is that somehow, somewhere, these kids are not being encouraged to read, for reading is the key to spelling, and the key to so much success in later life. All this concern and money spent on 'self esteem' would be far better spent on encouraging students, and their parents, to read, it seems to me.

I know in families where both parents work that it is very hard to find the time to sit with your child to read, but it's one of the most important skills you can give your child. A skill that is also a gift.

A gift that will both last a lifetime and may very well change a life.

*Update: In the comments faithful swiller leelu, who took the time to follow the link and look at the pictures, points out several children who appear in fact to be of african-american and/or hispanic descent. However, all of those children (with one exception) have a red "E" next to their names, which indicates that they failed to make it to the 5th round, which is my criterion above. The one exception I debated about and guessed that he was philipino, and thus asian, rather than hispanic. But I have guessed wrong before...

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:29 PM | Comments (13)

May 09, 2005

Well, Hey! I Heard N.J. Needs a Governor

Spokane mayor takes leave amid sex probe
Report: West offered jobs to men met in chat rooms; computers seized

Upside? At least they're all U.S. citizens.

Job offers to chat-room denizens? An hour after West’s announcement, the paper posted a new story on its Web site alleging West offered city jobs to two young men he met through a gay Internet chat room — and that one of them briefly accepted a city appointment.

Ryan Oelrich, an openly gay 24-year-old, told the paper he accepted West’s appointment to the city’s Human Rights Commission in April 2004 after meeting West online at Gay.com.

Oelrich said he resigned from the commission in January after West “hounded me for months, telling me I was cute and asking me out on dates.” Oelrich

GAY DOT COM?? Puts a whole new spin on the Monster internet job search. And how chi-chi! You get to be a human rights commisar - all for being cute! Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle. Next career stop; the U.N.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 11:54 PM | Comments (5)

May 06, 2005

Dang It! Rabbits Are Just Stupid.

We have a fenced-in area on the side of the house ("Netherfield") where the dogs have been trained to...attend to more solid matters, shall we say. So after I grilled the boigers tonight I yell for Claude, anmd the dope doesn't come, and I walk around to the side of the house and look into Netherfield and there he is, looking guilty by a small hole in the ground. Now Claude is a Lab who's never dug a hole in his life, so I thought this was odd. So i walk over and look at El Guilto and his hole and there's all this, well, it looked like dryer lint until I realized it was fur. Some dopey rabbit made her warren in the middle of Netherfield, right next to the house, and of course he found it and the bunnies, who couldn't have been more than a few days old. I mean, the place absolutely stinks of dog, there are tons of dry places in the yard where he hardly ever goes, and places where a dog has never been because of the invisible fence (when it works), but no, she has to make her burrow where he's gonna find it. Dang. So one of the babies is dead; I closed the gates and hope she will move the others, other wise they'll be killed too. I think if I move them, then she won't be able to find them and they'll die anyway.

Stupid ass rabbit.

dang.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:32 PM | Comments (8)

May 04, 2005

Oh Puh-Lease

So we find out that the reason that despicable toad Lynndie England did what she did is becaues she was "oxygen deprived at birth"? Give me a god damned break already. The Toadette herself said the truth the other day:

"I had a choice, but I chose to do what my friends wanted me to," she said.

And that is probably the one and only honest statement that will be heard from her defense team.

*Update: So now the Judge is telling her she doesn't know what she's talking about?

"There is evidence being presented that you are not guilty," Pohl told England.

WTF?

*Updated Update: Oh, the feckless bastard:

A military judge Wednesday threw out Pfc. Lynndie England’s guilty plea to prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib, saying that he was not convinced that she knew that her actions were wrong at the time.

She admitted guilt, said she knew it was wrong what she did. End of story. Somebody else trying to protect her is irrelevent.

Especially if that 'somebody' is another scumbag who shagged this beast. That thought makes me ill.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:32 AM | Comments (11)

May 02, 2005

I Thought Laura Was Great

Unlike these assholes. But ideologues, be they on the left or the right, have never been known for their senses of humor.

*Update: hahahahaha, it turns out that this is an Onion-esque site, and this is satire. Read the comments; some of them are funny as shit!
And I guess I should read a bit more before I post; oh well, I had a looong weekend!

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 11:19 AM | Comments (5)

April 22, 2005

Redemption? We Don't Believe In No Steenkeen Redemption!

If you're looking for a good round up of the brouhaha about Pope Benedict XVI's past the ever wonderful Baldilocks is a great place to start.

What amazes me, and saddens me too, about all these christians who have worked themselves up into a lather about his election is that they seem to have forgotten about guys named, oh I dunno, say Augustine and Paul?

It seems to me that these guys were carrying a lot more baggage than 'ol Ben is.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:35 PM | Comments (4)

April 19, 2005

Benedict XVI

So it's Ratzinger. Andrew Sullivan is obviously not thrilled. But I fail to see why the Church should change its values for him, or any of us. Look, if you disagree with Church Doctrine you can leave the Church. It's really quite simple. Is there RCC doctrine I disagree with? Sure, tons. It's a human institution, run by humans; it has its faults and failings like all of us do. In fact, by its very nature it is fallen, as we all are. I left a while ago (marrying a Prot helped). But I respect all the good that its done while acknowledging the bad. It's easy to tear something down, and sometimes that task is made easier by the actions of the institution; the RCC is no exception. But what are you left with? A thousand, no, a million people each trying to be Pope, each trying to play God and have their ideas followed. Me me me me me me.

Nope. Real courage comes from looking inside and realising we all are sinners; real courage says "I am wrong. Forgive me, and replace my will with yours."

*Update: Nightfly nails it:

Likewise, worrying about how he's going to be seen by other religions is preposterous, a red herring. He's supposed to be safeguarding our faith, not auditioning for other ones.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:08 PM | Comments (4)

April 08, 2005

This Saves Alot of Heartache

Eric Rudolph is pleading GUILTY and will serve four life sentences. I understand how angry many will be, but this assures a just outcome and gives no voice to the media circus that was sure to ensue. We've had enough grandstanding.

Plea deal turns up explosives Jeff Lyons, whose wife was severely injured and left blind in one eye in the Alabama bombing, said he and his wife were “extremely disappointed” in the life sentences for Rudolph. “As they say, let the punishment fit the crime. That was a death sentence,” he said.

But Lyons said he understood prosecutors’ reasons for agreeing to a plea deal since Rudolph directed them to the explosives — something that likely would not have happened had the case gone to trial.

Let him rot there.

Posted by tree hugging sister at 05:25 PM | Comments (8)

April 04, 2005

Thanks Bill

Oral Sex Safe and Not Really Sex, Say U.S. Teens.

Hey, if it works for the President...

A case of beer to the first fella who convinces his wife of this.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:12 PM | Comments (13)

March 31, 2005

It's Very Sad To See

The abuse and bile being spewed about the net with regard to Terri Sciavo is amazing, and disgusting. The crap that Insta has had to put up with is simply vile. Sure, some guys clearly think it adds a few sorely needed inches to their wienies to attack him, and I guess they're feeling impotent because Chimpbushhitler has no more elections to lose, but can people grow the heck up please? Yeah, I think it is unconscionable that she was taken off the feeding tube and effectively murdered. But I also think that it was wrong to have a special session of Congress to pass a 'law' that pertains to one person. And I think Jeb made the right decision in not sending in marshalls to 'rescue' her. There's enough in here to piss off everyone from multiple angles.

The whole situation sucked from top to bottom, and screaming epithets and wishing ill on others shines a brighter light on your own shortcomings than it does on your pearls of wisdom.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 11:26 PM | Comments (37)

March 24, 2005

Maundy Thursday

This is always a night that induces melancholy. The stripping of the vestments from the altar. The singing of "Christ We Do All Adore Thee" as the lights are turned out in the sanctuary.

Judges in Florida enjoying a nice steak diner while Terri Schiavo starves to death.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 11:03 PM

March 23, 2005

Warning! Religious Musings Ahead!

It's sad when you feel that any mention of religion has to be caveated. Or maybe it's indicative of a weakness (one of many) on my part. But anyway, so tomorrow's Maundy Thursday. My church's choir is performing Fauré's Requiem during the service tomorrow night (8 pm, if you're in the neighborhood).

While we've been rehearsing these past few weeks I've been thinking about the place of religion in my life. What with the Schiavo disaster bursting out on the airwaves this week, and with this thoughtful post from Sharon still bouncing about inside my besotted head, these thoughts have taken up a lot of processing time, and I can't say that I've come to any ground-breaking answers yet, either.

I suppose Pravda would describe me as "an intensely religious conservative" since I go to church every week. Silly me, I thought that is what one is supposed to do when one belongs to a church, you know, actually go. Well, in fact I'm at church several times each week: for choir practice, for meetings of committees that I'm on; for my daughter's various bell and choir practices, and for her youth group ("Oh My God! They're indoctrinating the poor thing!" Damn straight). Hell, when we used to have 2 services on Sunday I went to both as well, as the choir sang at both services. But does that make me a Fundy who loves the smell of brimstone in the morning? While Pravda may be sure, I sure as heck ain't.

Do I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who was sent to earth to redeem mankind from its sin? Yes, I do. Do I believe fervently with my body and soul that the Bible is the literal Word of God that contains the actual answers to all questions and is to be taken literally on all subjects? No, I do not. Do I believe that it was divinely inspired? Yes, I do.

The problem with the Bible, and with all churches for that matter (and all utopian political systems, like, say, communism), is that they are human institutions; and all human institutions, like all humans, are fallen. None of us are anywhere near perfect; we are broken and sinful at our core, and this brokenness permeates all of our activities.The Pope is a wonderful human being who is clearly at times infused with the Holy Spirit, but he is a sinner like you or me. St. Paul wrote beautiful divinely inspired explanations of God's love, but at other times he sounds like he still has issues with mom. The Catholic Church has done wonders in spreading the faith of Christ and tending to the spiritual and physical needs of His flock, yet at the same time its corpulent bureaucracy has become mired in corruption and secular politics. The Presbyterian church has much the same history, of spiritual highs and earthly lows.

We are all such a mass of contradictions...but I'm ok with that, because that's part of being human. About the only time I can say that I admired Jimmy Carter was in reading his Playboy interview; the man is being brutally honest folks (and if someone can find a copy of that interview - just the interview, please - I'd appreciate it, because I just spent an hour googling and I can not find a transcript online) in describing his own fallen nature, and I defy anyone to say that they have not lusted like that. Now, mind you, inspite of what Matthew says on the subject I think there's a whole lot of difference between window shopping and whipping out the credit card to make a purchase, if you know what I mean, but the point is all of us do things that we know are wrong. Does this make us "hypocrits" and "bad" people who have lost all ability to speak out on moral issues? Or does it just mean that we're human?

My vote is with "human," and it is this awareness of my own failings that Christianity provides that comforts/chides me and helps me to try and improve who I am. Oh I trip and stumble about often enough, even while sober, but I have the knowledge that there is a path there, that there is a reason beyond me that I may not understand.

Having said that, if anyone ever harms my family I will, flush with the spirit of christian duty, mince them into little bits and put them in a blender.

Lovingly.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:00 PM | Comments (17)

March 21, 2005

Cowards

But what struck us about this as we were talking about it last night ( well, struck my bride, really, because she's the smart one) is the cowardice of it. Your wife is inconvenient? She's a burden? Stop feeding her, and let nature take it's course. No responsibility to you, my friend.

You want her dead, Mr. Sciavo? You think it's ok, Judge?

Then you guys should have to use a gun and put her out of her misery quickly and compassionately, instead of taking the coward's way out and starving her. Get the blood on your hands, where it belongs.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:01 AM

Well, If There's Any Good Out Of This

It's that it has gotten a lot of couples across the country talking about living wills and what they want done if they are in a similar situation. Talk about it. Write it down.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 07:58 AM

March 19, 2005

Andrea On Terri Schiavo

You ought to read it.

As in go now.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 02:36 PM

February 23, 2005

The Stench From New Jersey Has Nothing To Do With The Refineries

Once again New Jersey politicians show how corrupt they are. Passing cash in little brown paper bags outside diners. Codenames like "munchkins." Just disgusting. And the rot is evenly spread amongst Democrats and Republicans. New Jersey desperately needs an independant Governor who is free from the county party machine politics that corrode the state, someone who will clean house. And John Corzine, that ain't you.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 08:10 AM | Comments (6)

February 15, 2005

What am I missing here?

The headline states "Gays Debate Radical Steps to Curb Unsafe Sex." The article says these radical steps center on...condom use.

I'm sorry, but how fucking stupid (and "stupid fucking," obviously) are these people? Using a condom during gay sex (or any non-monogamous relationship frankly) is radical? As the Man says, read the rest of the article for examples of asinine thought and behavior.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 12:42 PM | Comments (2)

February 07, 2005

Why does Bush like Tootsie rolls? And what this tells us about how Evul he is

This kind of crap shows how low and desperate the MSM has become. Sadly, this sort of phsycobabble rumor mongering is all too common these days.

The fact that Bush is able to read a Hamilton biography, the Bible and a racy novel and enjoy all of them means that, well, he's just like me. When the writer says things like

Bush, who was the hard-drinking, hard-partying president of the jock fraternity at Yale, Delta Kappa Epsilon, is also the father of two partying twins

you know you're in political slanderslam land.

Absolutely disgusting.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 10:26 AM | Comments (13)

February 03, 2005

Flyin' Down to Rio

So I'm in Rio last week, waiting in the lobby of the Copacabana Palace Hotel to be picked up by my friend (of Tylenol fame). We were going out to dinner at Gero in Ipanema, which is currently 'the' italian restaurant in Rio (gawd, I love business trips and expense accounts!). Anyhow, as I'm waiting there, I notice two slightly dumpy, paunch-endowed guys in their late 50s/early 60s waiting for a cab. Let's call them Shorty and his best bud Tubby. You know the type. The ones with the neon signs floating in the air above their heads flashing "GRINGO! GRINGO!"

Hell, I'm a gringo, but when you're overseas you sometimes run into folks who make all those stereotypes true. My friend picked me up and we went off to Ipanema to eat. We get to the restaurant and decide to sit at the bar for awhile and await the other fellow who was supposed to meet us. We have a few drinks and a lot of laughs, and who should walk in but my two gringos. The maitre d' seats them at a table for four, and makes a comment about the two long stemmed roses one of them (Shorty) is carrying. "They're for the two beautiful ladies who will be joining us" says Shorty, and my heart sinks, for I know that I am soon to be mortified by my, and it pains me to say it, fellow gringos.

My friend and I have another drink, decide the fellow we were waiting for wasn't coming, and we get seated a few tables away from THEM. I'm facing the door, and he's facing THEM. He soon gives me a strange look because my jaw has dropped open, as, since I'm looking at the door I can see that their hookers have arrived. We're talking top-dollar here folks. A blonde and a brunette; the blonde shorter and amply proportioned, the brunette tall, striking, and wearing a mini-skirt that extended all the way down to...well, I guess it went below her waist, but not by much. There was an audible 'crack' in the restaurant as every head snapped to take the scene in...the gringos...the hookers.

I just thought, you know, well, ick. Here we are in the swankest place in Rio, and you're doing this. I really wished I had a camera to record all the boozing and carousing that proceeded to occur; the hookers were no dummies, they were getting these guys sloshed to make the rest of their night more enjoyable...

You ever have one of those moments in your life where you really really REALLY wished that you had the requisite-sized cajones to say something? I had one of those moments the next night, when I got on the plane in Rio to fly back home, and there sat Shorty and Tubby. Lordy-lordy how I wanted to go up to them and ask in a loud voice "So! How was dinner?"

Posted by Mr. Bingley at 09:50 PM | Comments (6)