DEAR GEORGE SOROS

GEORGE, YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO PLAY A GAME OF SEMANTICS BY TAKING OFFENSE WITH PRESIDENT BUSH'S CHOICE OF WORDS, "WAR ON TERROR." YOU SUGGEST THAT VICTIMS AROUND THE WORLD INCLUDING AMERICA, DEAL WITH THE INDIVIDUAL TERRORISTS AS CRIMINALS. YOU ALSO FAVOR "DIPLOMATIC EXILE" OF IRAN AS A SOLUTION TO ITS PURSUIT OF NUCLEAR POWER. HOW SCAREY IS THIS? FRIGHTENING IN ITS INTELLECTUAL DISHONESTY BUT IN NO WAY THREATENING TO ANY NATION PROMOTING OR SYMPATHETIC TO TERRORISTS.

GEORGE, YOU LIVED UNDER THE NAZIS, THE COMMUNISTS AND NOW GEORGE W. BUSH. YOU HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DISTINGUISH THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SOULS OF THESE THREE ENTITIES. YOU HAVE REACHED THE DEPTH OF YOUR DELUSIONAL THINKING WHEN A DECENT, FREEDOM-LOVING, DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED, SITTING PRESIDENT REMINDS YOU OF THE LATE DESPOTS YOU JUSTLY DESPISED. IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO RISE. I HOPE YOU ARE AWARE OF THE TRUISM THAT ONE ONLY CAN ONLY JUDGE THE HEIGHT OF A TRIUMPH IN CONTRAST TO THE DEPTH OF THE ERROR INTO WHICH ONE HAS FALLEN. MAY I REMIND YOU OF OTHER GREAT SINNERS LIKE ST. AUGUSTINE, ST. PAUL, CLARE BOOTH LUCE AND WHITAKER CHAMBERS? THE TIME HAS COME FOR YOU TO FIND ASCEND TO THE TRUTH WITH GOD. ONLY HE CAN UNVEIL FOR YOU THE ESSENCE OF EVIL WHEREIN DEVILS RESIDE. NO KIDDING. YOU MAY KNOW BY MY SENSE OF PLAYFULNESS, I AM A 'BAD' REPUBLICAN. BUT IF I'M THE POT I CHOOSE TO CALL YOUR KETTLE OF LIES BLACK.

NOAH DISEMBARKS

"IF ONE'S REACH CANNOT EXCEED HIS GRASP, WHAT'S A HEAVEN FOR?" SOMEONE SHOULD REMIND THOSE 'LOST' SURVIVORS OF HURRICANE KATRINA THAT A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK ROOTED IN ACTION IS IMPLIED IN THIS ADVICE. BLESSED ARE NOT THOSE WITH A SPIRIT OF DEFEAT, WITH THE PARALYSIS OF VICTIMHOOD. ALL LIFE BEGINS SOMEWHERE - AT THE BASE OF A VOLCANO, LOW ON A FLOOD PLAIN, DEPRESSED, IN A SLUM, OVER A GEOLOGICAL FAULT, IN A ROOM WITH DIRT FLOORS IN THE PATH OF TSUNAMIS AND MONSOONS, IN OPPRESSIVE TROPICAL HEAT, IN A COUNTRY REPRESSED BY A DICTATORIAL REGIME, IN AN APARTMENT, LUCKY, WITH TWO LOVING PARENTS, UNLUCKY, INTO A WORLD OF RAGE, IN A TRAILER ATTRACTING TORNADOS, IN A PLACE DESTINED TO BE DESTROYED BY FIRE THROUGH CARELESSNESS - PHYSICALLY CRIPPLED OR MENTALLY SUPERCHARGED. IT IS IRRELEVANT WHETHER A PERSON IS BORN INTO A LOSING SITUATION OR NOT, BECAUSE HIS OR HER SUCCESS WILL ONLY BE MEASURED BY THE NUMBER OF ASPIRATIONS ACHIEVED. ELEMENTAL NATURE AND NATURE'S CREATURES HAVE EVOLVED WITHOUT FREE CHOICE. MAN IS UNIQUE. WITH FREE CHOICE, MAN’S REACH CAN EXCEED HIS GRASP. ONE YEAR AFTER KATRINA - AND IN NO WAY WISER - AMERICANS ARE STILL DIVIDED BETWEEN THE HAVE'S AND THE HAVE NOT'S. SOME CITIZENS HAVE CHOSEN HOPELESSNESS AND STILL AWAIT RESCUE EVEN THOUGH HEAVEN IS JUST A MATTER OF CHOICE. OTHERS HAVE IMITATED NOAH IN HIS ARK. AFTER THE BIBLICAL FLOOD, HE CAME TO REST ON MT. ARARAT. FOLLOWING DISEMBARKATION, HE FIRST LOOKED UPWARD TOWARD HEAVEN AND THEN HE CHOSE TO MOVE FORWARD TO RE- BUILD CIVILIZATION.

ROAR OF THE CROWD

HIS STYLE HAS BEEN CHARACTERIZED BY RAPID, GRACEFUL BLUES-TINGED MELODIC LINES UNFURLED IN LONG WEAVING PHRASES WITH THE INEXORABLE LOGIC OF AN EPIC NARRATIVE; AND A VISCERAL SENSE OF RHYTHM, TRANSMITTED WITH FIRE AND SNAP." HE COMBINES TWO QUALITIES - "EFFORTLESS FLUIDITY AND CLOCKWORK PRECISION" FOR WHICH HE IS RENOWNED. THEY ARE THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH "HIS PERSONAL ARTISTIC EXPRESSION RESTS," AND "PULLING THEM OFF REQUIRES A HIGH LEVEL OF ATHLETIC PROWESS.

A CRITIC AND JAZZ AFFICIONADO WROTE THESE WORDS ABOUT JAZZ ICON, OSCAR PETERSON. MILLIONS OF POP MUSIC BUFFS ATTACH SUCH OVER THE TOP SENTIMENTS TO THEIR INDIVIDUALLY, PREFERRED MUSIC GENRES: ALT-COUNTRY, BRITPOP, ELECTROCLASH, EMO, GLAM, HEAVY METAL, INDIE ROCK, JAM BANDS, POP-PUNK, PROG, POST-GRUNGE, SKA, TRIP-HOP AND TWEE. I, HOWEVER, SMELL THE GREASE PAINT AND HEAR THE ROAR OF THE CROWD AT ANOTHER THEATRE WHERE A PRIMITIVE MUSIC THUNDERED IN ANCIENT EARS AND WAS EQUALLY APPRECIATED WITH SHOUTS FROM THE MASSES.

I HEAR THE LION'S GRACEFUL, SOULFUL ROAR, UNFURLED IN WOVEN PHRASES RISING TO A CRESCENDO WITH THE URGENCY OF A WELL-PLOTTED TALE. INSTINCTIVELY HIS VISCERAL SENSES SNAP INTO PLAY. THE RHYTHM IN HIS LOINS TRANSMITS HIS DESIRE WITH FIRE AND LOGIC. EFFORTLESS FLUIDITY AND CLOCKWORK PRECISION UNITE FOR THE MESSY KILL FOR WHICH HE IS RENOWNED. WHETHER THE FIRST CHOICE IS VISCERA OR THE BRAIN STEM, HIS ARTISTIC EXPRESSION ATTAINS THE SAME HIGH LEVEL OF ATHLETIC PROWESS. THE LION'S ON STAGE. THE ANIMAL INSTINCTS OF HIS APPRECIATIVE AUDIENCE ROAR IN HIGH GEAR AROUND HIM. THE MUSIC OF THE CROWD DOES NOT SOOTHE THE SAVAGE BEAST; IT INSPIRES HIM. THE MUSIC OF THE BEAST FOLLOWING THE LAW OF HIS SAVANNA ALSO LURKS PERPETUALLY, BEHIND MAN'S CIVILIZED VENEER.

A FRIEND

NO ONE CONVERTS TO ISLAM
WITHOUT THE THREAT OF SWORD.
NO ONE FINDS A WORTHY FRIEND
WITHOUT SOME COMMON GROUND.

MINDS AND HEARTS WERE AGELESS
AS FIVE PLUS TWENTY YEARS,
ETCHED OUR FORMS AND FACES,
PRESERVED OUR THOUGHTS AND WORDS.

THE FEARFUL ONE'S ANXIETY
THE OTHER'S SWEET SURPRISE,
FINALLY MET FOR CONVERSATION,
AND AFFIRMATIONS PRAISED.

FOR FRIENDSHIP, THEN I’M THANKFUL,
FOR DIFFERENT PATHS WE SHARE.
BEGUN AS MUTUAL LOVE FOR CATS,
UNENDING IF WE CARE.

WAL-MART, YOU FOOL

THE FOOL AND HIS MONEY ARE SOON PARTED. IN THE CASE OF WAL-MART, IT IS MY MONEY - AS WELL AS THEIRS- THAT IS BEING WASTED. I'LL TAKE A LOWER STICKER PRICE OR A HIGHER STOCK PRICE FROM WAL-MART AS OPPOSED TO THEM DROPPING MONEY DOWN THE WELL OF ELITE ENEMIES. WHAT FOOL WOULD CATER TO NON-CONSTITUENCIES AND IGNORE THOSE WHO LOVE THEM? WAL-MART! WAL-MART OVER THE YEARS HAS INCREASED ITS CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO DEMOCRAT SENATE AND HOUSE CANDIDATES. IT HAS CATERED TO THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS BY DONATING AN ACRE OF WILDLIFE HABITAT FOR EVERY ACRE OF DEVELOPED RETAIL SPACE, DOUBLING ITS FLEET OF HYBRID CARS AND CUTTING ITS VOLUME OF SOLID WASTE. ALSO, IT HAS BUCKLED UNDER TO LAWYERS, LOBBYISTS AND ACTIVISTS BY PAYING OUT MILLIONS FOR ALLEGEDLY DENYING LUNCH BREAKS TO EMPLOYEES AND TO BOLSTER HEALTH-CARE COVERAGE. WHEN ACCUSED OF EVERY EVIL ASSOCIATED WITH BIG BUSINESS, FROM DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN TO UNFAIR PAY POLICIES, FROM DESTRUCTION OF 'MOM AND POP' STORES TO ESTABLISHING A MONOPOLY ON CHEAP LABOR, WAL-MART BEATS ITS KING KONG CHEST WITH MEA CULPAS TO SATISFY THE LIBERAL ELITE WHO WILL NEVER BE SEE IT AS THE SAVIOR ELEPHANT IN THE FREE MARKET. MONEY WASTED IS SQUANDERED SAVINGS FOR WAL-MART PATRONS.

I SAY TO WAL-MART, TRUMPET YOUR SUCCESS WITH YOUR BIG TRUNK AT WILL. IT'S FOOLISH TO CATER TO GROUPS LIKE ACORN WHO PUSH FOR A 'LIVING WAGE' WHICH IN EFFECT WILL ONLY BENEFIT UNIONS AND NOT THE POOR. IT'S FOOLISH TO COURT LIBERAL ELITES WHO WANT TO PREVENT THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS FROM VOTING DEMOCRATICALLY WITH THEIR FEET EACH DAY TO SHOP WAL-MART AND SAVE MONEY. IT'S ALSO FOOLISH, WAL-MART, NOT TO PUBLICIZE AND CAPITALIZE ON THE FACT THAT THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS SHOW UP CONSISTENTLY TO APPLY FOR YOUR JOBS WHEN A NEW STORE OPENS UP. IT'S FOOLISH NOT TO TRUMPET THE FACT THAT ADDITIONAL RETAILERS BENEFIT FROM A WAL-MART, THE HUB OF A SHOPPING MALL WHEEL.

THE ELITE WHO HATE YOU, WOULD HAVE PRESERVED THE COMPUTER'S ORIGINAL TONNAGE AND UNAFFORDABLE PRICE BECAUSE FOR THEM, INNOVATION AND COMPETITION -THAT BROUGHT THE SIZE AND PRICE OF TECHNOLOGY DOWN TO THE LEVEL OF THE MASSES - ARE BAD. THE ELITE REFUSE TO ADMIT THAT IF WAL-MART AND HOME DEPOT HAD BEEN TURNED LOOSE AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA LAST YEAR TO SOLVE LOGISTICS' PROBLEMS, RELIEF WOULD HAVE BEEN SWIFT AND SURE.
WAL-MART, YOU ARE FOOLISH TO COURT ENEMIES OF FREE MARKETS AND INNOVATION. YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO CATER TO YOUR FRIENDLY CUSTOMERS. THE SOLUTION TO A CONFRONTATION WITH A 'BULLY' LIKE YOU IS TO INNOVATE OR DIE. THE LIBERAL, DEMOCRAT ELITES SPOUT FALSE AND COUNTERPRODUCTIVE NOSTRUMS TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. THEY SHOULD BE IGNORED. YOU SHOULD LEAD; YOU FRIENDLY FORCES WILL FOLLOW.

PPP 101

GOD SAID IT IN THE BIBLE. AESCHYLUS SAID IT IN THE 5TH CENTURY B.C., "HONOR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER" WHICH "STANDS WRITTEN AMONG THE THREE LAWS OF MOST REVERED RIGHTEOUSNESS."

IT'S TIME FOR A REWRITE. WHAT WENT WRONG WHEN A 10 YR. OLD BOY CLAIMED TO HAVE A BOMB STRAPPED TO HIS LEG IN ORDER TO AVOID FLYING IN AN AIRPLANE? WHAT WENT WRONG FOR A COLLEGE STUDENT WHEN HE PACKED A STICK OF DYNAMITE INTO HIS LUGGAGE BEFORE BOARDING AN AIRLINER?

WHAT WENT WRONG WAS IMPROPER PRIOR PARENTING. THE CONCEPT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN BOTH CASES WAS ABSENT BECAUSE CONSCIENCE WAS NOT ITS PRECEDENT. TWO PARENTS, A FATHER AND A MOTHER, TOGETHER RAISING CHILDREN ARE VIRTUALLY NON-EXISTENT IN HOMES TODAY.

A NEW GOLDEN RULE IS REQUIRED FOR TRAVELING LIFE'S ROAD - "HONOR THY CALL TO FATHERHOOD AND MOTHERHOOD." A CULTURE OF SELFISHNESS, SELF-GRATIFICATION AND IRRESPONSIBILITY DROWN OUT THE CALL.

INTO WHICH OF THE 10 COMMANDMENTS DO WASTING TIME AND MONEY AT AIRPORTS AND FOR AIRLINES AND INCONVENIENCING AND FRIGHTENING HUNDREDS OF CUSTOMERS FIT? THE 8TH, OF COURSE. WITHOUT PROPER PRIOR PARENTING, A BOY AND A YOUNG MAN, BORE FALSE WITNESS, I.E. LIED TO AUTHORITY AND MISREPRESENTED THE TRUTH. EACH MISCREANT BORE NO INGRAINED SENSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

IT'S TIME FOR MOSES - FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING, TO RE-ASCEND MT. SINAI OBTAIN A RE-WRITE ON AN OUTDATED, INSCRIBED TABLET FROM THE LORD.

ARRESTED DECAY

WHY WOULD I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT "ARRESTED DECAY" OF AMERICA'S GHOST TOWNS WHEN IGNORANCE IS BLISS? BLISS ABANDONED ME FOR A DAY WHEN I LEARNED THAT STATE AND FEDERAL GRANT MONIES AND PRIVATE INVESTMENTS FACILITATE THE PRESERVATION OF ABANDONED "GO FOR BROKE" MINING PLACES THAT DOTTED THE WEST DURING THE LAST CENTURY. AT THESE MINIMALIST TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, ORIGINALISM IS PARAMOUNT. CONSERVATIONISTS LOOK FOR TIN CANS TO REPLICATE MINERS' METAL SHINGLES, DIG UP SQUARE-HEADED NAILS FROM OLD PILES OF LUMBER, ABSTAIN FROM PAVING GRAVEL INLET ROADS TO SIMULATE THE RHYTHMS OF YESTERYEAR, SOAK PLANKS IN WATER TO ALLOW THEM TO REPLICATE AS NEARLY AS POSSIBLE THEIR VINTAGE ORIGINALS AND HIRE PRISON INMATES TO CUT "TRUE DIMENSION" BOARDS FOR REPAIR JOBS. WHEN THE HEAD OF A STATE PARKS FOUNDATION USES WORDS LIKE "INCREDIBLY FRAGILE," TO REFER TO A GHOST TOWN, I ASK MYSELF IF TIME AND EFFORT COULD BE BETTER SPENT FIXING AND THEN PRESERVING WHAT'S TRULY BROKEN DOWN IN THE CULTURE TODAY - OUR SCHOOLS. NOSTALGIA FOR GHOST TOWNS COULD BE PUT TO BETTER USE BY SPOILED PRESERVATIONISTS ON THE ABANDONED GOLD MINES OF RIGOROUS KNOWLEDGE. CHECK IT OUT. IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AMERICAN HISTORY HAS BEEN LOST; THE MORNING AFTER PILL HAS BEEN FOUND. STUDENTS' GRADES ARE UP EVEN THOUGH ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE DOWN. SPORTS ARE IN; HOMEWORK AND READING ARE OUT. TO AMERICANS WHOSE WARPED MENTALITY SAYS, "I DESERVE THE BEST," REALITY BESPEAKS OF THE WORST SYSTEM OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. OUR SCHOOLS ARE GHOST TOWNS OF LEARNING WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS.

FOOLISH GUILT

DURING MY CHILDHOOD, SAGE ADVICE FROM MY FRUGAL MINDED FAMILY WAS FURIOUS AND FORTHCOMING. A FAVORITE ISSUANCE WAS, "A FOOL AND HIS MONEY ARE SOON PARTED." YOUTH OFTEN CANNOT INTERPRET SUCH ADVICE CLEARLY, BUT WHEN I SAW A REPORT ON ECO-CHARITY TODAY, I IMMEDIATELY DIVINED A RIP-OFF THAT MY PARENTS WOULD HAVE APPROPRIATELY SCORNED. INTERNET SITES PROVIDE A SERVICE WHICH EVALUATES A CUSTOMERS POLLUTION LEVEL AND THEN HELPS THEM NEUTRALIZE THIS IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT BY DONATING MONIES TO OFFSET THE EMISSIONS GENERATED BY THEIR ACTIVITIES. THE CONTRIBUTIONS SUPPORT 'WORTHY' CAUSES. CUSTOMERS, HOWEVER, HAVE LITTLE CONTROL OVER HOW THEIR DOLLARS ARE SPENT ON REDUCING GREENHOUSE GASES OR GLOBAL WARMING, REFORESTATION, RENEWABLE ENERGY OR ENERGY EFFICIENCY. BASICALLY, THESE WEB SITES PREY ON THE GUILT OF SPOILED AMERICANS WHO ONCE AGAIN, RATHER THAN OPEN THE DOOR TO COMMON SENSE LIVING, OPEN THEIR POCKET BOOKS TO EXPUNGE THEIR GUILT. CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE RICH ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO THE REDUCTION OF BRAIN CAPACITY IN THESE DOLLAR FOOLISH AMERICANS. AS MUCH AS 20% OF DONATIONS DO NOT FLOW INTO THE CAUSES. CONTRIBUTORS WHO CHOOSE TO LOSE 100% OF THEIR EQUITY FAIL TO SEE THAT THEIR MONEY COULD BE PUT TO BETTER USE TO EARN MONEY. ALSO, GUILTY DONORS OBVIOUSLY HAVE NO CONCEPT OF PERCENTAGES BECAUSE IN THE LONG RUN THE CHOSEN ECO-CHARITIES RECEIVE A 20% RETURN ON THEIR FOOLS’ INVESTMENTS. ECONOMICS ASIDE, SNAKE OIL SALESMEN, MORPHED INTO MODERN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORRECT .COMS AND .ORGS, ARE AS EFFICIENT AS EVER AT RIPPING OFF INDULGENT FOOLS.

BACKJ TO SCHOOL

SCHOOL DAYS, THE "GOOD 'OLE GOLDEN RULE DAYS," ARE UPON US AGAIN. OR ARE THEY? THE PRINCIPAL OF A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL, REMINDED BY AN INTERVIEWER THAT SCHOOL HAS STARTED, IMMEDIATELY PLUNGED INTO A REMINDER THAT PRACTICE FOR TRACK AND FIELD BEGAN THIS WEEK. WHAT FOLLOWED WAS AN ENTHUSIASTIC LITANY OF THE SPORTS' TEAMS FORMING UP AND THE ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR GOLF, BOXING, TENNIS, SWIMMING, SOCCER, WRESTLING, FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, BASEBALL AND VOLLEYBALL. NO RADIO AIR TIME WAS WASTED AND NO WAS BALL DROPPED TO PREVENT HIM FROM INFORMING HIS AUDIENCE ABOUT EACH AND EVERY SPORTS ACTIVITY GEARING UP FOR THE FORTHCOMING YEAR. HOW MUCH CLASS OR STUDY TIME IS AVAILABLE FOR THE 3 R'S, MATH, SCIENCE AND HISTORY WHEN SUCH ACTIVITIES, SUPPLEMENTED BY MUSICAL ,DRAMATIC AND CHEERLEADING OFFERINGS, ARE HIGHLIGHTED ON AIR TIME, REPEATEDLY, THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR?

THIS PRINCIPAL MADE NO CONNECTION BETWEEN BACK TO SCHOOL AND ACADEMICS IN CLASSROOM. TO WHAT EXTENT DOES HE REFLECT THE MIND SET OF HIS COMMUNITY? TO WHAT EXTEND DOES HIS SPORTS OBSESSION REFLECT THIS COUNTRY AS A WHOLE? DOES THE 80/20 RULE OF PROPORTIONALITY HOLD? ARE 80% OF STUDENTS LOST DOWN THE BRAIN DRAIN? IF A COLLEGE IN CALIFORNIA CAN OFFER A COURSE ON THE RAP POETRY OF THE LATE TUPAC SHAKUR, WHY WOULD ANY HIGH SCHOOL LAY A FOUNDATION OF LIBERAL, ACADEMIC KNOWLEDGE FOR FUTURE SUCCESS? MY GOD! THE MOTTO OF ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL IN CONCORD, NEW HAMPSPHIRE ONCE READ, "LET US LEARN ON EARTH THOSE THINGS WHOSE KNOWLEDGE MIGHT CONTINUE IN HEAVEN." WHAT SPORT DOES GOD PLAY? UNDOUBTEDLY, THIS WISE ETCHING HAS LONG BEEN EFFACED AND REPLACED WITH A MORE APT REFLECTION OF THE STATE OF EDUCATION TODAY - "LET THE GAMES BEGIN."

RAMAC

COMPUTING PROGRESS HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL SINCE 1956 WHEN 2000 BITS PER SQUARE INCH DELIVERED 5 MB'S, MEGABYTES, THAT IS, A MILLION BYES, ON A DISC DRIVE, 24 INCHES IN DIAMETER AND WEIGHING 1 TON. THIS RANDOM ACCESS METHOD OF ACCOUNTING AND CONTROL - RAMAC - IMPROVED STEADILY AND INCREMENTALLY UNTIL TODAY, 10 GB, GIGABYTES, THAT IS, 10 BILLION BYTES, CAN DELIVER 135 BILLION BITS PER SQUARE INCH ON A ONE INCH DISC DRIVE. THIS MEASUREMENT OF TECHNOLOGY'S ADVANCEMENT BY MECHANICAL MAN IS DRAMATIC AND OBVIOUS.

CONTRAST THAT ACHIEVEMENT WITH THE STATUS QUO OF A DIFFERENT RANDOM ACCESS METHOD OF ACCOUNTING AND CONTROL, THE SUICIDE BOMBER. THE PROGRESS OF THIS TERRORIST TOOL HAS BEEN STEADY AND INCREMENTAL TOO, THE RESULTS BEING EQUALLY STUNNING. THE BITS OF DEATH PER SQUARE INCH ACROSS THE GLOBE, HOWEVER, DO NOT REPRESENT ADVANCEMENT, BUT RATHER DRAMATIC AND OBVIOUS REGRESSION OF HUMANITY TO A LESS CIVILIZED 7TH CENTURY WHEN ISLAM MARCHED MILITANTLY ACROSS THE KNOWN WORLD MOTIVATED BY VICTORY THROUGH DEATH. IT IS A DESCENT INTO A CULTURE THAT MEASURES THE DEATH OF THE INFIDEL ENEMY AGAINST THE VICTORIOUS LIFE-GIVING DEATH OF A DEVOTEE OF ALLAH.

THIS CONTRAST OF PROGRESS AND REGRESSION IS STARK. TERRIFYING TOO. THE OBSERVATION, "YOU CAN'T DO THAT," ONLY APPLIES TO THE LATTER'S WEAPON OF TERROR, NOT TO THE FORMER'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

MR. PRESIDENT

I FEEL SO MUCH SAFER NOW THAT OUR LOCAL RADIO SHOW IS RUNNING PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS TO WARN CITIZENS TO BE PREPARED FOR EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS, NOT OF THE TERRORIST KIND, BUT OF THE MAN-MADE AND NATURAL PERSUASIONS. WHY? I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT OTHER PLACES USE HOMELAND SECURITY MONEY FOR TERRORIST PREVENTION, BUT OUR RURAL COMMUNITY DOES NOT NEED TO USE IT FOR THIS. THEREFORE, WE ARE SPENDING HOMELAND SECURITY MONEY ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. I, SIR, WAIVE MY RIGHT TO BE "PREPARED." THE NEW HOVERCRAFT PURCHASED THIS YEAR WITH GOVERNMENT FUNDS WON'T SAVE ME FROM AN ENCOUNTER WITH WATER BECAUSE I CANNOT EVEN OPERATE A SHOWER. WOULD YOU PLEASE, THEREFORE, SEND MY TAX DOLLARS BACK TO ME SO THAT WHEN THE FIRE OCCURS IN MY HOME, WHEN THE TORNADO OR LIGHTNING STRIKES , WHEN A TICK JUMPS UPON ME HAVING TIRED OF MY DOG, WHEN I AM BITTEN BY A MOSQUITO, WHEN MY ALLERGY KICKS IN - I WILL HAVE CASH IN MY POCKET. PLEASE KNOW THAT BEES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE MY BANE THAN SISSY BUGS AND MY OTC ALLERGY PILLS COST ONLY $1.00 AT THE LOCAL DOLLAR STORE, SO I WILL HAVE A SURPLUS TO SPEND ELSEWHERE.

FURTHERMORE, MR. PRESIDENT, PLEASE BE INFORMED THAT THE ONLY TRUE 'NATIONAL' THREAT THAT COULD PLAY ITSELF OUT ON OUR LOCAL SOIL WOULD BE - SOMEHOW, GOD FORBID - AN INTERRUPTION OR PREVENTION OF THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEASON. IT WOULD WARRANT A TERRORIST ALERT OF CODE RED BUT WITH FLAMES SHOOTING FORTH.

SERIOUSLY, IF YOU WANT YOUR REPUBLICAN PARTY TO BE RE-INSTATED TO THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2008, I THINK YOU SHOULD ARRANGE FOR THIS GOD-AWFUL WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY TO BE ELIMINATED. I KNOW OUR POLITICIANS SHOULD SEND IT BACK BECAUSE IT IS NOT NEEDED, BUT .... I ALSO KNOW THAT AMERICANS ARE FED UP WITH POLITICAL PORK. FACED WITH THIS TRUTH - AND TRUTH IS NOT SPOKEN OFTEN ENOUGH - VOTERS WILL VOTE FOR A CHANGE IN THE NEXT ELECTION. THEY WILL BE IGNORANT OF THE FACT THAT LIBERAL DEMOCRATS WILL "DO THEM JUST AS WRONG." MY CONSERVATISM WILL NOT SAVE ME OR MY COUNTRY THEN.

CORRECTLY DISABLED

THE GOD OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS HAS BLESSED THE DISABLED. AMEN. I ONCE HEARD DR. LAURA SCHLESSINGER, A THERAPIST, SAY THAT SHE COULD/WOULD NEVER MARRY A MAN WHO KILLED ANIMALS FOR SPORT. HOW POLITICALLY CORRECT AND WITH HER MATING STANDARD, FEW BREATHING MALE SPECIMENS WOULD BE LEFT AS HER FAIR GAME. HUNTING IS DEFINED AS "TO PURSUE GAME FOR THE PURPOSE OF KILLING OR CATCHING." THE 'MOST DANGEROUS GAME' STILL REMAINS THE QUEST OF ONE MAN BY ANOTHER. BUT NOWHERE IN THESE IDEAS IS IT IMPLIED THAT HUNTING BE FAIR. GOOD THING, BECAUSE NOW DISABLED SPORTSMEN CAN KILL WITH AS EQUAL AND SATISFACTORY AN ABANDONMENT AS HUNTERS THAT ARE NOT "MOBILITY IMPAIRED." THE WHEELCHAIR BOUND AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITH ANY TYPE OF "PHYSICALLY CHALLENGING DISABILITY MAY APPLY FOR A FALL DEER HUNT. I ASSUME ASSISTANCE WILL BE PROVIDED TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT "EXPERIENCED HUNTERS." A VALID LICENSE IS THE ONLY ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT. TEDDY ROOSEVELT - THE AVID HUNTER AND EX-PRESIDENT - MUST BE TURNING OVER IN HIS GRAVE AND SHOUTING, "GIRLY MEN." SOMETIMES THE COMFORT ZONE OF MY STONE AGE MENTALITY IS ESPECIALLY WELCOMING. I STILL VIEW THE MAN VS. BEAST CONTEST IN PHYSICAL TERMS ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD (SO TO SPEAK). I ADMIT THE INEQUALITIES THAT EXISTS IN MANKIND AND IN NATURE AND BELIEVE THAT BOTH MUST BOW TO UNFAIRNESS AND LIMITATIONS IN LIFE .

THE GOD OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS, HOWEVER, IN HIS INFINITE WISDOM, LOVE AND COMPASSION, HAS CORRECTED THE NATURAL INEQUALITIES BUILT INTO HIS KINGDOM OF MEN ON EARTH. WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED? NOT THE LATE ASTRONOMER KARL SAGAN WHO DIED AN ATHEIST. PERHAPS THE DEER, BUT SINCE THEY ARE NOT BLESSED WITH CONSCIOUSNESS, THEY CANNOT AVOID THEIR IMPENDING DEATHS.

WHERE'S CONSERVATISM

FINDING WALDO IS MORE ENJOYABLE AND LESS STRESSFUL THAN FINDING CONSERVATIVES TODAY. AMERICAN CONSERVATISM ORIGINATED WITHIN THE INTELLECTUAL COMMUNITY AFTER WORLD WAR II. ITS 5 CRITICAL BELIEFS OUGHT TO BE RESURRECTED IN THIS ERA OF GOOFY PROFESSORSHIPS FOR RHETORIC AND CULTURE WHICH IRONICALLY ALLOW FOR MISUSE OF LANGUAGE AND RE-DEFINITION OF CULTURE AWAY FROM CONSERVATISM.

1. CONSERVATISM POSITS THAT INEQUALITY AND FREEDOM ARE RELATED. WHAT THINKERS COULD AGREE TO THIS TRUISM WHEN EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK AND WITHIN EVERY INITIATIVE THEY DISAVOW THE EXISTENCE OF DIFFERENCES. CONSERVATIVES KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH LIFE IS UNFAIR AND TALENT UNEQUALLY DISPENSED, OPPORTUNITY IS UNIVERSAL; ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

2. CONSERVATIVES OBSERVE THAT ATTEMPTS TO REDUCE INEQUALITY WILL REDUCE FREEDOM. WHAT INTELLECTUALS COULD AGREE THAT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION WHICH ATTEMPTS TO LEVEL THE LEARNING PLAYING FIELDS ACTUALLY HINDERS THE CAUSE OF EXCELLENCE? IN REALITY, MANIPULATION OF HUMAN TALENT IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.

3. CONSERVATISM BELIEVES THAT FREEDOM WILL DISAPPEAR IF IT IS BASED SOLELY UPON MATERIAL POSSESSIONS. WHAT PHILOSOPHERS COULD REASON THAT SELFISHNESS INHERENTLY INVOLVES GREED AND MATERIAL GREED EVENTUALLY LEADS TO THE SACRIFICE OF THE PERSONAL FREEDOM AND THE FREEDOM OF OTHERS? ADDICTIONS TO DRUGS, FOOD, CIGARETTES, ALCOHOL, GAMBLING, SEX, MONEY, INSTANT GRATIFICATION, MOMENTARY PLEASURES AND SELFISH PURSUITS HAVE ROBBED HUMAN BEINGS OF THEIR GREATEST GIFT, FREE WILL. RATHER THAN CHOOSE MORAL GOODS, PEOPLE CHOOSE WORLDLY ACQUISITIONS.

4. CONSERVATIVES REASON THAT VIRTUE AND POLITICS GO TOGETHER, BUT WHAT THINKERS COULD DEVINE VIRTUE'S PROPER RELATIONSHIP TO POLITICS WHEN POLITICS DEFINES ITSELF BY ITS DEVIANCY FROM DECENCY AND DEVOTION TO DISTORTION AND LIES? CONTRARY TO THE GREAT, QUESTIONING TRIUMVIRATE, PLATO, ARISTOTLE AND SOCRATES, WHO SEARCHED FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE IN THE HIGHEST PLACES, POLITICS' GREATEST VIRTUE TODAY IS MUCKRAKING.

5. CONSERVATISM SEES BEST GOVERNANCE AS PRUDENT, MODERATE AND REASONABLE. WHAT PHILOSOPHERS COULD AGREE UPON THE ARISTOTELIAN "GOLDEN MEAN?" UNWISE, IMMODERATE AND UNREASONABLE SPENDING, FUNDING, BENEFITS, GIVEAWAYS, KICKBACKS, PORK, DEFICITS, REGULATIONS, TAXES, ETC. CHARACTERIZE AMERICA'S GOVERNANCE. HE "WHO GOVERNS BEST DOES NOT GOVERN LEAST" IN THE 21 ST CENTURY.
IS AMERICAN CONSERVATISM DEAD OR JUST SLEEPING? WHAT PRINCE WILL AWAKEN IT WITH A KISS OF COMMON SENSE? WILL THEIR MARRIAGE THEN, BASED ON PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND FREEDOM LIVE HAPPILY AFTER?

KEEP IT, KEEP IT , KEEP IT

RATHER THAN BEAT IT, BEAT IT, BEAT IT - THE FREE LUNCH SYSTEM - SHOULD STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SAY ‘KEEP IT’ TO ‘FREE’ FEDERAL MONIES STOLEN FROM THE POCKETS OF TAXPAYERS. MY CONSCIENCE QUIVERS KNOWING THAT FUNDS PROVIDED FOR HOMELAND SECURITY, WHICH ARE UNNECESSARY IN MY LOCALE, ARE NOT SENT BACK, BUT WASTED ON PROGRAMS FOR PREPAREDNESS IN NATURAL AND MAN-MADE EMERGENCIES. LOTS OF ADVICE IS DISHED OUT ON PAPER AND BY MOUTH TO CITIZENS WHO ARE PRESUMED TO HAVE LOST THEIR COMMON SENSE. OR HAVE THEY?

WHEN ‘FREE MONEY’ - AGAIN - WAS OFFERED TO FAMILY HEALTH CARE PHYSICIANS TO ACCEPT MEDICAID PATIENTS, THEY DIDN'T SAY "KEEP IT." THEY GAMED THE PROGRAM UNTIL IT WAS RESCINDED. WHO CAN BLAME THEM? HOWEVER, AN ASSUMPTION WAS MADE ON THE PART OF THE POLITICAL ELITE THAT EVEN DOCTORS WOULD ABANDON COMMON SENSE AND KEEP SERVING SUCH CLIENTS WHEN THE "ENHANCED REIMBURSEMENTS WERE REMOVED.

WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO "FREE MONIES" STOLEN FROM THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS PHRASED AS "ENHANCED REIMBURSEMENTS," WHO WOULDN’T KEEP IT? WHO WITH COMMON SENSE WOULDN'T TRY TO BEAT THE NONSENSICAL FREE LUNCH SYSTEMS PUT INTO PLAY BY AN INTERFERING GOVERNMENT? THE TUNE OF BEAT IT, BEAT IT, BEAT IT CONTENDS WITH THE ALTERNATIVE ONE, KEEP IT, KEEP IT, KEEP IT AS OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM.

FOLLYWOOD

A CRITIC OF HOLLYWOOD FILMS SHOULD AT LEAST UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF FILM MAKING AND RENDER RESPECTABILITY TO THE MEANING OF CRITIC. NOT SO WITH WHAT PASSED FROM A PAID PARTICIPANT IN CONSUMER FRAUD WHO I HEARD BANTERING WITH A FELLOW FOOL ON MY RADIO THIS MORNING. I SAY FOOL BUT ACTUALLY 3 FOOLS PARTICIPATED IN THE INTERVIEWED SEGMENT. THE FIRST WAS THE MOVIE CRITIC WHO NEITHER TOLD ABOUT THE PLOT, CHARACTERS, THEME, SETTING, POINT OF VIEW, COSTUMES, MUSICAL SCORE OR FILM TECHNIQUES OF ANY MOVIE REVIEWED. WHAT PASSED FOR ANALYSES WERE SIMPLISTIC, DESCRIPTIVE ADVERBS, MEANINGLESS REFERENCES TO STARS AND MUCH PERSONAL PALAVER. I GUESS I WAS SUPPOSED TO BASE MY MONETARY INVESTMENT IN A THEATRE’S FARE ON WHAT EMPTINESS I HEARD. THE SECOND FOOL WAS THE INTERVIEWER WHO REACTED AS IF THIS COMMENTATOR ACTUALLY DIVULGED RELEVANT OR VALUABLE INFORMATION ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE IMAGES PRESENTED ON A SILVER SCREEN. THE THIRD FOOL, UNFORTUNATELY, WAS THE LISTENER WHO WAS GRANTED NO SPECIFIC INFORMATION. THE CRITIC COULD ONLY HAVE BEEN USEFUL TO A MOVIEGOER IF HIS CATCHY COMPLIMENTS OR SNIDE INNUENDOES SPECIFICALLY SERVED AS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OR VALIDATED FLICS. BUT NO SUCH HELPFUL DATA WAS FORTHCOMING. HOLLYWOOD DIRECTORS AND PRODUCERS PACKAGE GARBAGE TODAY IN WRAPPINGS WITH SLICK APPEAL AND SPECIAL EFFECTS. A PROPER CRITIC SHOULD HELP THE PUBLIC WALK THROUGH THE MINEFIELD OF MEDIOCRITY, SEX AND VIOLENCE. A WISE MAN BORN AT THE TURN OF THE LAST CENTURY WAS PRESCIENT IN HIS ANALYSIS OF AS "HOLLYWOOD ...HOLLYWOOD ...FABULOUS FOLLYWOOD...CELLULOID BABYLON, GLORIOUS, GLAMOROUS." IF A MOVIE OF DRAMATIC AND ARTISTIC SUBSTANCE HAPPENS TO BE OUT IN A THEATRE SOMEWHERE, MOVIE CRITICS - SUCH AS THE ONE I HEARD - WON'T HELP US MOTLEY FOOLS FIND IT.

A FAILING GRADE

JUDGED BY THE STANDARDS OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, I RATED A FAILING GRADE AS A TEACHER. SADDER THAN MY EXIT FROM EDUCATION, HOWEVER, IS THE DEPTH OF DESCENT OF THE ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF STUDENTS OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT RECENTLY APPLAUDED THE COMPLETION OF A NEW SCHOOL WHICH WAS BADLY NEEDED, APPARENTLY BECAUSE THE ANTIQUATED STRUCTURE WAS (A MERE) 40 YEARS OLD. MODERNIZATION WOULD, ACCORDING TO THIS ADMINISTRATOR’S INIMITABLE WORDS, PROVIDE "MORE OF A BETTER LEARNING ATMOSPHERE." PERHAPS IT WAS MY INSISTENCE UPON PROPER USE OF OUR MOTHER TONGUE THAT ALIENATED ME FROM MY SCHOOL SUPERIORS. PERHAPS SUPERINTENDENTS WHO PRAISE TAX HIKES TO ERECT NEW SCHOOLS ARE BEDAZZLED BY FORM AND NOT SUBSTANCE.

ONLY 2 OUT OF 10 STUDENTS TAKING THE 'ACT' TEST TODAY ARE "COLLEGE READY." DEPRESSING SCORES ALSO CHARACTERIZE THE 'SAT' TEST. THESE TESTS ARE USELESS, ANYWAY, BECAUSE TEACHERS TEACH TO THE 'ACT' WHICH TESTS CURRICULA AND STANDARDS CAN BE MANIPULATED IN THE 'SAT' WHICH MEASURES REASONING. STUDENTS NOT ONLY ARE NOT LEARNING, THEY ALSO CHOOSE NOT TO LEARN. LIFE HAS SO MUCH MORE TO OFFER THEM THAN EXERCISE OF THE BRAIN, A DETERMINANT THAT "GOT ME INTO HOT WATER" WITH THE UNIONIZED AND TENURED POWERS THAT PREVAILED 40 YEARS AGO.

UNLIKE AN INSPIRING SUNSET, THE ACADEMIC SCENE TODAY APPEARS DISMAL. THE UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND ADS REMIND US THAT A "MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE."

IF WE BUILD THEM

TALK OF REDUCING OUR DEPENDENCE UPON FOREIGN OIL USUALLY DESCENDS INTO THE STUFF OF NONSENSE. POLITICIANS WHO PATRONIZE SOLAR AND WIND TURBINES AS ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY, THROW AWAY THE TAXPAYERS' MONIES. REBATES FOR SOLAR ELECTRIC AND WATER HEATING SYSTEMS CAN RUN UP TO 30%. REBATES AND TAX CREDITS UP TO 50%, LOW-INTEREST LOAN INCENTIVES AND UTILITY CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE FOR WIND TURBINES. YET THESE ALTERNATIVES ARE NOT ONLY COSTLY, THEY ARE NOT COST-EFFECTIVE. OFTEN THEY ARE IMPRACTICAL AND INEFFICIENT IN THEIR USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES. WHERE IS PETA WHEN YOU NEED THEM TO VOUCH FOR THE BIRDS WHO ENCOUNTER DEATH AT THE ROTARY BLADES?

THE ELEPHANTINE FACT IS THAT THERE IS PLENTY OF OIL EVEN THOUGH WE NEED TO IMPORT IT. THE TOP FOREIGN SOURCES OF U.S. OIL IN BARRELS PER DAY ARE CANADA, MEXICO, SAUDI ARABIA, VENEZUELA AND NIGERIA. FILLING OUT THE TOP TEN ARE IRAQ, RUSSIA, ANGOLA, ALGERIA AND BRITAIN. THE TOP 5 REPRESENT 7 1/2 MILLION BARRELS AND THE BOTTOM 5 REPRESENT 2 1/2 MILLION, ONLY ABOUT A THIRD. OBJECTORS TO OUR PATRONAGE OF TERRORIST NATIONS FOR OUR OIL OUGHT TO NOTE THAT ONLY OUR ENEMY VENEZUELA IS IN THE TOP 5, RANKING 4TH. POLITICIANS WHO DIG AT EXXON FOR ITS EXCESS PROFITS BETRAY AN IGNORANCE OF ECONOMICS, CAPITALISM AND THE FREE MARKET SYSTEM. EXXON IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF GAS. WORLD-WIDE CONSUMPTION AND EXORBITANT FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES ARE THE CULPRITS.

RETURNING TO OIL, 57% OF THE WORLD'S OIL RESERVES ARE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, BUT 17% ARE IN THE U.S. AND CANADA. NEVERTHELESS, WITH RESOLVE, WE COULD AVOID RELYING ON THE MIDDLE EAST FOR OIL IN THE FUTURE. WE COULD DRILL IN ANWAR WHICH WOULD BOLSTER OUR SUPPLY IMMENSELY, BUT ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND LIBERAL DEMOCRATS BLOCK THIS SOLUTION. WE COULD TAP INTO THE ENORMOUS RESERVE OF OIL RICH SHALE IN AMERICA'S WEST, BUT THIS OPTION IS NOT ON THE TABLE EITHER. WE COULD INCREASE OFFSHORE DRILLING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO OR CONVERT COAL TO GAS IN MONTANA.

WE COULD, ALSO, DISREGARD THESE CONTENTIOUS ISSUES DEBATED FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS OR PARTISAN POLITICS AND SOLVE THE ENTIRE PROBLEM OF DEPENDENCE UPON FOREIGN OIL. PIDDLING ALTERNATIVE PROJECTS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN EXPENSIVE BAND-AIDS. WE SHOULD BE BUILDING NUCLEAR PLANTS, FAST AND FURIOUSLY FOR THE SAKE OF AMERICA'S FUTURE. FRANCE - A STARLET IN THE LOVE LIFE OF LIBERALS - UTILIZES THEM FOR THE MAJORITY OF THEIR ENERGY. IT'S TIME WE MAKE A REVOLUTIONARY LEAP FORWARD, STORM THE BASTILLE OF POSSIBILITY, SO TO SPEAK, AND FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLE.

WHY DO THEY HATE US

The American media of newsprint, T.V., cable and satellite news, that is. Fake photographs, staged pictures and doctored scenes of disasters from the elite national media, the New York Times and the Associated Press and the international Reuters, are printed and distributed to newspapers all over our nation and the world. For over a week there has been a firestorm of activity on internet sites documenting how these media centers have aided and abetted our enemies by joining them in the distribution of news and photographs that they know are false. Only Reuters has acknowledged that photographs it distributed were total fabrications and this after only being confronted with incontrovertible proof on internet sites.
We know why the rest of the world hates us and terrorists call for our downfall. But why are major elite media outlets so consumed with their hatred of the United States that they have moved from falsely spinning the news to actually being complicit in the fabrication and doctoring of news events? The New York Times, for example over the weekend, deliberately - what else could motivate such irrelevant details expressed with such disapproving language? - began a report about an open letter from Muslims critical of Tony Blair with the statement, "as he vacations in the Caribbean during one of his country's biggest terror alerts." The name of our President George W. Bush could just easily have been substituted because the New York Times endlessly has repeated in its coverage of 9/11 the fact that Bush did not act swiftly enough when he was delivered the 'news' as he visited with children at a school. The New York Times cleverly points out every chance it gets that Muslims in the U.S. are concerned about "being unjustly stereotyped and persecuted." It is just this subversive and sympathetic attitude toward the terrorist enemy, within and without, and an unwillingness to assist in eradicating him, that has characterized our American media since they acknowledged the existence of Conservativism, the Republican party and just recently, the election of President Bush occurred. The election, however, continues to be disputed for political ends. The New York Times article ran three columns about Muslims who believe that Tony Blair, by joining with President Bush, set the stage for a war on Islam. Yet not a single line of print from the NYT has ever condemned the Muslims for their false reasoning, their terrorist activities and their perversion of religion.
Why do they hate us? I understand why Osama bin Laden hates us and I understand the motivations of Hezbollah and other Islamo-fascists, but I cannot understand the motives of the media elite. What will they gain in the long run? Osama will not remember their toadying if he is victorious, because as "useful idiots" to put ideas for tactics into the heads of Sadaam Hussein, Chavez, Ahmadinejad, Kim Jong il, Assad or Wen Jiabao, they are expendable. If their goal is the destruction of America, where do they intend to emigrate when the achieve their goal?
An internet site, Little Green Footballs, was responsible for unmasking the fake photographs from Reuters showing bomb damage in Lebanon and Israeli warplanes firing rockets. In fact the airplane had no rockets and the bomb damage was arranged and fires were set in full view of the photographer who then "documented" the atrocity. An Australian smuggled out pictures from Qana, Lebanon, recording damage and casualties being staged in front of the international press and the press dutifully recording the scenes as instructed, even to the point of re-enactments if angles were not right. The German magazine BILD published the accurate pictures and has made the video tape available on the internet. BILD also noted the chief rescuer was identical to a person showing off dead bodies in 1996 photos which were eerily similar in layout. I guess practice makes perfect Tellingly, the rescuer holding a dead child wails and sheds copious tears while the cameras are running and then handles the child like a rag doll when the cameras are off and he is directing the next scene.
Why did American reporters, photographers and newspapers like the NYT only use the staged shots in their reports to encourage what would be sentiments injurious to the United States and Israel? Israel as a democratic ally of the U.S. and as a Jewish state always receives particular denigration from the media. Again I ask, what motivates their anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism? The website, eureferendum.com, in a posting Corruption in the Media, draws the conclusion that the major media has moved from "prevarication, to stonewalling, to obfuscation, to outright lies."
A free press can be a biased press, a liberal press, even a partisan press, but it cannot be a corrupt press, faking news, and undermining a free society with continual bombardments of domestic and international revolutionary thoughts.

BARGAIN TURKEY UPDATE

I BLOGGED ON JULY 10TH MY BARGAIN TURKEY MEAL FROM WAL-MART. FROM THAT $12.00 OUTLAY, I OBTAINED THESE 13 DIGESTIVE INPUTS PLUS 1 WEEK OF TREATS FOR THE FAMILY DOG.

MEAL 1 7-10-06
MICROWAVED TURKEY WING AND THIGH GRAVY STUFFING MASHED POTATO AND 2 DELICIOUS EARS OF CORN BOILED, DISCOUNTS AT ALDI'S, 4 FOR 75 CENTS.

MEAL 2 7-11
TURKEY SALAD WITH PLAIN FAT FREE YOGURT AND MAYO BASE WITH BOILED POTATO, AND GREEN BEANS, SAUTEED PEAPODS, ONIONS AND MUSHROOMS WITH CHUNKS OF DARK AND LIGHT MEAT, SLIGHTLY HEATED.

MEAL 3 7-15
CASSEROLE MICROWAVED WITH TURKEY, STUFFING, GRAVY, POTATOES, PORTABELLA MUSHROOM AND PARMESAN CHEESE.
MEAL 4 7-17

MEAT LOAF COMPOSED OF GROUND TURKEY BREAST (HOME GROUND), OATMEAL, CANNED TOMATO CHUNKS, ONION, OVEN HEATED WITH BAKED POTATO.
7-18 LAST DAY FOR TURKEY FAT LEFT-OVERS TO BE ADDED TO THE DOG'S DISH.

MEAL 5 7-22 TURKEY LEG, DRESSING, GRAVY, MASHED POTATO, AUXILIARY FRESH BEANS FROM GARDEN.

MEAL 6 7-28 TURKEY SALAD SANDWICH ON TOAST WITH FRESH HOME-GROWN CORN. SALAD CONSISTING OF GROUND TURKEY (HOME-GROUND), CHOPPED DILL PICKLES AND ONION MIXED WITH HALF AND HALF COMBO OF FAT FREE YOGURT AND MAYONNAISE, SALT AND PEPPER ADDED.

MEAL 7 7-29 DARK MEAT OF TURKEY, CORNBREAD STUFFING, MASHED POTATOES, GIBLET GRAVY, PEAS AND HOME-GROWN CORN AGAIN.

MEAL 8 0803 CHOPPED COLD TURKEY BREAST SALAD WITH MAYO AND YOGURT MIXED, FRESH GROUND PEPPER, SALT, FRESH CHOPPED BASIL, CHOPPED DILL PICKLE AND ONION AND BLACK WALNUT BITS (HOME-HARVESTED). YUMMY WITH PIECE OF TOASTED FRENCH BREAD FROM $1.00 DISCOUNTED LOAF AT WAL-MART.

MEAL 9 0805 SIDE DISH OF THE BALANCE OF CORNBREAD STUFFING TO COMPLEMENT LIVER AND ONIONS, MASHED POTATOES FROM A BOX WHICH ARE SURPRISINGLY GOOD IF I USE MILK ( FAKED FROM POWDERED CREAM), AND YOGURT INSTEAD OF WATER FOR PREPARATION, AND FRESH GARDEN BEANS.

MEAL 10 0807 BIG BOWL OF SOUP CONSISTING OF TURKEY BROTH WITH ADDED INGREDIENTS OF STIR-FRIED MUSHROOMS, HOT PEPPER AND ONION, COOKED RICE NOODLES AND CABBAGE, TOPPED WITH SOUR CREAM. SIDE DISH TEMPURA TILAPIA WITH HOT MUSTARD AND KETCHUP CONDIMENTS.

MEAL 11 0809 TURKEY NEWBURG WITH BREAST MEAT CHUNKS OVER PASTA COVERED WITH A SHERRY-FLAVORED CHEESE SAUCE AND TOPPED WITH FRESH, CHOPPED DILL AND BASIL.

MEAL 12 0810 BIG SALAD OF ROMAINE LETTUCE TOPPED WITH DARK MEAT (FROM 2 TURKEY LEGS), BLUE CHEESE, BACON BITS, BROCCOLI FLORETS, CHOPPED GARLIC AND BLACK OLIVES, FRESH GARDEN CHERRY TOMATO AND CUCUMBER, ACCOMPANIED BY AN OLIVE OIL AND WILD RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE DRESSING. SIDE DISH A PIECE OF FARM FRESH BI-COLOR SWEET CORN.

MEAL 13 0812 THE LAST OF THE DARK MEAT OF TURKEY LEGS ON A TORTILLA, SLATHERED WITH REFRIED BEANS, BLACK OLIVES, TACO SAUCE, CHOPPED ONIONS, GARLIC AND GREEN PEPPER, GARDEN FRESH CHOPPED BASIL, SHREDDED MEXICAN CHEESE, COVERED WITH GREEN CHILE SAUCE AND TOPPED WITH SOUR CREAM AND SHREDDED LETTUCE. SIDE DISH, JELLIED CRANBERRY.

WHO SAYS 13 IS AN UNLUCKY NUMBER? DID I FORGET TO MENTION THE VIN ORDINAIRE THAT ACCOMPANIES DINNERS?

PPP

WHAT GAVE MY CHILDHOOD VALUE AND FRISSON ARE OATMEAL AND COCO WHEATS, GRILLED CHEESE AND PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICHES, CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP, MACARONI AND CHEESE, SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS, MASHED POTATOES AND GRAVY, CARROTS, PEAS, CORN, APPLES, ORANGE JUICE, JELLO, PUDDING, A FESTIVE, SEASONAL TURKEY OR HAM DINNER, APPLE, CHEERY OR BLUEBERRY PIE ALA MODE, A BIRTHDAY CAKE, AN ICE CREAM CONE, A MILK SHAKE OR A BANANA SPLIT. TO HEED THE ADVICE OF MODERN FOOD POLICE, HOWEVER, MY MEALTIME MEMORIES WOULD HAVE BEEN WIPED OUT LIKE THE AFTERMATH OF A LOBOTOMY. WHO NEEDS THAT? NO CHILD, NOT ONE GROWNUP.

THE SOLUTION TO OBESITY IS PPP - PROPER, PRIOR PARENTING. INSTEAD OF A CALL TO ARM PARENTS, PANIC-MONGERERS TODAY HAS LEAD US FROM POLITICALLY CORRECT DIET GUIDELINES TO MENU SUGGESTIONS THAT ARE INHERENTLY REPUGNANT TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS ALIKE. THE ANSWER TO "WHAT IS TO BE DONE," A DIRECTIVE FROM A RUSSIAN RADICAL THINKER OF THE 19TH CENTURY, IS COMMON SENSE APPLIED TO MEAL PLANNING. FROM INFANCY THROUGH YOUTH AND ADOLESCENCE AND INTO YOUNG ADULTHOOD, THE PATTERN OF ENJOYMENT OF A VARIETY OF FOODS COUPLED WITH MODERATION SHOULD CHARACTERIZE THE EDUCATION PARENTS ARE EXPECTED TO LIMN TO THEIR CHILDREN. NO CHILD OR ADULT CAN BECOME OBESE CONSUMING CALORIES FROM MODERATE AMOUNTS OF 'REGULAR FOODS' AT ASSIGNED MEALTIMES ACCOMPANIED BY REASONABLE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. GRAZING IS DISALLOWED. ONLY AN APPRECIATION FOR GOOD FOODS INSPIRES A LIFESTYLE OF INVENTIVE AND REWARDING EATING.

AMERICA IS A SPOILED, PROSPEROUS NATION. THE PROLIFERATION OF RESTAURANTS, CONVENIENCE FOODS, SNACK FOODS AND FAST FOOD OUTLETS TEMPT EVERYONE. SADLY, WHAT HAS BEEN EVEN MORE SEDUCTIVE OVER SEVERAL GENERATIONS, IS THE ABILITY TO ABANDON PROPER, PRIOR PARENTING.

MISUSE OF RELIGION

IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF READING PAST A FEW PARAGRAPHS IN AN ESSAY ABOUT THE MISUSE OF RELIGION BY A COLUMNIST IN A CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER, MARY VAN BALEN-HOLT, UNTIL HER LIBERAL, DEMOCRAT, AGENDA RAISED ITS 'TOLERANT' HEAD. WHEN SHE SAYS THAT "FOR MISUSE OF RELIGION TO ACHIEVE EXTREME ENDS, WE MIGHT LOOK TO THE MIDDLE EAST AND IDENTIFY TERRORIST ACTIVITIES AS BEING ... A DISTORTION OF RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS, " THE RED FLAG OF BLUE EQUIVOCATION IS WAVED. WHY DID SHE NOT USE THE APPROPRIATE WORD, ‘MUST’ WHEN REFERRING TO TERRORISTS. WE MUST ADMIT THAT AN INTOLERANT AND RELIGIOUSLY MOTIVATED ENEMY IS OUT TO DESTROY. IS THIS AUTHOR IN DENIAL?

NEVERTHELESS, MS. VAN BALEN-HOLT ( ONLY SUSPECTED FEMINISTS AND/OR ACTIVISTS ADOPT THE HYPHENATED, MARRIED NAME) CANNOT WAIT IN HER DISCUSSION TO GET "CLOSER TO HOME" AND OBLIQUELY CRITICIZE PRESIDENT BUSH AND THE REPUBLICANS. BENEATH THE SURFACE OF HER QUESTION, "WHAT FAITH USES FEAR AND PREJUDICE TO DEFAME POLITICAL CANDIDATES," LURKS A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT REFERRING TO HER POLITICAL ENEMY. HER QUESTIONING WHETHER GOD WOULD BE HONORED BY AN "UNWILLINGNESS TO FACE ...QUESTIONS OF RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF THE EARTH," AGAIN IMPLIES THAT THE MIND SET OF REPUBLICANS AND/OR CONSERVATIVE IS UNCHRISTIAN. WHEN SHE SAYS THAT "NATIONAL INTERESTS MUST GIVE WAY TO TOLERANCE AND RESPECT," I HEAR HER ANTI-WAR CALL FOR AMERICA TO BURY ITS HEAD IN THE SANDS OF TERRORIST DENIAL. WHEN SHE EXPECTS A RATIONAL AMERICAN TO SWALLOW HER CONTENTION THAT A WORKING PERSON CANNOT "PROVIDE A STANDARD OF LIVING ABOVE THE POVERTY LEVEL," HER FULL-BLOWN DELUSIONAL LIBERALISM LIFTS HER UPON HER OWN PETARD. FACTS TAKE A BACK SEAT TO HER POLITICAL IDEOLOGY WHICH ALSO MUST BE DISTORTED TO FIT HER VERSION OF THE CHRISTIAN MOLD. I'M TIRED OF THE LANGUAGE OF ACCOMMODATION IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT RELIGION, IN WHICH THERE IS NO ROOM FOR BLAME BECAUSE, AS SHE SAYS, ONE SHOULD NOT "DEMEAN ANOTHER'S ... MORALITY." SUCH NONSENSE ONLY MAKES SENSE IF WE ABANDON ANY COMMANDMENTS FOR RIGHT AND WRONG, I.E. ADOPT AMORALITY. THE AUTHOR'S LIBERALISM IS CONFIRMED AGAIN WITH HER REFERENCE TO THE UPCOMING ELECTION SEASON (WHERE SHE WAS HEADED FROM THE BEGINNING OF HER ESSAY) IN WHICH WE SAYS WE SHOULD BE WARY OF RELIGION AND CLAIMS OF HAVING "GOD ON OUR SIDE" (AN OBLIQUE DIG AT HER OPPONENTS. MS. VAN BALEN-HOLT’S ( I HATE THIS HYPHENATED PRETENSION) FINAL MISDIRECTION, MISDIRECTS GOD. GOD IS NOT THE GOD OF "JEWS, MUSLIMS, BUDDHISTS, NON-BELIEVERS AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN." GOD IS THE CHRISTIAN GOD, THE GOD WHOSE FOLLOWERS LAUNCHED 8 CRUSADES OVER THREE HUNDRED YEARS TO PRESERVE THE FIRST KINGDOM OF JERUSALEM. INFIDELS WHO PERVERT GOD, TRUTH AND FAITH PERSIST TODAY.
WE "MIGHT" NOT LOOK TO THE MIDDLE-EAST; WE "MUST" LOOK THERE AND TO OTHER THE ISLAMO-TERRORISTS THEMSELVES WHO IN THE NAME OF THEIR GOD, NOT OURS, CRUSADE TO WIPE OUT US, THE CHRISTIAN ENEMY. NO AMOUNT OF ENCODED LANGUAGE IS NECESSARY TO OBSCURE THESE FACTS. LIBERALS, LEFTISTS, EXTREME DEMOCRATS AND TERRORIST DENIERS PREACH AGAINST JUDGING OTHERS HARSHLY WHILE MAKING EXCEPTIONS FOR HARSHLY DENOUNCING THEIR POLITICAL ENEMIES. CONTRARY TO WHAT MARY VAN BALEN-HOLT DECRIES, WE NEED TO JUDGE OTHERS HARSHLY TODAY PRECISELY BECAUSE OUR RELIGION CONTRASTS WITH THAT OF OUR ENEMIES WHO ARE PER SE, INTOLERANT. WE IN THE CIVILIZED WORLD OF GOD THE FATHER, HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST AND SPIRT WHO INSPIRED CHRISTIANITY, ARE FACED WITH A CALL FOR A 9TH CRUSADE. WHEN WILL THE "LUKEWARM," LIKE THE AUTHOR UNDERSTAND?

TERROIST DENIERS

IS THERE ANY WAY TO RELATE RAVING, DELUSIONAL TERRORIST DENIERS TO SUCCESS DENIERS AT A COMMUNITY, FUND-RAISING GOLF EVENT? YOU BET. OVERWHELMED WITH PARANOIA, TERRORIST DENIERS SUCCUMB TO A CONSPIRACY THEORY TO ACCOUNT FOR EVERY TRAGIC EVENT. HATRED FOR OUR PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, WHO TOOK US TO WAR, FILLS UP THE CORE OF THEIR PARANOIA. SIMILARLY, A DISTRUST OF THE ACCEPTANCE OF AN UNEQUIVOCAL WINNER CENTERS ITSELF IN A PARANOID REASONING THAT ALLOWS FOR THE OUTCOME OF A GOLF OUTING TO INCLUDE AWARDS FOR 1ST PRIZE, 2ND PRIZE AND LAST PRIZE. A BASELESS DENIAL OF SUPERIORITY AND EXCELLENCE ALLOWS FOR SUCH POLITICALLY CORRECT CATERING TO SELF-ESTEEM. DUAL FEARS OF HURTING SOMEONE'S FEELINGS AND REJECTION INSURE THAT A GOLF TOURNAMENT'S LEGITIMACY AND SUCCESS REVOLVE AROUND THE FUNDS RAISED AND 'HAVING A GOOD TIME.' NO PRIZE FOR 2ND OR LAST PLACE WOULD BE NECESSARY IF WINNING WERE THE NAME OF THE GAME. NOWADAYS, HOWEVER, EVERYONE MUST BE A WINNER.

WOULD THAT WINNING THE BATTLE AGAINST ISLAMOFASCISTS WERE POSSIBLE WHEN DEALING WITH REAL LIFE TERRORIST DENIERS. THEY CANNOT SEE THAT TERRORISTS AVOW DEATH NOT ONLY AS THEIR FINAL REWARD BUT ALSO AS THE JUST DESSERT OF THEIR ENEMIES. SUCCESS DENIERS LIKE TERRORIST DENIERS ATTEMPT TO REMOVE PAIN FROM ANY EQUATION WHICH DEFINES GAIN ("NO PAIN, NO GAIN"). HOW BAD WILL AMERICANS FEEL WHEN THEY LOSE THE PRESENT FIGHT AGAINST PARANOID JIHADISTS RATHER THAN 18 HOLES ON THE LINKS? DEATHLY ILL.

30 SECONDS IN

30 SECONDS INTO ANY SPIEL, I CAN IDENTIFY A DEMOCRAT. WOULD THAT MY EASE OF UNDERSTANDING WAS SHARED BY THE GENERAL POPULACE. DEMOCRATS, ESPECIALLY LIBERALS AND EXTREME LEFTISTS, COUNT ON THEIR APPEALING BULL TO WOO THE LISTENER. TURNING ON MY RADIO THIS MORNING TO AN INTERVIEW, WITHIN THE FIRST FIFTEEN SECONDS, I HEARD A CANDIDATE FOR STATE SENATOR SAY THAT "GAY AND LESBIAN RIGHTS MUST BE RESTORED TO THE COMMUNITY." THE NEXT FIFTEEN REFERRED TO "MORE FUNDING." THIS HALF MINUTE CONTAINED NO REFERENCE TO PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY OR EVIDENCE OF REALISM. I ALREADY IDENTIFIED THIS WOMAN AS A DEMOCRAT. RESPONDING TO HER INTERVIEWER, SHE THEN SAID THAT THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE OF HER CAMPAIGN WAS EDUCATION. SUCH AN ANSWER WAS A CONFIRMATION OF MY RATING. WHAT POLITICAL ISSUE INVOLVES MORE OPAQUE IRRESPONSIBILITY AND DELUSION THAN FUNDING FOR EDUCATION? SHE CONTINUED TO REPEAT THAT WE NEED MORE FUNDING AND MORE FUND-RAISERS- WHICH ARE HER SPECIALTY. SHE ADMITTED THAT FUNDING IN OHIO IS ADEQUATE, BUT REITERATED THAT WE NEED MORE FUNDING. SHE FIRST VOICED OPPOSITION TO RAISING TAXES, BUT ADMITTED THAT SHE WAS NOT OPPOSED TO RAISING TAXES IF IT WAS NEEDED. !!! THERE ARE PLENTY OF JOBS IN OHIO, SHE CONCEDED, BUT WE NEED MORE FUNDING TO HELP STUDENTS' MINDS "WORK WITH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT." HER SECOND CAMPAIGN ISSUE WAS INCREASING FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS TO LOWER THE LEVEL OF CRIME AND PROTECT THE CHILDREN. HER THIRD ISSUE WAS MORE MONEY TO REPAIR HIGHWAYS. I EXPECTED THIS LIBERAL TO ALSO MENTION THE HOT BUTTON ISSUES OF HEALTH CARE AND CHILD CARE TO POOR FAMILIES AS THEY (USUALLY A SINGLE MOTHER) MOVE FROM WELFARE TO WORK. OF COURSE, THESE INITIATIVES ARE ALREADY FIRMLY INTRENCHED AND LIBERALLY FUNDED IN OUR STATE. A PASSING COMMENT THAT SHE WAS A PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS ADDED HUMOR TO THE PATHOS OF HER BLATHER. IT’S AN INDICTMENT OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM THAT A EDUCATOR LIKE HER IS SO UNINFORMED AND MISDIRECTED IN HER KNOWLEDGE OF BASIC ECONOMICS. AS A TAX-AND-SPEND LIBERAL, SHE IS DISCONNECTED FROM THE FACT THAT FUNDING MEANS SOMEONE ELSE MUST PAY FOR WHAT SHE WANTS FUNDED. FURTHERMORE, AN ELITE SUCH AS SHE, WOULD NEVER SUSPECT THAT TAXPAYERS MIGHT OPPOSE FUNDING HER CAREER AND HER ISSUES DEVOTED TO MORE SPENDING BASED ON FAULTY ECONOMICS, IMMORALITY AND POLITICAL ACTIVISM. LIBERALS, HOWEVER, KNOW THAT THEY ARE SMARTER THAN THE COMMON PEOPLE WHOSE EYES THEY CAN SO EASILY PULL THE WOOL OVER WITH DANGEROUS BUT APPEALING WORDS. NOT MINE.

ALTERNATIVE STATES OF MIND

IN 1954, POPE PIUS WROTE IN AN ENCYCLICAL, "OUR BODILY POWERS AND PASSIONS DARKEN THE MIND AND WEAKEN THE WILL." THIS ENCYCLICAL ON HOLY VIRGINITY MIGHT BE AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT, BUT BECAUSE IT IS NOT 'EX CATHEDRA' I MAY GLADLY AND RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE.

SEXUAL FULFILLMENT BEGINS WITH A STATE OF MIND. IF THE SACRIFICE OF HER VIRGINITY IS CONSECRATED TO GOD, THEN EVERY ACT OF THE WOMAN IS SACRED. IF A WIFE’S COMMITMENT TO HER HUSBAND IS A LIVING SACRIFICE, IS NOT HER EVERY ACT SACRED TOO? PERHAPS THE FORMER HAS AN EVEN MORE CHARMED LIFE THAN THE LATTER. WITH OR WITHOUT HER MAN, A WOMAN IS SOMETIMES LOST, BUT WITH GOD A WOMAN ALWAYS IS WHOLE AND FULFILLED.

CELIBACY AND SEXUAL INTIMACY ARE JUST ALTERNATIVE CHOICES. A NUN SAID THAT SHE "NEVER WANTED WHAT SHE NEVER HAD." THIS ACUTE OBSERVATION CAN BE APPLIED TO MANKIND AS A WHOLE. LIFE, WITHOUT THE TASTE OF KOBE BEEF, OF A CIGARETTE, OF A PLANE RIDE OR OF AN INDOOR TOILET, IS AND HAS BEEN, OVER TIME, STILL WORTH LIVING.

THE POPE GOT IT WRONG. PERHAPS HIS APOSTOLIC AGENDA CLOUDED HIS THINKING. ONE CAN FIND HAPPINESS IN EITHER VIRGINAL CONSECRATION OR MARITAL COMMITMENT, OPPOSING BUT EQUALLY SATISFACTORY, VOLUNTARY STATES OF MIND.

DR. JEKYLL, MR. HYDE

WE DISCUSS THE PLACE OF ALCOHOL IN CIVILIZED SOCIETY FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF BOTH DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE. BECAUSE THE VENEER OF CIVILITY SHOULD BE MAINTAINED AT ALL COSTS IN A SUCCESSFUL NATION, IT IS NECESSARY FOR CITIZENS TO MENTALLY REPRESS AND PHYSICALLY NOT ACT UPON, UNACCEPTABLE PREJUDICES AND TENDENCIES. WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE THEM. DRUNKENNESS OFTEN OPENS THE GATE TO THE FORBIDDEN, SO WE KEEP IT CLOSED AND LOCKED. DR. JEKYLL, THEREFORE, IS THE NICE PERSON PERMANENTLY REPRESENTED TO SOCIETY.

ON THE OTHER HAND, SOME PEOPLE CANNOT OR WILL NOT SUPPRESS THEIR HATREDS AND PREJUDICES. FOR THEM, THE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL RELEASES THE HIDDEN DEVILS IN THEIR IDS. THE CLOSED DOORS ARE FLUNG OPEN, AND DR. HYDE, THE UGLY DRUNK EMERGES, RANTING. MEL GIBSON IS JUST ANOTHER MANIFESTATION OF HIS, ALTER EGO, MR. HYDE. MR. HYDE IS AS TRUE TO HIS UNCIVIL SELF AS DR. JEKYLL IS TO HIS CIVIL SELF.

HOW SAD, BUT HOW TYPICAL OF HUMAN NATURE THAT WEAKNESSES OFTEN TRIUMPH. EVIL (LURKING SOMEWHERE IN ALL OF US) OFTEN SURFACES.

MODERATION

TODAY IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE DAY 'FAT BOY', THE A-BOMB, WIPED OUT HIROSHIMA IN 1945. REMEMBERING 'FAT BOY' CREATES AN APPROPRIATE SEGUE INTO A RUMINATION ON THE PREVENTION OF FAT BOYS AND GIRLS, MEN AND WOMEN. NUTRITION EXPERTS 'LOVE' TO REPEAT THE STANDARD ADMONITIONS TO EAT WHOLE GRAINS, BRAN AND OAT CEREALS, LEGUMES (PEAS AND BEANS), ALMONDS, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. OFTEN THEY FOLLOW THIS EXHORTATION WITH ANOTHER ONE TO LIMIT SALT, SUGAR AND ALCOHOL. I HAVE RECENTLY ENCOUNTERED A YOUNG, REED THIN INDIVIDUAL, PUMPED UP WITH SUGARY SODAS AND UNINTERESTED IN FOOD AND FOOD CHOICES, WHOSE KINETIC HOBBY, HIS DRIVING PASSION, CONSUMES HIS LIMITED INTAKE OF CALORIES AND RENDERS HIM PHYSICALLY 'FIT.' SKINNY AND IN PERPETUAL MOTION, HE OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT HEALTHY SNACKS OR MEAL SELECTIONS. ANY CHOICE HE MAKES IS GLADLY RECEIVED BY HIS GROWING FRAME.

WOULD THE EXPERTS FIRST SWOON WITH SATISFACTION AND WHEN REVIVED RECOMMEND THIS LIFESTYLE TO ALL OF US? WELL, I, AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LUMPY PROLETARIAT, UNINSPIRED BY NON-STOP MOTION AND 'FUN' BEG TO DIFFER. I CONFRONT THE NUTRITION PYRAMID AND WEEP. I THINK THAT WHOLE GRAINS TASTE LIKE RECYCLED CARDBOARD, ALMONDS ARE TOO COSTLY, PEAS AND BEANS SHOULD BE SIDE DISHES AND ONLY SELECTED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES RECEIVE MY APPROVAL. SALT OF NECESSITY MUST BE SALTY, SUGAR SWEET AND WINE TASTY. WHAT DOES AN APPRECIATOR OF FAT AND FINE COOKING REALISTICALLY INGEST? THE NUTRITION EXPERTS CONDEMN MUCH THAT I LOVE. THE ADOLESCENT ATHLETE APPROVES OF MUCH THAT THE EXPERTS HATE.

THE SECRET TO THINNESS LIES WITHIN THE YOUNG MAN'S PERPETUAL MOTION, A CONDITION IMPOSSIBLE FOR MANY BOYS, GIRLS, MEN AND WOMEN. THE ANSWER TO 'FITNESS' I CONTEND, LIES NOT IN EXTREMES BUT WITHIN A COMMON SENSE LIFESTYLE OF MODERATE GRAZING ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF CULINARY OPTIONS.

YOU DON'T KNOW ME

CAN WE EVER MEASURE FEELING OR CONSCIOUSNESS? SOREN KIERKEGAARD, THE DANISH, EXISTENTIALIST THEOLOGIAN, DOESN'T THINK SO. HE POSITED THAT THE TRUE MEANING OF OUR LIVES IS WITHIN US AND LARGELY HIDDEN FROM THE PRYING EYES OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD. HE BELIEVED THAT THE INNER SELF ONLY MAKES SENSE IF IT ESTABLISHES AN ACTIVE RELATIONSHIP TO GOD. UNFORTUNATELY, TODAY, MANY SO-CALLED THINKING PEOPLE WOULD DISAGREE.

HOW CAN WE KNOW WITH CERTAINTY THE RATIONALE AND HATRED BEHIND GERMAN PHILOSOPHER FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE'S ASSERTION THAT 'GOD IS DEAD'? IT CAN ONLY BE SURMISED FROM HIS TRENCHANT WORDS AND ACTIONS CONDEMNING THE HYPOCRISIES OF CHRISTENDOM BEFORE HIS MIND SUCCUMBED TO MADNESS.

HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND THE UNDERLYING MEANING OF THE ENGLISH THINKER HOBBES' OFTEN QUOTED DESCRIPTION OF MAN'S PLIGHT ON EARTH AS "SOLITARY, POOR, NASTY, BRUTISH AND SHORT?" WE CAN ONLY LOOK BEYOND HIS WRITINGS TO HIS BEHAVIOR IN LIFE. HOBBES' WORDS OPENS THE DOOR TO MY OBSERVATIONS THAT I OFTEN FEEL ALONE, REALIZE THAT I DO NOT LIVE THE LIFE OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS, HAVE ALLOWED MYSELF TO PRACTICE NASTY HABITS OR HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO NASTY INFIRMITIES, AM ONLY ONE DNA STEP AHEAD OF THE BRUTES BECAUSE I OFTEN BEHAVE IN A BRUTISH FASHION AND CANNOT DENY THAT MY EARTHLY STAY IS SHORT COMPARED WITH WHAT I HOPE WILL BE A HAPPY AFTERLIFE. BUT MY IDEAS, FEELINGS AND NIGHTMARES ARE NOT MY FRIENDS, MY LOVER'S OR MY NEIGHBORS. THEY ARE UNIQUELY MINE. AS SOAP-OPERA PARTICIPANTS REPEATEDLY REITERATE, "YOU CAN'T CONDEMN ME; YOU DON'T KNOW ME."

SO HOW DO WE MEASURE FEELINGS OR CONSCIOUSNESS? OBVIOUSLY, ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS EVEN THOUGH WORDS ENABLE ACCESS TO IDEAS. BUT THE INNER, SELF WILL NEVER BE FULLY REVEALED. I THINK KIERKEGAARD'S INSIGHT PIERCED TO THE TRUTH. NAKED AND EXPOSED WE ONLY SHARE OURSELVES WITH GOD.

AN OPPORTUNITY SEIZED

PATIENCE IS A HIGH VERTU, ONE WHICH USUALLY DOES NOT BECOME ME, BUT MY BETTER HALF, DOUBLY ENDOWED WITH THE 'WAIT AND SEE' ATTITUDE, MORE THAN MAKES UP FOR MY DEFICIENCY. FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS, OUR LOCAL WAL-MART, EACH SUMMER, OFFERS FOR SALE PHALAENOPSIS ORCHIDS AT $19.00. PATIENCE DIVIDES BUT CHEAPNESS UNITES US AS A COUPLE. WE WAITED EACH SEASON FOR 'CLEARANCE' TIME, BUT THE PRICE WAS NEVER RIGHT. RECENTLY, CRUISING THE ISLES OF THE GREENHOUSE - A SATISFYING FEAST FOR EYES BUT RARELY FOR OUR WALLETS - MY BETTER HALF'S VISION SPIED A SIGN $1.50 IN FRONT OF WHAT LOOKED TO BE WILTED AND NON-BLOOMING ORCHID PLANTS ON TALL STALKS, SAVE ONE. ONE SPORTED A VIOLET BLOOM. SEMPER PARATUS. WE SEIZED THE ONE. WHAT DID WE HAVE TO INVEST OTHER THEN $1.50 FOR VIEWER SATISFACTION. THE POT, MARKED $14.88, TOLD US WE FINALLY SCORED. CHECKOUT TIME DELAYED US BECAUSE THE REGISTER CHINKED UP $14.88. I CHIMED BACK THAT THE PRICE WAS $1.50 FOR END OF THE SEASON PLANTS ON THE REDUCED RACK. THE MANAGER'S APPROVAL WAS REQUIRED FOR PRICE CHANGES SO WE CREATED A BACKLOG OF CUSTOMERS BEHIND US. BUT I, WE, WHO FINALLY 'SCORED' WERE NOT TO BE DENIED.

OUR WAIT WAS OVER, BUT OUR GIFT WAS TO KEEP ON GIVING. YES, THE SINGLE, LOVELY BLOOM ENRICHED OUR SMALL TABLE SET SO REGULARLY WITH GOOD FOOD. BUT THEN, NUMEROUS BUDS, BACKSTAGED ON THE STALK OF OUR PRIZE PHALAENOPSIS, OPENED ONE BY ONE OVER THE FOLLOWING MONTH. ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX. SEVEN IS PRESENTLY OPENING; EIGHT IS WAITING IN THE WINGS. AS OF 08/09/06 EIGHT IS ENOUGH.

SUBSEQUENT TRIPS TO THE OUR WAL-MART LAND OF NOD ADDED SPECIALNESS TO OUR FIND. LEFT-OVER ORCHIDS WERE NOW MARKED $14.88. SOMEHOW, $1.50 DISAPPEARED. ALL THINGS COME TO HIM WHO WAITS, EVEN THOUGH THEY COME AT THE EXPENSE OF ANOTHER PARTY'S MISTAKE.

DING DONG PESSIMISM

PESSIMISM IS IN VOGUE. WHY? DING, DONG, WHOSE BRAINS ARE DEAD? FROM WHAT I AM HEARING AND READING, THE USUAL CULPRITS ARE THE CRANIUMS OF LIBERAL DEMOCRATS.

THIS TUESDAY I ACCIDENTALLY CAME ACROSS AN ANTI-BUSH SCREED IN MY LOCAL, SMALL NEWSPAPER. IT ENDED WITH AN APPRAISAL OF THE "BUSH LEGACY," WHICH THIS DOOMSAYER WRITES WILL BE ONE OF "DEATH, DEBT, DESPAIR AND HATRED." PROOFS TO BACK UP THIS OPINION ALL POINTED TO THE AUTHOR'S DISAPPROVAL OF THE WAR IN IRAQ WHICH HAS COST APPROXIMATELY 280 BILLION DOLLARS, MONIES WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN, ACCORDING TO HIM, BETTER SPENT ON FIXING THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD. HERE IS MY FIRST CONFRONTATION WITH AN UNREALISTIC AND IRRATIONAL THOUGHT.

LAST SUNDAY, I WAS SUBJECTED TO THOMAS FRIEDMAN, AUTHOR AND POLITICAL ANALYST, DISCUSSING THE "DEATH OF OPTIMISM," IN AMERICA. HIS IS ANOTHER DELUSIONAL AND BLINKERED PERSPECTIVE.

TODAY, CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS, WRITER AND CRITIC, TELLS ME THAT THE "U.S. IS REGARDED WITH HATRED AND FURY." THIS THIRD STRAW OF UNTRUTH WILL NOT BREAK THE BACK OF MY CAMEL INHABITING A WORLD OF FACTS.

IT IS APPARENT THAT HATERS OF BUSH INSTINCTIVELY PERVERT REALITY AND SPIN IT TO CONFORM TO THEIR BIASES. I AND MY MEDIOCRE I.Q. CAN EASILY SEE THAT BUSH BASHING IS A CURRENT BLOOD SPORT, NOT ONLY HERE IN AMERICA BUT ALSO ABROAD THE "FLAT WORLD" DESCRIBED IN MR. FRIEDMAN'S BOOK. I CANNOT AFFORD TO BE SUCKED INTO THE DEPRESSING 'QUAGMIRE' OF LIBERAL, DEMOCRAT THINKING. A PARTIAL OR PREJUDICED INTERPRETATION OF REALITY IS NOT THE SAME AS A PHOTOGRAPH WHICH DOESN’T LIE. LIFE, IN 2006, IF ONE PUTS IT INTO PERSPECTIVE, IN AMERICA AND IN THE FIRST WORLD COUNTRIES, IS MIGHTY SWEET.

ANOTHER SHOCKING AND SAD EXAMPLE OF A BRAIN DEAD VICTIM (NOT IN ANY WAY TO BE LET OFF THE HOOK FOR SHEER, IMMORAL STUPIDITY) IS MEL GIBSON. FOLLOWING HIS 'FALL', WILL CHRIST FIND IT IN HIS HEART TO COME DOWN FROM HIS CROSS AGAIN TO FORGIVE HIM? BUSH BASHERS, ENEMIES OF AMERICA FROM WITHIN AND WITHOUT THAT WISH TO BLOW UP OUR SHINING CITY ON THE HILL AND NOW MEL GIBSON BOWED - QUO VADIS, LORD? WE REALISM DRIVEN OPTIMISTS CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE SUN SHINING THROUGH HEZBOLLAH'S FOREST OF KATYUSHAS.

A NEEDLESS DEATH

FINS OF LACE,
EYE-POPPING FACE,
ORANGE AND WHITE GRACE.

FANTAIL NORM,
PLUMP FORM,
PERFECTION BORNE.

FOUR YEARS' GROWN,
SWIMMING ALONE,
STUPIDITY SHOWN -

KILLED YOU. NO POND
YOUR GRAVE. OF GRAND
'UNO' I WAS FOND.

YOUR BEAUTEOUS MAIN,
MY JOY SUSTAIN,
AND MEMORY CLAIM.

NO WAGE PROBLEM

Either I’m a genius (which is impossible given my I.Q.), or the smarties are fools (which is quite possible due to evidences of their tomfoolery). Articles appeared from ‘experts’ about the urgency of raising the minimum wage from the Catholic News Service on July 30th, 2006 and another in the Wall Street Journal on August 1st. Luckily when I learned to read, I also learned to apply advice also relevant to my table manners and "eat the whole thing." A statistic buried in the center of reporter Mark Pattison’s piece (in CNS) shouted to me, "NO PROBLEM." Apparently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics credits less than 1% of wage earners, almost all of them students living in households with average incomes of $40,00, with earning the minimum wage. If the political poltroons who are creating and exploiting this issue had to admit that over 99% of American workers are doing quite well, and that most of those minimum wage earners will quickly move out of that category as soon as they have their first permanent job, they would immediately look foolish. Rather than do so, they resort to tomfoolery themselves raising the bogus issue of the minimum wage being insufficient to "earn a living or support a family." Minimum wage earners do not intend to "earn a living" with entry level salaries, nor do they "support a family" at that stage in the workforce. The media abets the scare-mongering politicians and do-gooders with their tomfoolery of political correctness. I’m aware that posturing politicians only watch out for November elections and activists groups (usually meaning those who mourn the demise of socialism) will continue to agitate regardless of the truth. Supported by these facts, I think I feel my I.Q. rising. But why do so many social and religious organizations go along with such poppycock? Because it sounds warm and fuzzy blending well with Christian moral values and the so-called American dream.

What is the cost to us citizen taxpayers and persons of conscience (not evil geniuses), driven about like lemmings by special interest groups yearning for failed socialism and bad economic policy? Why are not the media, legislators and social organizations using their time and resources to work on problems affecting the 99% of wage earners? " Don’t they have something better - and really important - to do?" Like raising the common-sense quotient of the American public.