BREAKING NEWS

An explanation is emerging for the KILLER PET FOOD NIGHTMARE this past week.

EXCLUSIVE: Rat Poison Believed to Be Source of Some Pet Food Contamination
ABC News has learned that investigators have determined that a rodent-killing chemical is the toxin in the tainted pet food that has killed several animals.
A source close to the investigation tells ABC News that the rodenticide, which the source says is illegal to use in the United States, was on wheat that was imported from China and used by Menu Foods in nearly 100 brands of dog and cat food.

Rat poison’ll do it. Welcome to the global economy.

READ This

…before it winks out of existence, when someone goes “HOLY SH*T! Who said we could run this?!” I mean, it is tagged ‘Web-exclusive commentary’.

So Long, Me-Maw
In New Orleans, they aren’t shedding a tear over Louisiana Gov. Blanco’s decision not to seek a second term. A letter from the Garden District.
New Orleans, 18 months after Katrina, is still a city of considerable ups and downs. Tuesday was no different; as usual, the bad news came first. The first e-mail I received informed me that a block and a half from our new house, at 1:30 in the afternoon, two hold-ups occurred in less than 10 minutes—and I live in Garden District, still perceived as a “nice” neighborhood, despite the alarming frequency of similar attacks, along with a recent rash of break-ins of both cars and houses (one of them was mine). First, a gunman wielding a “chrome short nose revolver” relieved a sod delivery man of the $30 in his pockets. Next, he snatched a woman’s purse, jumped into an “unknown black vehicle,” and roared away.
As crimes go in the city with by far the highest murder rate in the nation (96 per every 100,000 people in 2006; more than 40 people overall have been killed so far in 2007), these could actually be viewed as good news—nobody was killed or even shot, after all. But the real good news came in my next e-mail: Gov. Kathleen Blanco announced that she would not seek re-election to a second term.

I will admit to a certain, smug, self-satisfied, smirky snickering through the whole rant, because I thought I’d written it for the first minute there. But over a year ago.

That’s me ~ always ahead of trend.

Coincidentally, the M-W Word of the Day

…is…

drub \DRUB\ verb
1 : to beat severely
2 : to berate critically
*3 : to defeat decisively

Not much of that being handed out lately from our side, sad to say.

What a Great Way to Start Another War the Day

Iranians seize 15 British sailors
Fifteen Royal Navy sailors have been seized by Iranian warships in Iraqi territorial waters, the Ministry of Defence said.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has summoned the Iranian ambassador in London to demand their immediate release, a spokesman said.
The incident happened following a routine inspection of a merchant ship off Iraq.
The MoD said the incident happened at around 10.30am local time.
“The boarding party had completed a successful inspection of a merchant ship when they and their two boats were surrounded and escorted by Iranian vessels into Iranian territorial waters,” a spokesman said.

Next move, anyone?
UPDATE: More coming out now.
UPDATE: What IS it with these people? The Fox News correspondent is reporting the British sailors have already been paraded BLINDFOLDED on state TV. If the Iranian government feels they’ve seized these guys legitimately, then act like a government, not freakin’ cheesy-ass terrorists.
Wait. What am I saying…?

Rather Than Wander Around the Plane

…surrendering my comfort, I think I’d just chant the Bingley mantra:

“He has a right to his seat. What he doesn’t have a is a right to MINE.”

Why is it when someone relates an experience ~ if the picture painted by that experience is ugly albeit the truth ~ shitty little comments about ‘stereotypes’ come out, implying the complainer is both hateful and uncompassionate. To wit:

Dear Well-Mannered Traveler: “Is there a polite way to deal with an extra large passenger seated next to me? These folks always have bags full of food spilling out everywhere, their arm is actually in my seat space, every time they shift their weight my drink spills, etc. I nearly cry every time I see that I am seated next to such a person. Please advise!”
– Sheila T., Parkland Florida
Dear Sheila: Next time you head out to the airport remember to take your tickets and your driver’s license or passport, but please leave your stereotypes behind.

The WMT then discusses dealing with those annoying “SEATMATES OF SIZE“, the implication being that it’s your fault you’re crushed into an armrest by the 500 pound sized fellow in the seat next to you. And that you should shut-up and suck it up, with helpful, well-mannered gems like this:

On a full flight, you’ll just need to make the best of it. Be patient: this isn’t a permanent situation and you’ll eventually get to your destination. Rather than sit and stew, get up and walk up and down the aisle a bit or find a spot out of traffic to stand and read a magazine or chat quietly with another passenger.

Oh gosh. I’ll bet that would have helped the poor young fellow I heard asking for a supervisor in DFW one day. A rotund sized seatmate had exited the tiny plane earlier and I thought ,”Yeesh! I wonder who got to sit next to him…” and then heard the young fellow. It seems he had. In an aisle seat with the super-sized seatmate in the middle. Crushing him against and over the armrest, forcing his entire upper torso INTO the aisle for beverage carts to whang into and bathroom wanderers to beat with their belt buckles on their way to and fro, fo’ard and aft. In an Delta Embraer 70 seater all the long way from Portland to Dallas. I’ll bet it felt pretty permanent to that kid after the first hour of his contortionist act, less mind with another hour or so to look forward to. ‘Wandering’ not available.
I’m about sick of tap dancing around the fact that a 60 inch waist is OBESE. I am the FIRST to point out that my cheesecake picture is MANY years/self-induced cheesecake love handles later and NOT in the “oh, if only Nicole Richie had ten more pounds on her” fashion. Even 40 inch waists will squeeze into the seat and we can still all live in harmony. Most likely (unless you’re a klutz like me), your discomfort in said seat will be yours alone. As it should be. But this crap in her advice to the “seatmate of size” drives me INSANE…

It’s not your fault airline seats are so tiny. If you find yourself cheek-to-cheek with your seatmate, try to make the best of it. You might end up shedding some stereotypes as well.

“IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT”. I’d say something snide about boxes of Snack Wells at this moment, but that would be re-enforcing stereotypes. And mean. And then “Scholars of Fat” lesbian college activists would start commenting on top of our usual asshat. Just SO not worth it. (But we all know whose crumb covered laps I’m alluding to, right?)
So. In an acronym: STFU, discomforted “seatmate of average size”. It’s your fault.
Now, go buy some bacon at Target.

From One Girl to Another

Dear Elizabeth,
That sucks. Just plain out and out sucks. I watched a dear friend go through the agony of anticipation every time those three month check-ups came due, then watched her ‘whew’ of relief, watched what the tamoxifen was doing to her system in the meantime and then the three month check-up three years later when there was no ‘whew’. When they wanted her to go through it all again. To get the rest. Terrifying. And then when she said ‘I can’t. Take them off. Completely.’ And then the agony of recovery, tempered by some peace of mind that where there are no longer any breasts, the same may hold true for the cancer that dwelt there.
I know you have the best medical care in the world available, but that’s cold comfort. Bless your heart. I wish you a complete, ‘whew’ filled recovery and ALL the best.
Ms. sister

It’s a Great Political Cartoon

The French Paper Charlie-Hebdo bears the headline “Mohammed stressed out by the fundamentalists” and a cartoon of the prophet in tears uttering the words “It’s hard to be loved by fools” back in February of 2006. (AFP)

Thanks to a French court decision just announced, it’s also legal.

The editor of a satirical French magazine accused of insulting Muslims by reprinting cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad has been acquitted.
A French court has ruled in favour of weekly Charlie Hebdo, rejecting accusations by Islamic groups who said it incited hatred against Muslims.
The cartoons were covered by freedom of expression laws and were not an attack on Islam, but fundamentalists, it said.
The case was seen as an important test for freedom of expression in France.

Thanks to our friend the Gateway Pundit for the breath of fresh Euro air.

Our Resident Kos-ite Commentor Would Say

…that we made them do it.

Iraqi Police Say Children Used As Decoys
Police said Wednesday that children were used in a weekend car bombing in which the driver gained permission to park in a busy shopping area after he pointed out that he was leaving his children in the back seat.
The account appeared to confirm one given Tuesday by a U.S. general. He said children were used in a Sunday bombing in northern Baghdad and labeled it a brutal new tactic put to use by insurgents to battle a five-week-old security crackdown in the capital.
…He said it was the first reported use of children in a car bombing in Baghdad.
“Children in the back seat lowered suspicion, (so) we let it move through, they parked the vehicle, the adults run out and detonate it with the children in the back,” Barbero told reporters in Washington. “The brutality and ruthless nature of this enemy hasn’t changed.”

C’mon, Calley. Justify away.

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.

Some Girls Are Just Crazy

…for a guy in uniform.
UPDATE: Finally, the AP story is out.

A U.S. Marine helicopter pilot who rescued a wounded British soldier in Iraq has received a rare British honor.
Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday presented the Distinguished Flying Cross to Maj. William Chesarek, 32, of Newport, R.I.
…Chesarek was flying a Lynx helicopter for British forces in an exchange program. He braved hostile fire to evacuate a wounded British office in Al Amara province in June.
British Pvt. Michelle Norris, 19, of the Royal Army Medical Corps, received the Military Cross for her action in attending to the wounded officer. She was the first woman to be awarded the Military Cross.

How ’bout that! Big day at the palace all around, I’d say. A heartfelt Bravo Zulu to our major and the brave Pvt. Norris.

“Damn Straight! Ha Ha Ha” Moment

…for today, from day before yesterday, dovetailing nicely with Bingster last week.

…Who are these guys who are getting all flushed over our cultural insensitivity?
People who want to blow Jews off the face of the earth. The regime that stormed our embassy in 1979 and kept Americans captive for 444 days. Iran’s Hezbollah puppets have killed more Americans, than any other terrorist group except Al Qaeda. Explosive devices from Iran are being used right now against our soldiers in Iraq. They’re clearly more skittish about cultural warfare than the sort that actually kills people – like the one against Israel that Iran financed just a few months ago.
I must say that I’m impressed that Hollywood took on a politically incorrect villain. Must have run out of neo-Nazis. So now these sensitive souls in Iran think that Hollywood is part of a U.S. government conspiracy to humiliate them into submission. I can only wish we were that effective.

A warm Swill salute to Mike at Lamplighter for finding it.

Avec!

Monsieur Bean!

If They Think That’s Bad

…Some movie companies are dropping efforts to save money by outsourcing the job of writing subtitles for English-speaking films shown in foreign-language countries, and vice-versa, according to the London Times. Dialogue was lost in translation. “Jim is a Vietnam Vet” became “Jim is a veterinarian from Vietnam,” according to the paper, and “She died in a freak rugby accident” became “She died in a ruby match for people with deformities.”

…they ought to spend a little time in Japan and see what kind of English gets printed on…oh…say beach towels, for instance.

If I Follow This Advice

…why bother eating there at all?

Chinese restaurant food unhealthy, study says
Menus loaded with sodium, saturated fat and calories — even the veggies
…The group says there is no safe harbor from sodium on the Chinese restaurant menu, but it offers several tips for making a meal healthier:
* Look for dishes that feature vegetables instead of meat or noodles. Ask for extra broccoli, snow peas or other veggies.
* Steer clear of deep-fried meat, seafood or tofu. Order it stir-fried or braised.
* Hold the sauce, and eat with a fork or chopsticks to leave more sauce behind.
* Avoid salt, which means steering clear of the duck sauce, hot mustard, hoisin sauce and soy sauce.
* Share your meal or take half home for later.
* Ask for brown rice instead of white rice.

John Edwards’ Goes Humminah-Humminah

Mr. “Two Americas”, as in there are people who work in big mansions and people who own them, gets a little fumbly when defending his own 28,000 footer

Call it “Dancing with the Stars”: Global Warming Edition. Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards showed his best dance moves trying to avoid questions about how energy efficient his 28,000-square-foot mansion really is and how much the power bill costs each month.
The March 20 edition of CNN’s “American Morning” showed Edwards hyping global warming, promoting his energy plan that mandates carbon caps and claiming that his new mega-McMansion was actually being operated in a “carbon-neutral way.” He has recently declared his campaign “carbon neutral.”
Edwards also avoided how he holds himself to one standard but wants to hold businesses to another. As anchor Miles O’Brien put it: “One of the keys to your plan is the so-called cap plan which would institute, as it suggests, caps on the amount of carbon dioxide industry can put into the environment.”
But when it comes to Edwards’ own life, he doesn’t cap his carbon efforts, preferring instead carbon offsets. “We have committed to operate this house in a carbon-neutral way, which means in addition to using energy saving devices in the house itself, to the extent that doesn’t cover it, we’re going to purchase carbon credits on the market,” said Edwards.
…O’Brien asked about Edwards “getting Americans to conserve more.” Edwards responded with talk of conservation and then requirements. “One of the things that’s going to be required is for Americans to be willing to drive more fuel-efficient vehicles and to be willing to conserve and we want to help them do that.”
When O’Brien asked specifically about his house, Edwards turned into a dancing king. Asked about the cost of energy for the home, Edwards tried several answers:
-“It’s actually not bad.” And followed that up with talk of how energy efficient the home was.
-“I’m not telling you. It’s actually, it’s actually not bad. It’s about three or four hundred dollars, the last one I saw.”
-Following that claim, Edwards backed off a bit and said “the power bill is several hundred dollars a month.”

The hypocrisy is staggering…and typical. Look, I have no problem with a rich person building a huge house on his property. That’s the American Way, dammit. You earned the money, now go enjoy it. What pisses me off is these rich bastards appointing themselves our Superior All-Knowing Masters and then condemning us little folk as we try to improve our lot while they enjoy all the perks. Remember the Oscars? All those pompous little turds who have made millions of dollars by what? By reciting lines that other people wrote, yet this somehow entitles them to be our philosopher kings. So the preening vanities, these people who fly in their private jets everywhere, who take huge limos everywhere, who have entire staffs devoted to their hair and makeup, these are the people who preach to us that we must be ‘green’ and ‘carbon neutral’. As my Bride remarked, after she in total disgust and contempt turned off the televised fellation of Al Gore at the Oscars by Leonardo DeCaprio, “If Hollywood is truly concerned about The Environment they should immediately stop all filming of movies ‘on location’ and film everything in the back lot and in the studios rather than fly hundreds of people all across the globe. Or they should just STFU.” Have I mentioned I love that gal?
But they won’t, of course.
You know, I hope that the next CEO of some Really Big Corporation who is catching all kinds of shit from the media and various posturing candidates for moving jobs overseas because of how expensive Congress has made it to do business here looks the bastard straight in the eye and says “Actually, I’m Employee-Neutral; following the bold leadership of Al Gore and John Edwards and others I’ve purchased Employee Offsets in the market.”

A Update on Saving Your Bacon

…and time at Target.

Target is transferring cashiers who avoid pork
Some Somali Muslims say the retailer is overreacting to customer criticism.

“Overreacting to customers” should be the first rule of customer service, I would think. These people have no clue about free enterprise in what should be a religion free zone. I won’t comment further, because then elimosa will show up and natter on about circumcision and Bingley will cradle his crotch and moan like an accident victim and then we’ll hear Jesus never died and…I can’t take any more of it. Clueless and willfully ignorant are two different things and I’m not indulging the porkless pretenders at this point.
Anyways, a warm Swill salute to Dave for pointing out the latest. Happy Spring!

The Truth About Congress

I’m a little surprised it’s this low

Study Finds One-Third in D.C. Illiterate
WASHINGTON (AP) – About one-third of the people living in the national’s capital are functionally illiterate, compared with about one-fifth nationally, according to a report on the District of Columbia.
Adults are considered functionally illiterate if they have trouble doing such things as comprehending bus schedules, reading maps and filling out job applications.
The study by the State Education Agency, a quasi-governmental office created by the U.S. Department of Education to distribute federal funds for literacy services, was ordered by Mayor Anthony A. Williams in 2003 as part of his four-year, $4 million adult literacy initiative.

The only way they kept the number down to only a third was by avoiding Congress…

Bong Hits 4 Jesus

I don’t have much to say about this case one way or another

The Supreme Court examines Monday a case raising questions over free speech rights in US high schools as it hears arguments over a student’s unfurling of a quirky banner proclaiming “Bong Hits 4 Jesus.”
Joseph Frederick drew the ire of his school principal in Juneau, Alaska, on January 24, 2002, when the then 18-year-old student unveiled the huge banner in front of television cameras as the Olympic flame passed in front of a crowd.
Principal Deborah Morse, whose school had authorized the students to leave class for the event, was not amused by Frederick’s linkage between Jesus and a bong, a pipe used to smoke marijuana.
Morse crossed the street, destroyed the banner and suspended Frederick from school for 10 days.

But it reminded me of something that some guys in a fraternity at UVa did. One of their brothers had some disease (not one of the usual fraternity diseases, mind you) and they decided to have a benefit to raise funds for his treatment. So they had a Bong-a-thon, where people pledged a certain amount of money for each bong hit they did.
And man, did they do a lot.

A Vow

I made a promise to myself . Since the snow that so inconveniently truthly appeared last night is not supposed to exist I decided that I will shovel none of it but rather I shall stay inside and drink until it goes the way of polar bear testicles. Not a flake will I disturb.
Well, I will clean off one area…

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?

Good Old CAIR ~ Champion of the Tortured, Downtrodden

…and bacon-free.

…A customer’s personal preferences is usually not a factor in deciding whether a religious practice is protected in the workplace, noted Khadija Athman, national civil rights manager for the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington.

The customer in question would be the poor soul standing in line at TARGET. Wrapped up in her traditional Muslim garb, the CHECKOUT GIRL scans the customer’s eggs along with her milk ~ everything right up to that filthy package of….BACON. Which the TARGET EMPLOYEE REFUSES to TOUCH. Another checker has to be called over to perform the scan and voilá; all is right with the world. The Minnesota Muslim world. Not the customer whose purchases are paying the tab to hire this person and who just got dissed. Maybe even hugely inconvenienced if the store is busy and a stunt double cashier isn’t readily available, not to mention the fact that said checker’s actions publicly declared part of her humble order was unclean and unfit to be touched.
We’re supposed to be understanding…

…He [Dr. Shah Khan, a spokesman for the Islamic Center of Minnesota in Fridley] urged people to remember the extraordinary adjustments many Somalis have made in coming to the Twin Cities. “Many of these people are refugees. They may have been tortured. And they came here having never held a book in English,” he said. “They’re already adapting to our society. We need to adapt to them, too.”

…but damned if I don’t think Dr. Khan has it ass backwards. I know life sucks there. I watch the news. And, bless their hearts, they made it here. BUT. “The extraordinary adjustments…made in coming“? Were they forced to come here? I’m sure no one’s torturing them in St. Paul and the difference should be readily apparent. WE need to adapt to THEM? I think not. We need to show compassion, offer support and get them locked into truth, justice and the American way ~ which will reward them quite handsomely, as I’m more than sure they’re aware ~ but they don’t get to change sh*t up to suit THEM on top of a piece of that big apple pie. I’m so, SO sick of this. Just sick.
I’ve got half a mind to let Target know how I feel. So, everyone lament at Dave’s, ’cause he gets to experience this crap first hand and thank Ken for finding Dave’s post first.
F*ck the American consumer and the right to buy bacon free of hinderance.
Jeez. I’m just gobschmacked.
UPDATE: Big duke ’em outs going on about this on the MN Buzz board, but DANG if I can’t help myself cherry picking one of the comments ~ it’s a dhimmi classic.

Her religion is first and foremost.
Let’s not loose our cool over a piece of meat, and get all bend out of shape over it. When you open your doors to group of people you don’t share much with, there is bound to be some culture/religion clashes. If Target doesn’t have a problem with this system, you as the customer shouldn’t either. Everyone came to America one way or another, so instead of telling the Muslims to go back to their countries why don’t you simply go to another store. And PLEASE, do not beat the patriotic drum for us, it will only fall into a deaf ear.

Someone seems confused by the whole concept of ‘retail’. The store doesn’t dictate to customers what they can expect from customer service and if customers go away, so does the store.
I’m really feeling cranky now.

Ah-OOOOOOOH! Werewolf Of London…

(with apologies to Warren Zevon)
I saw a werewolf with a Mersey Beat in her hands
Walking through the streets of Soho in the rain
She was looking for the Squire of Mull of Kintyre
Planning to get herself pounds from Penny Lane
Ah-ooooooh
Werewolf of London
Ah-ooooooh
If you hear her howling ’round your kitchen door
Better not let her in
She won’t need or feed you when you’re 64
Werewolf of London again
Ah-ooooooh
Werewolf of London
Ah-ooooooh
She’s the golden-tressled gal who married Alfie Karmal
Lately she’s been on the phone in Brighton
Don’t you take pics of her
She’ll rip your film out sir
Huh. She ain’t the new Diana
Ah-ooooooh
Werewolf of London
Ah-ooooooh
Well I saw her crying ’bout piggies in a pen
Doing the Werewolf of London
I heard her cryin’ “this is now and that was then”
Doing the Werewolf of London
I saw a Werewolf dancing a merengue with the Stars
Her steps were perfect
Ha!
Ah-ooooooh
Werewolf of London
Ah-ooooooh
Heh Draw Blood…

AG Firings…Yawn.

The WSJ makes some good points today, but really Bryan at Hot Air sums this whole ‘scandal’ up best in my mind, so go give it a read.
Basketball starts today, so DC can go sink back into the swamp for all I care.

Oh, I Just Love This

Israel has to say “ExCUSE me…“, ’cause, like, the U.N. says so.

A UNESCO panel has urged Israel to immediately halt archaeological work at a Jerusalem holy site that has angered Muslims around the world.
…A report for the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, released in Paris on Wednesday, said Israel should have sought the advice of international organizations before it started the archaeological work.

Someone please…refresh my memory. What exactly were the Taliban saying when the WORLD begged them NOT to blow the big Buddhas of Bamiyan to smithereens? I think “bite me” was in there somewhere…

…Once a stop on the trade route between China, India and Europe, Afghanistan was home to a vibrant Buddhist culture centuries before Islam’s dominance and even its birth. Artifacts from the archaeological sites of Bamiyan and the museums of the capital, Kabul, are reminders of the fact that land is older than factions, that civilizations great and small flower briefly then fade away.
And so, last week, in an ongoing attempt to prove that the fate of the Islamic Emirate will be otherwise, the Taliban demolished the Buddhas of Bamiyan, two massive statues (one standing 170′, the other 120′) carved from the stone cliffs that frame the valley 100 miles from Kabul.
“These idols have been gods of the infidels,” the New York Times reported one senior Taliban official declaring. Politics being politics whatever the religion, while one spouted off, another provided spin — like this from Qudratulla Jamal, the Taliban minister of information and culture:
“It’s not a big issue. The statues are objects only made of mud or stone.“

Right ~ mud and stone. Like your mosque, n’est pas? So, chill out already in Jerusalem. I may not be the biggest fan of Israeli policy in the world, but I WILL state my unequivocable belief in their esteem for ALL things ancient and holy. So your al-Aqsa will remain unscathed and the world will be a little wiser. What’s to lose? And people are getting a little tired of the whole ‘Muslim outrage’ thing.

…The latest crisis began when Israeli authorities started rebuilding and extending a pedestrian ramp which rises to the Mugrabi Gate, an entrance that allows tourists to view the gardens of the sacred Muslim precinct, the silver al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, a shrine clad with turquoise mosaics and topped with a glowing, golden dome. The ramp is a simple piece of construction that will rest on seven concrete pillars. A 2004 earthquake and a snowstorm had damaged the old pedestrian bridge. But with tension running high between Israelis and Palestinians, the repair work has become a volatile religious issue, one that radical Muslim clerics are using to whip up more hatred against Israel.

You don’t get to be pissed off about every farging thing that happens and throw rocks when your blind sheiks/catmeat imams tell you to have a cow, especially in places you SHARE with, like, OTHER people. Honestly, without their snorting fire, would you have even given a whoowah someone was fixing a ramp? (Palestinian gunman scuttling into the Church of the Nativity ring any bells? That’s a Christian site, right? Bush drop any bombs when ya’ll violated our digs? And not with trowels, but with GUNS? That would be a ‘NOT’.) I’d follow the Steve Martin Crime Stopper oath in your case ~

“Repeat after me: I promise NOT to repeat things other people say…”

It’s not religion, dudes ~ it’s HISTORY. And that makes it ALL of ours. So BTFO, STFU, grow up and get a grip. You think Israel is the root of all your problems? Israel is your excuse ~ the bogeyman heading your pity syndrome. Quit throwing rocks, get an education, quit voting for criminals and quit killing your neighbor because he doesn’t want to play your games anymore or because he’s a Jew. Become a state ~ a place where your children can grow and learn something other than how to dress up like suicide bombers. How come the Kurds can pull it together so quickly? Nobody wants them either, remember. How could the Lebanese people peacefully throw off the Syrian yoke? (And the destruction? Brought about by those same fellas you all are so fond of. Weird how that works.) You are your own worst enemies and trust me ~ there are no WORSE enemies than what you’re doing to yourself and allowing others in your culture to do to you. Sympathy meter’s pegged. Sorry.

A ‘Labs 4 Rescue’ Raffle

…for a shot at YANKEES vs BOSUX tickets !! Holy CRAP!

Labs4rescue is pleased to announce its 2007 New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox Raffle. Here’s your chance to win:
Four FAN!tastic field box seats to a 2007 regular season New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox baseball game at Yankee Stadium! (The winner will work with the Yankee’s office to select the game.) This incredible game day package includes: V.I.P. parking, behind-the-scenes stadium tour, personalized scoreboard message, official photograph of scoreboard message, an amazing goodie bag for each guest, lunch or dinner, and an up close and personal opportunity to view batting practice.
Only $10 per raffle ticket! The drawing will be held during the 2007 Yankees opening home series.
To order your raffle tickets please send a check or money order payable to Labs4rescue and a self-addressed stamped envelope to Labs4rescue, P.O. Box 955, Killingworth, CT 06419. Please do NOT send cash in the mail; Labs4rescue WILL NOT be responsible for payments lost in the mail. All orders must be received by Friday, March 30, 2007.

(Credit card junkies can email them at raffle-at-labs4rescue.com for info how to do it that way.) They’re a virtual steal at TEN BUCKS a PIECE, so BeauBeau (who’s a Labs4Rescue wabbadork himself) and his cousin Claude say:

“Get yer raffle tickets right here!
….OOOO! Cookie!“